Burleigh coasting after Redcliffe
win

BURLEIGH BEARS 56 defeat REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 6

Is Burleigh, on current form, the best team the Queensland Wizard Cup has seen? Can the Bears still win the premiership without Adam Hayden? Should Rick Stone be coaching at NRL level?

The result was beyond doubt, but talking points were plentiful as Burleigh obliterated Redcliffe 56-6 on Sunday to cross another big name off its hit list.

Traveling to the formidable Dolphin Oval and facing a team which has clicked into gear over recent weeks, the Bears were fearful of incurring just their second defeat of the season.

Instead, the reigning champions further pressed their credentials by emerging from a 6-all stalemate at the 30-minute mark to breeze home untouched.

Even more impressive, the Bears did it all without five-eighth Adam Hayden, after the team linchpin suffered a hip injury in the opening exchanges.

In a noteworthy feat, Reggie Cressbrook scored 24 points from eight goals and two tries, moving to second on the all-time Queensland Cup scorers? list with 911 points.

Burleigh has now won 21 of its last 23 matches, leads the competition by five premiership points and has both the best attacking and defensive record in the competition.

?It?s them against the rest of us at the moment,? noted one rival coach.

Yet without being disrespectful, the Bears? strength is in its teamwork rather than individual brilliance and truthfully, includes several players who were cast-offs from other clubs.

The fact coach Stone is now being courted by the incoming Gold Coast NRL team should not come as a surprise.

?I?ve had a few nibbles over the years, but for one reason or other they haven?t worked out,? Stone revealed.

?I?ll be talking heavily with the Gold Coast when Michael Searle gets back from doing a few other things. These will be discussions further to ones we?ve already had, but I?m not sure if it will be as an assistant coach or another role.

?I?m in the process of renewing a two-year deal with Burleigh, given the loophole that I can accept an NRL deal if one comes along.?

Aside from the injury to Hayden, the only concerns for the Burleigh camp this week will be incidents involving four of the club?s forwards, all of which were placed on report by referee Rob Alexander.

Next Saturday the Bears go toe-to-toe with the only team which has beaten them this year ? facing off against North Queensland at Pizzey Park. Now fifth, Redcliffe plays Souths Logan on Sunday at Davies Park.

BURLEIGH 56 (Reggie Cressbrook 2, Trent Leis 2, Trent Purdon, Aseri Laing, Adrian Vowles, Shane O'Flanagan, Robert Apanui, Nick Shaw tries; Reggie Cressbrook 8 goals)

beat

REDCLIFFE 6 (Michael Roberts try; Greg Bourke goal)

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