Five tries in 21 minutes was today's extra gear found by Brothers to roar into the Sumo Energy Hospital Cup grand final for a fourth straight season.
The Brethren beat spirited Norths 33-25 in the major semi-final at GPS Rugby Club to book direct entry to the decider at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday, August 30.
Two tries apiece to Queensland Reds winger Tim Ryan and prop George Tuineau plus a close-to-line effort from Reds backrower Vaiuta Latu accounted for the five tries.
Norths felt they were doing everything right at 8-0 midway through the first half before the hammer blows came.
The Brethren cranked it up and had command of the game at 21-8 at half-time. Two more tries followed In the opening seven minutes of the second half to super-charge the points rush to 33-0 in those 21 minutes.
"We find an extra gear and it came from the work of our forwards. They were awesome at set piece and in phase play and we rode that wave of momentum," Brothers flyhalf Finn Prass said.
"We knew Norths would give us a tough game and they did.
"After the loss to UQ the previous week, our main focus was holding onto the ball, not giving Norths easy turnovers and just being more direct. I think we did that well."
To Norths' credit, they regrouped and hit back with three tries in the final 30 minutes to close the scores.
Brothers backrow standout Brad Hemopo produced one of the plays of the game. With Norths closing to 33-20, he charged down the simple conversion attempt of replacement Norths flyhalf Ben Mooney.
That effort meant that Brothers were out of reach with an eight-point lead when Norths did find another try with five minutes to play.
"They are the vital minor details that Brad gets right in games. He was terrific and (backrow partner) Michael Wood was excellent too. It's 'Woodie's' time of the year," Brothers coach Ben McCormack said.
"We created some good opportunities. Vice (Latu) scored a strong try. We brought in a team thing a few years ago that if you get held up, it's your shout. Vice was held up twice over the line as well so he knows what that means."
Mooney's entry to the game was far quicker than anyone expected when top flyhalf Harry Langbridge was helped off with a lower leg injury in the opening minutes. It will sideline him for the rest of the finals.
Midway through the first half, Norths constructed an excellent attack. It ended with quick-stepping winger Jayden Solien passing infield to fullback Will McCulloch, who stretched through two defenders to score.
Late in the first half, Brothers produced a fine try. After a twisting, ground-gaining run from Reds hooker Matt Faessler, the ball was relayed to centre Henry Smith, who beat two tacklers before positioning Ryan for his first try.
Norths halfback Mosiah Christian was again one of his side's best and a ruckbase dummy and score in the second half was typical. He was when switching to inside centre as well, late in the game, because his straightening runs were just what the Norths' attack needed.
The lineout winning of flanker Alex Watkins, the big 80-minute shift from prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and McCulloch's pacy probes all lifted Norths.
"We started well with the right energy and defence. We needed to keep up the pace of the game and get our threats out wide involved more because Brothers played the game at the pace they wanted for a long period," Christian said.
"That's experience. We learnt a heap from that game. Any finals footy you play is valuable. We'll recover and go again."
The Eagles now regroup for the preliminary final against the winner of Sunday's minor semi-final between Easts and Wests at Bottomley Park.
In the Sumo Energy Founders Cup, Bond University will shoot for a fifth consecutive premiership in the grand final on Saturday, August 29 at Ballymore.
This follows today's hard-fought 22-15 victory over minor premiers Sunnybank in the major semi-final.
Tries to wingers Dianne Waight and Eva Doblo plus forwards Zoe Hanna and Michele Curry set up the win.
