INTRUST SUPER CUP
QRL Media
Sun 3 Jun 2018, 09:06 PM
Justin Olam “came off the back fence” to score a roaring try which helped Sunshine Coast put themselves back in the frame for a tense 23-22 victory over the Norths Devils.
Sealed by a Ryan Papenhuyzen field goal 20 metres out from the posts in the final minute, the win keeps last year’s runners-up within striking distance of finals contention.
Olam finished the game with a double, but it was his second four-pointer that had everyone talking, as he steamed on to the ball from deep and burst through four defenders like a cannonball.
Until that point in the 67th minute the Falcons had been behind 22-14.
“Justin was our best today,” coach Craig Ingebrigtsen said.
“We had a plan to go out there and terrorise their halves with some hard running on the edge.
“That last try of his, he came off the back fence and ran with plenty of intent.
“It’s obvious getting a start in the NRL has done him wonders.
“The Storm have Curtis Scott coming back and some quality players in that position, but if he keeps playing football like that, Justin won’t do himself any harm.”
The PNG powerhouse got a taste of NRL a month ago when he pulled on the Storm jerseys against St George Illawarra, but has yet to return to the national arena.
Teammate Papenhuyzen is still yet to debut in the NRL, though he did play in the pre-season testimonial game for Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston between the Storm and the Cowboys.
Set to turn 20 next Sunday, the youngster was calm under pressure when the game was on the line.
The Falcons were setting for superboot Khan Ahwang to have a strike, but foiled the Devils by switching their point of attack.
Papenhuyzen’s strike came after prop Jacob Hind levelled the match up in the 71st minute by beating Gehamat Shibasaki to the corner when Norths clumsily failed to clear up a bomb.
The alarm bells must be ringing for the Devils, who were in the driver’s seat but suffered their fifth loss of their last six games.
The only success for Norths in that period has been an 18-16 win against Easts.
This weekend the Sunshine Coast hosts Souths Logan at 5pm Saturday.
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