
Cup success for Bundaberg's Jacob O'Shea
LEAGUE: Nothing was going to stop Bundaberg's Jacob O'Shea from leading his side to victory at Suncorp Stadium.
Not even a shoulder injury.
The former Easts and The Waves junior, fighting pain and taking cortisone injections to be fit, guided the Redcliffe Dolphins to the FOGS U20 title with a 56-18 win over the Norths Devils.
The pain was a small price to pay for premiership success.
After conceding the opening try, the Dolphins scored 28 unanswered points to lead by 22 at half-time.
The side then doubled its score in the second half to run out comfortable winners.
"It's amazing,” O'Shea said.
"To be honest, words still can't describe how I felt out there.”
He said it was the side's the best performance all season.
Norths finished as minor premiers, were the dominant side in the competition and were favourites ahead of the second-placed Dolphins at the end of the regular season.
The Dolphins had other ideas.
"We went in to the game smarter, stronger and fitter,” he said.
"Going into the break (28-6 up) we were confident of the win.
"But it wasn't until 10 to 15 minutes into the second half where we knew the game was won.”
The electrician, based in Brisbane, will remain at the club for another FOGS season and aims for another title.
"Footy is a big part of my life but being a sparky is going well,” he said.
"I'll have another year in the 20s but hope to also crack the full-time squad at Redcliffe during training for the new season.
"The aim now is to go back-to-back.”
O'Shea will have his shoulder looked at later this week and said plenty of people in Bundaberg helped him towards his success.
"I want to thank the rugby league program at Shalom College and the Bundaberg Rugby League as well for their help.”