With both sides set to meet this weekend at Apex Oval in the Graincorp Cup (northern division) competition minor semi-final it was thought that they both would do everything possible to stamp their superiority over the other.

Instead, and as they did in the first round, the visitors continually pilfered the ruck ball and certainly had the better of possession and play without success.

After camping near the Rhino line for most of the early period Kooka halfback, Ben Blake, found a gap and posted first point of the game.

The try was converted by fly half Harley Stanley and at this early stage, with the weight of play running their way, it was thought that the Kookas might grab the win on home turf.

But that try ignited the visitors into action through the forwards with captain Brett Austin leading the way with a number of barging runs, ably assisted by No.8 Jordan Davis and lock, Scott Francis.

Suddenly the Rhino pack was driving the home side backwards and at the 35th minute fullback Ed Morrish joined a backline raid to score out wide.

Halfback Chris Hobson, after an unhappy game with the boot last week, levelled the scores at 7-7.

It was during this time that the Rhinos pack produced some of their best efforts of the season and continued to hammer a tiring Kookas opposition.

A few minutes later, right before the bell, Morrish again found himself in the line and collected a double and in that short inspired time the Rhinos had jumped to a 17-7 lead at oranges.

No sooner had referee Evelyn George blown time back on when Rhino outside centre Ricky Weatherall sprinted through a gap 40m out and outpaced the Kookas in a diagonal run to the line.

Hobson kept up his perfect record and the visitors were moving along comfortably at 24-7.

But as has happened so often this season the Rhinos failed to threaten the Kookas line for the rest of the game which declined into a scrappy, unstructured affair.

In the 73rd minute Kookas flanker, Sebastian Fox burrowed over for an unconverted try and the final score of 24-12.

The Rhinos went into this game with a faint chance of displacing Yeoval in second place but needed to win with a (four try) bonus point but displayed little urgency as the game clock ran down and finished the season in third position after leading the table for much of the competition.

To win the cup Rhinos will have to win the next three games.

Unfortunately, if they play the grand final, it will be away from Apex and the team will have to battle both their opponents and passionate crowds over the next few weeks.

If the Rhinos can produce the style of play which they showed on Saturday there is no reason that they cannot give the premiership a real shake but, failure to follow any game plan and maintain any sort of structure in attack and defence, will mean an early and disappointing end to the season

Austin played his best game of the season and his teammates responded in kind.

Davis revels in the go forward and Francis is regaining the fitness which made him such a damaging runner of a few years ago.

Hobson played well, making a number of incisive runs as well as his accuracy with the boot, but the service to some sharp outside backs was one-dimensional and while the backline had some space to move there was little variety in attack.

Centre Weatherall and winger Rob Davy made the most of limited chances and fullback Ed Morrish, with his two tries, was a safe custodian (when he remembered to drop back).

Next week the Rhinos welcome back hooker Tom Kainuku.

His replacement, Mitch Williams was an able replacement. Kane Rich returns to the side of the scrum and Chris Daley will strengthen the backline on his return.