Wet Weather Creates an Origin-Style Grind
With the offshore grounds still closed, Day 4/5 became the rugby league equivalent of an Origin arm wrestle. 🌧️🌊 There were no flashy long-range tries today, just hard-earned metres, gritty performances and anglers making every opportunity count in the estuaries.
⭐ Player of the Day
Rennae Soutar earned Player of the Match honours with a monster 913mm Flathead, producing the standout fish of the day and stamping authority on the Flathead division. It was the sort of play that swings an Origin series.
🎣 The Categories
⚫ Blackfish
Callum Carmont wore the captain’s armband today, leading the charge with a 420mm fish ahead of Jayden Newton (390mm) and Katelyn Bodley (377mm).
🥇 Bream-Tarwhine
Mal Hancock continued his outstanding tournament, topping the daily leaderboard with 431mm, while Jamie Stratford (420mm) and Ethan Donnelly (416mm) kept the pressure on.
⚡ Dart
Ryan Kernaghan crossed for the match-winning “try” in Dart with a 430mm fish, narrowly edging Adam Little (425mm) and Alan Veselis (417mm). A genuine photo finish.
🐊 Flathead
Rennae Soutar’s 913mm giant stole the headlines, while Mathew Flaherty (889mm) and Damin Payne (867mm) rounded out a quality podium.
👑 Judges Choice
As unpredictable as an Origin referee’s whistle, Randy Harris produced the day’s most talked-about capture with a massive 1600mm Shovelnose Shark. Hayden Simpson’s 398mm Mangrove Jack and Shonel Reeves’ 130mm Mud Crab proved just how diverse this competition can be.
🐟 Mulloway
Cooper Trickett kept the pressure firmly on the tournament leader with a superb 1299mm Mulloway, while Dylan Carbery (978mm) and Daniel Outterbridge (950mm) also found quality fish despite the difficult conditions.
💥 Tailor
Peter Watts led the day’s charge with 649mm, just ahead of Ryan Kernaghan (621mm) and Shane Griffiths (617mm) in another tightly contested division.
🌊 Whiting
Alexander Klassen continued his impressive form, taking daily honours with 443mm, while Malcolm Boddy (360mm) and Adam Little (356mm) completed the podium.
🏆 Full-Time Siren
Day 4/5 wasn’t about quantity—it was all about quality. With offshore fishing unavailable, every legal fish was like a hard-earned set restart in State of Origin. The anglers who adapted to the conditions were rewarded, and with the weather still playing a huge role, the championship remains wide open.
🏉🎣 Just like Origin, it’s not always the team with the most opportunities that wins—it’s the one that makes the most of them.
Overall Summary
🛡️ Defence Wins Championships
Just like Queensland and NSW throwing everything at each other on the goal line, several category leaders absorbed relentless pressure but refused to give up their jerseys.
🎣 Bream-Tarwhine – Mal Hancock continues to hold first place despite Natalie Reynolds and Nathan Byron keeping the pressure on.
⚫ Blackfish – Brendon Palmer still wears the No.1 jersey with Ray Palmer and Bernard Richter waiting for any mistake.
⚡ Dart – Mark Bonnor’s Day 2 fish remains just enough to stay in front of Ryan Kernaghan and Tom McCall in one of the closest inshore battles.
🎣 Tailor – Shane Griffiths continues to lead the pack, but Ryan Kernaghan and Angus Gover remain within striking distance if conditions improve.
🏆 Judges Choice – Like the Wally Lewis Medal, this one can reward something special rather than simply the biggest fish. With changing conditions and fewer fish being presented, expect this category to remain one of the most unpredictable right through to the final whistle.
🏉 The Decider Awaits
With offshore closed, scoring opportunities were few and far between, turning this into a true Origin-style arm wrestle. Every legal fish mattered, every millimetre counted and every leaderboard movement felt like a match-winning try.
If the weather opens up for the final sessions, expect anglers to come out firing. Just like a State of Origin decider, one last big play could be all that’s needed to lift the trophy.
🎣🏆 The siren hasn’t sounded yet… the championship is still there to be won.
