Qld Cup Preview - Rnd 15 (Wk 2)

BURLEIGH v REDCLIFFE
Pizzey Park, Saturday July 1, 2.00pm *Live on ABC TV
Referee: Justin Eastwood

THE STORY: Redcliffe will field one of its most inexperienced sides ever in the Wizard Cup, with four players ? Ryan Cullen, Michael Roberts, Troy Lindsay and Adam Starr ? missing due to Queensland Residents commitments. Furthermore centre Nick Emmett will miss his second game due to a tripping charge, while Pat Gardner has a knee injury. Burleigh could possibly jump into the top five if results go its way.

THE STAT: Defying the common Wizard Cup trend, Burleigh holds a significant head-to-head advantage over Redcliffe, winning 15 of 24 encounters. The Bears also knocked the Dolphins out of last year?s finals.

THE STAR: Just 17, Matt Gillett will debut for the Dolphins on the wing. Originally from Bribie Island, the young fencer scored four tries in a recent Colts match.

CHANGES: BURLEIGH ? In: Wayne Phillis, James Griffiths, Aseri Laing, Adam Hayden. Out: Dimitri Pelo, Clay Harris, Shane O?Flanagan, Jordan Atkins.
REDCLIFFE ? In: Pat McGill, Matt Gillett, Dominic Fallini, Nick Walker, Danny Green, Chris Jelich. Out: Ryan Cullen, Nick Emmett, Pat Gardner, Michael Roberts, Troy Lindsay, Adam Starr.

CHARGES: None.

Burleigh Bears
Players:
1. Reggie CRESSBROOK
2. Trent PURDON
3. Chris BARNES
4. Jamie RUSSO
5. Aseri LAING
6. Adam HAYDEN
7. Ryan GUNDRY
13. Robert APANUI
12. Adam HUTCHISON
11. Martin GRIESE
10. Josh BLATCH
9. Matthew DOEG
8. Ali BROWN

Interchange:
14. James GRIFFITHS
15. Travis SIMPSON
16. Wayne PHILLIS
17. Marty MITCHELL

Coach: Jimmy LENIHAN

Redcliffe Dolphins
Players:
1. Kaine MANIHERA
2. Tim YEE
3. Pat McGILL
4. Greg BOURKE
5. Matt GILLETT
6. Rory BROMLEY
7. Chris FOX
13. Gerard PARLE
12. Danny BURKE
11. Grant FLUGGE
10. Dominic FALLINI
9. Shannon FISH
8. Damian JENTZ

Interchange:
14. Nick WALKER
15. Richie RUSSELL
16. Danny GREEN
17. Chris JELICH

Coach: Anthony GRIFFIN

EASTS v WYNNUM MANLY
Langlands Park, Saturday July 1, 3.00pm.
Referee: Gavin Morris

THE STORY: Easts has delivered big news this week, appointing Des Morris as its new chief executive and formalising ties with South Sydney. The Rabbitohs will not have a reserve grade side in 2006 and will dual register players with Easts and Norths Sydney. In a record 224 first grade games for Easts, Morris captained the Tigers to three premierships. Significantly, he later coached Wynnum to two titles.

THE STAT: Easts halfback Brett McPherson becomes just the second player to record 200 Wizard Cup games this weekend. The agile veteran has played the bulk of his games with the Tigers, but also spent time with Wynnum. Redcliffe?s Troy Lindsay is the only other player to have reached the milestone.

THE STAR: Despite seven tries in the last three weeks in FOGS Cup, Aaron Barba has still been overlooked for Wizard Cup duties. Even with Simon Phillips away on Residents duty, Wynnum coach Neil Wharton has opted for Aaron?s older brother Rodney out wide.

CHANGES: EASTS ? In: Mike Hobbs, Cameron Durnford, Damian Durnford. Out: Matt Lockyer, Luke Branighan, Alec Fata.
WYNNUM MANLY ? In: Chris Currie, Sam Crabb, Zac Chisholm. Out: Justin Loewe, Simon Phillips, Bart Masters.

CHARGES: None

Easts Tigers
Players:
1. Kevin STEPHENSEN
2. John TAMANIKA
3. Shane NEUMANN
4. Donald MALONE
5. David TYRRELL
6. Mike HOBBS
7. Brett McPHERSON
13. Mark CANTONI
12. Steele RETCHLESS
11. Marty ALLEN
10. Trevor EXTON
9. Jamie TOMLINSON
8. Scott SIPPLE

Interchange:
14. Cameron DURNFORD
15. Damian PETRIE
16. Steve GOODHEW
17. Damian DURNFORD

Coach: Michael BOOTH

Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Players:
1. Bill WYATT
2. Rodney BARBA
3. Chris CURRIE
4. Steve IRWIN
5. Tangi ROPATI
6. Jimmy AHMAT
7. Daniel EVANS
13. Luke DALZIEL DON
12. Darren BAIN
11. John BRUCE
10. Josh ROVELLI
9. Albert TALIPEAU
8. Fili SOFA

Interchange:
14. Sam CRABB
15. Gary WINTER
16. Zac CHISHOLM
17. Kerry SMITH

Coach: Neil WHARTON

CENTRAL v TOOWOOMBA
Browne Park, Saturday July 1, 7.30pm.
Referee: Justin Davis

THE STORY: The Toowoomba team which took apart Ipswich 70-10 a fornight ago has been dismantled itself, with five players out due to conflicting commitments. Central isn?t resting on its laurels after beating Wynnum last-up. The Comets have called Anthony Toby, McConkie Tauasa and Michael Esdale back into the side, aiming to keep pace with the finals contenders.

THE STAT: Sixteen games in the Queensland Wizard Cup. That?s all Ben Vaeau has had to endue to convince Brisbane Broncos staff he is ready for the step up to NRL. The Kiwi junior has featured in five games this year since returning from a badly shattered kneecap.

THE STAR: Debutant Brynjar Ragnarsson has one of the more unusual backgrounds in rugby league, coming from Icelandic stock. Just a teenager, the young prop played for South East at the QRL Open Age Championships at Kawana earlier this year.

CHANGES: CENTRAL ? In: Anthony Toby, McConkie Tauasa, Michael Esdale. Out: Marty Hatfield, Dallas Williams, Mark Siniula.
TOOWOOMBA ? In: Charlie Fetoai, Brynjar Ragnarsson, Jason Moon, Lachlan Morgan, Todd Parnell. Out: Joel Moon, Brett Seymour, David Taylor, Neville Costigan, Ben Vaeau.

CHARGES: None

Central Comets
Players:
1. Jimmy McCONACHY
2. Anthony TOBY
3. Shannon STITT
4. Misi TUALAPAPA
5. McConkie TAUASA
6. Scott PORTER
7. Denny LAMBERT
13. Matt RUA
12. Wayne BARNETT
11. Tyron HAYNES
10. Pete PENAIA
9. Jade WOGAND
8. Aaron SWEENEY

Interchange:
14. Kristian MENE
15. Mick ESDALE
16. Andrew DALE
17. Herewini RANGI

Coach: Matt PARISH

Toowoomba Clydesdales
Players:
1. Nick PARFITT
2. Gideon MZEMBE
3. Charlie FETOAI
4. Leon BOTT
5. Denan KEMP
6. Jamie SIMPSON
7. Ben GREEN
13. John TE REO
12. Joe CLARKE
11. Derricke WATKINS
10. Lynden MURPHY
9. Michael GREEN
8. Chris MUCKERT

Interchange:
14. Brynjar RAGNARSSON
15. Jason MOON
16. Lachlan MORGAN
17. Todd PARNELL

Coach: Mark GEE

NORTHS v TWEED HEADS
Bishop Park, Sunday July 2, 3.00pm
Referee: Clayton Sharpe

THE STORY: You don?t get many bigger drawcards in rugby league than speed sensation Billy Slater. A State of Origin hero in 2004, Slater will be back where his NRL dream began, at Bishop Park. From Innisfail Slater drove for 20 hours so he could trial with Norths as a teenager, recommended by Mark Murray?s good friend Greg Bandiera.

THE STAT: Tweed?s Dean Allen needs just eight more games to reach 150 in the Wizard Cup. Last week he escaped suspension for a careless high tackle charge, entering an early plea. Teammate Josh Vaughan is welcomed back from a two-week stint for a similar offence.

THE STAR: Aside from Slater, Norths welcomes back another old boy in Glen Turner. Turner has played 56 NRL games since debuting in season 2000.

CHANGES: NORTHS ? In: Billy Slater, Ryan Shortland, Sam Tagataese, Matthew Bartlett, Glen Turner, Troy Hansen. Out: Will Chambers, Jackson Nicolau, Anthony Boyd, Adam Blair, Nathan Turner, Scott Anderson.
TWEED HEADS ? In: Ryan Milligan, Ryan O?Connell, Josh Vaughan, Daniel Molenaar. Out: Nathan Small, Chris Enahoro, Luke Kelly, Jay McDermott.

CHARGES: None.

Norths Devils
Players:
1. Billy SLATER
2. Aaron MORGAN
3. Smith SAMAU
4. Ryan SHORTLAND
5. Chad LEACH
6. James AUBUSSON
7. Isaac KAUFMANN
13. Sam TAGATAESE
12. Matthew BARTLETT
11. Aaron BULOW
10. Will SCANLON
9. Brenton STONIER
8. Glen TURNER

Interchange:
14. Trent HENRICK
15. Brendan AFITU
16. Troy HANSEN
17. Steve FRANCISCUS

Coach: Wayne TRELEAVEN

Tweed Heads
Players:
1. Ryan MILLIGAN
2. Ryan O'CONNELL
3. David STRACHAN
4. Josh VAUGHAN
5. Nat BARNES
6. Brad DAVIS
7. Tim MACCAN
13. Matt POW
12. Dean ALLEN
11. Selasi BERDIE
10. Roy FRIEND
9. Matt KING
8. Tom PRICHARD

Interchange:
14. Cory BOND
15. James WOOD
16. Josh PEACOCK
17. Daniel MOLENAAR

Coach: Steve MURPHY

NORTH QLD ? Bye

CHARGES: None.

ROUND 15 (Wk 1) Result
SOUTHS LOGAN 44 (Chris Sandow 2, Tyrone Coppedge 2, Tanu Wulf 2, Mase Laulu Togagae, Stanley Fau tries; Mase Laulu-Togagae 6 goals) d IPSWICH 34 (Joel Reithmuller, Geoff Holcombe, Daniel Fullarton, Travis Baker, Ben McFadgean, Matthew Cameron tries; Travis Baker 5 goals) at QLD Group Stadium.