In one of the hardest-fought games of the season so far, the 2026 Steve Hargreaves Cup ended in a 12-12 draw for the Tamborine Mountain Bushrats and Parkwood Sharks.
Named for one of the club’s founding members who captained the club to its first premiership in 1996, the Cup has a proud history.
Bushrats coach Todd Tasker said the Cup is one of the most important games of the Bushrats’ season.
“The boys lift every year for this game,” Tasker said.
“I just felt this year there was a bit more want in the team, in the fact that old boys were there.”
“We know that the community turns up for this game too and we wanted to make sure that we were completely on,” Tasker said.
It was an exciting and close game throughout, with both teams well matched in defence and offence play.
“I felt that for the first 25 minutes we were – and then we just let Parkwood get into the game and the second half was neck and neck.”
Lucan Mulligan and Ethan Sutherland were the try scorers for the Bushrats, with captain Lewis kicking two goals, but narrowly missing a penalty kick in the final minutes of the game.
The importance of the game was recalled by Brimelow in his captain’s speech.
“Steve Hargreaves … all the former players here today … I remember when I was a kid, standing up watching you play and it is such a privilege to come out and play in front of you all today,” Brimelow said.
“I’m sorry it’s only a draw but we tried.”
Sharks captain, Neihana Hohua thanked the Bushrats for the game.
“The game was a credit to Tambo, it was really tough and you guys always give us a good game,” Hohua said.
The two teams will go head to head again next year when the 2027 Steve Hargreaves Cup is played on Tamborine Mountain.
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