Phillip Sami returned to Pizzey Park to help the Burleigh Bears defeat the Norths Devils 26-12 at Pizzey Park on Saturday evening.
The dynamic Titans winger got through plenty of hard work and showed a few moments of class in a solid outing for the Bears, his second appearance for the year.
With the likes of Jesse Arthars, Jai Whitbread and Jack Stockwell all emerging as NRL regulars in recent weeks, Sami was the only Titan on display as the Bears fought their way to their 11th win of the season.
Norths were first on the scoreboard with a 7th minute penalty goal, but it was Burleigh who had the better of the opening exchanges, running in tries in the 14th and 25th minute.
First it was Jacob Hind who dove on a well-placed Dylan Phythian grubber kick, before Sami Sauiluma muscled over with brute force to score from close range.
The Devils had won the last four encounters between the two sides and managed to turn the game in their favour approaching halftime.
Troy Dargan was outstanding at halfback and was rewarded with an opportunistic kick-and-chase try in the 34th minute, bringing the Devils within a converted try at the break.
They came out swinging in the second half as the game descended into an arm wrestle, closing the gap to just two points when a pin-point Dargan kick sent Paul Uhlberg over in the left corner.
With the game ripe for the taking, it was Josh Rogers who delivered in the 65th minute, taking the line on with a big dummy and surging into the backfield to score the crucial try.
Rogers has been a breakout star for the Bears in 2019, with his continued good form earning him a spot on the bench despite regular starting five-eighth Dylan Phythian returning from injury in recent weeks.
An Oliver Percy try in the 73rd minute sealed Burleigh’s eighth win in their last nine games. The Bears return to action in two weeks, when they travel to Ipswich to face the Jets.
Burleigh Bears 26 (Jacob Hind, Sami Sauiluma, Josh Rogers, Oliver Percy tries) def Norths Devils 12 (Troy Dargan, Paul Uhlberg tries Connor Broadhurst 2 goals) at Pizzey Park
