By GREG DAVIS

Pakistan cricket icon Imran Khan implored his players at the 1992 World Cup to “fight like
cornered Tigers, because nothing is more dangerous than a cornered Tiger”.

And that is exactly what Bond University will face when they take on the Stara Easts Tigers
in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup Preliminary Final at David Wilson Field this Sunday for a place
in the 2025 decider.

The showdown for the last ticket to the Hospital Cup showpiece was set-up on a sparkling
Sunday afternoon at Sunnybank when the Tigers suffered a frustrating 38-28 loss to
Brothers in the major semi-final while Bond sprung a major upset with the stunning 34-0
minor semi-final victory over Wests.

Brothers locked in their place for the big dance at Ballymore on 31 August after relentlessly
capitalising on Easts errors at important times and in crucial parts of the field.

The Tigers are cornered but they will feel like they put themselves in that tight spot after not
bringing the best version of themselves to the bright lights of the major semi-final stage.
Easts were brave and fought the good fight all day, no doubt.

But their execution on both sides of the ball, decision-making and kicking game at critical
flashpoints were not up to the same lofty standards that lifted the Tigers into a top two
finish after the home and away season.

The Tigers too often were guilty of releasing the pressure valve, highlighted by a number of
box kicks from the normally ever-reliable co-captain Eli Pilz that went out on the full, were
charged down or missed the intended mark.

Easts closed to within three points of the reigning premiers in the 66 th minute after an
Andrew Ready try from a rolling maul to set up a grandstand finish with the contest
delicately poised at 31-28.

The Tigers pressed hard but the Brothers defence held firm against the late Easts surge and
the Brethren crossed in the 80 th minute to ice the game.

The tight and tense second half was in stark contrast to the free-wheeling first 40 minutes
when eight tries were scored on the way to Brothers holding a 31-21 buffer at the break.

Brothers landed the first punch when they crossed in the first three minutes but Easts
responded through fullback Meli Dreu who sliced through the defensive line with some
fancy footwork to help level the scores.

The teams traded tries soon after with Easts responding to a Brothers five-pointer through
powerhouse no.8 Nuku Swerling – whose family in the crowd were wearing specially-made
t-shirts with his image and number – barged his way over to level the scores again.

The Tigers hit the front for the first time when winger Henry Holt swooped on a loose ball
and sprinted away from the Brothers cover defence to give Easts a 21-14 advantage after 23
minutes.

However, Brothers hit back and hit back hard with three tries before halftime to gain the
upper hand that they never surrendered. Easts have prided themselves on their defence at
the back-end of each half and the flurry of five-pointers would have disappointed the men
in blue and gold.

Easts defeated Bond in both regular season meetings in 2025 with a 22-20 win on the Gold
Coast in Round 3 before a 45-29 victory in Round 12 at Bottomley Park.

The Bullsharks will be a handful coming off the rousing win over Wests who were reduced to
14 men early in the sudden-death final.

After sweeping all before them in the second half of the season, the Bulldogs were shocked
and stunned by the physical defence and audacious attack from rank underdog Bond who
executed coach Mick Heenan’s gameplan to perfection and will take dangerous confidence
and momentum into the clash with the Tigers.

But Easts were unbeaten at their Bottomley Park fortress with eight wins from their eight
home games in 2025 and the bumper crowd at David Wilson Field will be the 16 th man for
the Tigers.