By Matthew Mazzier Bautista for the Griffith Journal

7 September 2026

Title photo by Matthew Chirico

The Griffith Dragons’ season has ended in heartbreak following their Grand Final loss to the UniSC Spartans this past Thursday.

The thrilling fixture wasn’t decided until the final minutes with the two competition heavyweights trading blows on the grand stage.

UniSC started the game quickly putting the pressure on Griffith in the early stages, winning the territory battle.

Any resistance that Griffith put up was quickly put to rest with the Dragons conceding in the 8^th minute.

The UniSC player reached out to ground the ball underneath the posts, guaranteeing the conversion that ensued, opening the scores at 0-6.

Following the restart, the Spartans produced an excellent set forcing Griffith to start their push in their own 10-metre line.

Game management was big in this game with the teams battling for territory, before UniSC got caught delaying Griffith’s play-the-ball.

With the gifted field positioning, the Dragons scored through Terence Kane following an offload from halfback Lachlan Moore.

With the scores at 4-6, Griffith’s follow up set was superb, forcing an error with their kick pressure.

The Dragons were knocking at the door, with Emmanuel Tupigo going himself from dummy half, to give Griffith the lead at 8-6 in the 24^th minute.

UniSC hit back immediately with their restart forcing a Griffith drop-out.

With the Dragons on their heels, the Spartans took back the lead in the 28^th minute making scores 8-12.

Off the restart UniSC marched up the field forcing Griffith to start the set from their own 20-metre line.

But with another ruck infringement, Griffith were gifted excellent field positioning nullifying the Spartans’ work.

A 32^nd minute Lachlan Moore solo effort tied the scores, with the teams going back to the sheds with a 12-12 scoreline.

Coming out of the break, Griffith conceded a penalty following a superb yardage set.

UniSC punished the Dragons’ ill-discipline taking back the lead, 12-18.

It didn’t take long for the Sunshine Coast to put another try on, going over in the 46^th minute, extending their lead 12-22.

Griffith desperate to get back in the game, were denied a try scoring opportunity with the Spartans’ defence holding the ball up in-goal.

With tensions flaring, the Dragons’ defence dug deep forcing another UniSC error in their own half.

On the second time of asking, Griffith scored with Ben Rynsbergen crashing over to make the scores 18-22.

However, Griffith’s momentum was short-lived with the Spartans immediately dragging them back in-goal, forcing a drop-out.

The Dragons’ defence denied the Spartans but were caught out trying to push their way up the field, handing over the ball on their own 40-metre line.

UniSC then tightened their grip on the game going over in the 58^th minute drawing their lead out to 18-26.

Going into the championship rounds, both teams began trading blows, marching up the field battling it out for territory.

Jessie Osborne brought Griffith back into the game with an outstanding chip and chase scoring in the left corner, giving the Dragons life with the scores at 22-26.

But with a Dragons error in-goal off the restart, UniSC stood tall scoring in the 68^th minute, all but sealing the game at 22-32.

The final siren for the 2026 season sounded and the UniSC Spartans successfully defended their premiership going back-to-back.

Despite not completing the clean sweep, the Dragons can be proud of the season they put together this year, building a solid foundation for the next season.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Riley’s article as he recaps the Dragons’ 2026 URLQ campaign.

The title photo was taken by Matthew Chirico

Follow him on Instagram: @mattygcmedia