The Northern Raiders have taken out the 2012 Under 16 State Development Championships Grand Final, beating the Country Kookaburras by 6 points in a thriller at Yeronga today. ...

The Kookaburras drew first blood, dribbling through a goal in the opening minutes of the match, but it was the Raiders who controlled play for much of the first quarter going into the break 2.3.15 to the Kookaburras 1.1.7

The North Queenslanders pegged the lead back to three points in the second quarter before two long running goals from the Raiders saw them head into the main break with a 15 point lead.

The Kookaburras started the third quarter well, goaling early before the Raiders hit back late in the term with two goals on the trot to lead 7.6.48 to 4.2.26 at three quarter time.

Going into the last quarter it looked all over for the Kookaburras, but the plucky Country boys staged a late revival, kicking three goals late in the term to narrow the final margin to just one goal.

The fulltime scoreboard read Northern Raiders 8.9.57 to the Country Kookaburras 8.3.51

Northern Raiders Captain Liam Dawson was named player of the carnival.

Northern Raiders Goal Kickers: Nathan Buckley 2, Luke Barker 2, Jonah Eoe, Jack Marquis, Liam Mosley, Tyler Cester

Best: Liam Dawson, Liam Richardson, Corey Wagner, Jacob Watson, Jeremy De Bortoli, Joel Kennedy, Jackson Dickfos

Country Kookaburras Goal Kickers: Myra Tomsana 4, Jow Llewelyn, Henjo Mareko, Josh Evans

Best: Myra Tomsana, Didymys Blankett, Mitch Koch, Jak Williams, Rhys Bridg