A PRODUCTIVE week long camp was the catalyst for the Queensland Universities rugby league team’s 48-4 trouncing of their New South Wales counterparts at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium.

After leading 16-0 at half-time, Queensland piled on another six tries in a clinical performance.

Flashy Queensland winger Michael Comerford completed a fine debut match, crossing for a hat-trick of tries and booting six goals for a personal tally of 24 points.

Vice-captain Jonathan Crawley and livewire five-eighth Brogan Gibson each crossed for a brace of four-pointers.

Maroons coach Paul Srama was wrapped with his side’s performance. He said the team’s ability to stick to the basics helped pave the way for the nine tries to one romp.

“I was really impressed with the way that the guys stuck to the game plan of building pressure, and particularly the way that we executed our plays,” Srama said.

“The hunger and commitment that our guys showed, particularly in the way that we attacked them in defence, really laid the platform for the match.

“Our forwards rolled their sleeves up and laid the foundations, allowing guys like Brendan Stonier, Robert Peters and Brogan Gibson to capitalise.”

Gibson’s sensational array of attacking skills earned him man of the match honors, with the spritely Souths Logan Magpies utility either creating tries or scoring them himself with his deceptive speed and deft passing game.

Back-rowers Eugene Seddon and Martin Cordwell made many destructive busts out on the fringes, while prop and skipper Matt Ross generated plenty of second phase play with his off-loading skills.

Universities manager Martin Unicomb described the week long camp as a terrific bonding experience.

“It was a dominant performance right across the board; every player showed the type of dedication and commitment that the Maroons jersey is renowned for,” Unicomb said.

“I haven’t been involved in such a polished and utterly dominant performance in all the years I have been involved in Universities rugby league.”

Such was Queensland’s dominance, 15 Maroons players were selected to represent Australia in the Universities Rugby League World Cup in Brisbane from July 4-16.

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