A standout center named after basketball superstar LeBron James sparked the daring turnaround attempt for Wests in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup preliminary final.

The Bulldogs deservedly won 39:27 against the University of Queensland and have secured the right to face the Brothers in a grand final at Ballymore Stadium next Sunday.

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The final score did not reflect how hard the Bulldogs had to work for the win after overcoming a 10-0 deficit in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the GPS Rugby Club.

The game appeared to be heading for 17-0 when Queensland Reds’ impressive back-row forward Joe Brial charged towards the goal line, but Wests centre Lebron Naea ripped the ball out of his hands as he attempted to set it up for a try.

The Bulldogs played the ball boldly from behind their own goal line.

A long ball from Fletcher Spicer gave Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu some space to evade a tackle. His in-ball took Wallabies backrower Seru Uru out of play. When Reds halfback Louis Werchon kicked from ruckbase, the Bulldogs had put the game 70m ahead in no time.

The brave move paid off, as UQ’s return kick, which was ineffective in the overall game, found the connector Mason Gordon, who started another attack.

This time, winger Mosese Dawai started from the halfway line, turned into the field, left two defenders hanging in the air and scored under the posts to try and return the ball.

Dawai must complete his 16^th The attempt at a record-setting season was special because he kissed the football before he dunked it.

Naea said the plan was always to use the team’s big, fast full-backs.

“We play our best football with the ball in our hands. We knew we were strong on the edges, so you have to think about that even behind our line,” Naea said.

Wests flyhalf Mason Gordon added: “After we took the early lead away from UQ, we regrouped and focused on defence and size and physicality. LeBron certainly did that.”

Naea, 20, shares his birthday with LeBron James, which made it easier for his basketball-loving father to name him after a then-NBA rookie.

His father Presley was named after the singer Elvis Presley, so Naea is under a lot of creative pressure on the day he becomes a father.

Naea’s influence in the pre-finals was uninterrupted. At 112 kg, the center has the physique to do damage.

He ran strongly, threw an early pass in the build-up to David Vaihu’s classic try that gave them a 31-20 lead at half-time, and made another crucial tackle.

UQ came back strongly after the break when the outstanding Brial charged over the line from a scrum. He was stopped.

Midway through the second half, UQ centre Tom Molloy ran after a crash ball from a 5-metre scrum, but Naea bounced off him and released the ball again.

After the breathless 51-point rush of the first half, the game went on for the first 20 minutes of the second half without a single point being scored as UQ struggled, with a penalty goal from Werchon and a try from Mason Gordon putting the game out of reach.

“We threw everything at them. They were too strong and well-coached in the period after halftime, so all credit to Wests,” said UQ Reds fullback Jock Campbell.

UQ coach Elton Berrange added: “Wests defended really well. To start that (Dawai) try from behind their own goal line was incredible football.”

“We were beaten by a better team today.”

There were key moments throughout the preliminary final.

A blocked clearance kick by flyhalf Chace Oates was converted into seven points by Wests striker Angelo Smith with two tries.

After a nice try, Uni led for the last time, 20-17. Reds winger Mac Grealy took a step, dodged and drew two defenders towards him, so that his pass put Brial in a big predicament.

Brial’s left-footed step shook another defender before his pass found teenage winger Samuela Tuisau for the 10th goal.^th Attempt at a breakthrough year.

The grand finale will be a real treat given the quality of the players that will be there.

Uru, Vunivalu, Werchon, Connor Anderson, Angelo Smith, Ethan Dobbins and David Vaihu have played Super Rugby for Wests this year.

For the Brothers, ringmaster James O’Connor, lock Ryan Smith, Dre Pakeho and Will Cartwright have all played for the Reds this season, while Western Force prop Harry Hoopert is a former Brothers Colt.

WEST 39

Attempts: Angelo Smith 2, Mosese Dawai, Mason Gordon, David Vaihu

Conversions: Louis Werchon 4

Penalty goals: Louis Werchon 2

Def

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND 27

Attempts: Samuela Tuisau, James Simpson Te-Pairi, Friedrich Keil

Conversions: Chase Oates 2, Brad Twidale

Penalty goals: Chase Oates 2