IT was five minutes of footy that could turn out to be the defining moment of the Mackay Cutters’ promising Intrust Super Cup season.

But for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, it was a forgettable period that could cost them dearly.

In a remarkable turnaround at BMD Kougari Oval today, the tenacious Mackay Cutters overcame a 10 point deficit to score a stunning 28-16 win over the Seagulls.

Looking to cement their spot in the top four, the Seagulls started the round 18 clash in an aggressive manner and raced out to a 10-0 lead after tries from Tim Brooks and Sam Te’o. Both tries were scored after slick ball movement down the left-hand side of the field and it looked as if the Cutters were in for a long afternoon.

Wynnum Manly was doing it easy at that stage, pinning the Cutters deep inside their own half at every opportunity. But at the 35th minute mark, the match turned on its head.

Cutters halfback Todd Seymour made a brilliant bust through the middle of the field and sold the perfect dummy to Seagulls fullback Shea Moylan to score under the posts. Josh Hannay converted to bridge the gap to four points.

However, the Cutters weren’t done with and when livewire fullback Shannon Gallant found space and sent Grant Rovelli on his way to the line, the Cutters had levelled proceedings. Hannay’s conversion put the Mackay team in front 12-10 at half-time, an astonishing scoreline given Wynnum Manly’s early dominance.

Despite having plenty to play for with members of their successful 1975 teams in the crowd, the Seagulls couldn’t recapture their early dominance when play resumed in the second half. The Cutters played a near faultless second half, with forwards Isaak Ah Mau, Liam McDonald and Darren Griffiths setting the platform in the middle.

Their efforts provided Seymour, Rovelli and crafty hooker Neil Budworth the space to ignite the Cutters’ outside men.

The Cutters were the first to score after half-time when winger Chris Giumelli swooped on a well weighted grubber kick from Rovelli.

Just four minutes later, the Cutters were deep on the attack again and they were rewarded through Ah Mau, who burrowed over after a great inside pass from Budworth. Hannay’s conversion put the Cutters in complete control at 22-10.
The vital two points were secured for the Cutters when Gallant pounced on a grubber kick to score.

Sensing the importance of the win, Mackay coach Paul Bramley pumped his fists and let out a passionate roar from the Cutters’ jubilant bench after watching Gallant put the result beyond doubt. Pushing for a maiden finals appearance, the Cutters are well placed with three of their remaining four matches at home.

Three wins would take them to 26 competition points and would almost certainly see the 2009 wooden-spooners playing finals footy in September.