Queensland Cup Preview - Rnd 21

REDCLIFFE v TWEED HEADS
Dolphin Oval, Saturday August 12, 2pm *Live on ABC TV
Referee: Justin Eastwood

THE STORY: REDCLIFFE winger Kaine Manihera is unlikely to appear again this season after being hit with a three-match ban for a dangerous throw. This match against Tweed Heads will be the club?s last of the regular season. A win by Tweed will assure the Seagulls of a spot in the top five.

THE STAT: Redcliffe leads Tweed Heads by just nine points on the Spotless Club Championship ladder, with all three grades set to be tight tussles this weekend. The Dolphins (242pts) can score a maximum 20 points before the end of the regular season, while Tweed Heads (233pts) can score 40 before the champion club is decided.

THE STAR: Forward Danny Burke will join the famous row of etchings inside the Dolphins Leagues Club when he brings up 150 first grade games for Redcliffe on Saturday. Originally from Mitchell, the former Broncos colt lied about being a centre so he could gain a start at the club.

CHANGES: REDCLIFFE ? In: Chris Giumelli. Out: Kaine Manihera
TWEED HEADS ? In: Matt Austin. Out: Matt Briggs.

CHARGES: REDCLIFFE ? Kaine Manihera (Grade 3 Dangerous Throw, Early Plea, 3wks + 93pts).

Redcliffe Dolphins
Players:
1. Ryan CULLEN
2. Chris GIUMELLI
3. Greg BOURKE
4. Nick EMMETT
5. Rory BROMLEY
6. Chris FOX
7. Marty TURNER
13. Gerard PARLE
12. Danny BURKE
11. Grant FLUGGE
10. Adam STARR
9. Michael ROBERTS
8. Troy LINDSAY (c)
Interchange:
14. Nick WALKER
15. Mark SHIPWAY
16. Danny GREEN
17. Pat GARDNER
Coach: Anthony GRIFFIN

Tweed Heads
Players:
1. Ryan MILLIGAN
2. Nathanael BARNES
3. James WOOD
4. Josh VAUGHAN
5. Ryan O'CONNELL
6. Brad DAVIS
7. Paul ROLLS
13. Matt POW
12. Dean ALLEN
11. Tom PRICHARD
10. Roy FRIEND
9. Matt KING
8. Matt AUSTIN
Interchange:
14. Andrew MORONEY
15. Selasi BERDIE
16. Cory BOND
17. Josh PEACOCK
Coach: Steve MURPHY

EASTS v IPSWICH
Langlands Park, Saturday August 12, 3pm
Referee: Gavin Morris

THE STORY: Looking to consolidate its top five position, Easts takes on last-placed Ipswich. The Tigers beat the Jets 38-24 earlier this year, but will be mindful of an upset as Trevor Gillmeister?s men look to finish the year on a high. These sides annually contest the Luxury Paints Cup.

THE STAT: Ipswich has not beaten a top five team this season. The Jets? three wins have come against Wynnum Manly (twice) and Norths. However the most recent clash between Ipswich and Easts (Rd 14, 2005) at Langlands Park resulted in a 30-24 win by the Jets.

THE STAR: After what coach Michael Booth described as a ?grease and oil change?, Easts forward Marcus Jensen will make his second comeback from jaw injury this season. Jensen broke his jaw early in the year and feared he had fractured it again in a recent match. However subsequent test showed he had merely loosened the screws on the plate which had been inserted to stabilise the area.

CHANGES: EASTS ? In: Steele Retchless, Brett McPherson, Marcus Jensen. Out: Mike Hobbs, Scott Young, David Georgiou.
IPSWICH ? In: Luke Walker, Steven West. Out: Josh Costello, Ricky Bird.

CHARGES: None

Easts Tigers
Players:
1. Kevin STEPHENSEN
2. John TAMANIKA
3. Matt LOCKYER (c)
4. Mark McKENZIE
5. David TYRRELL
6. Luke BRANIGHAN
7. Brett McPHERSON
13. Steele RETCHLESS
12. Marty ALLEN
11. Mark CANTONI
10. Trevor EXTON
9. Jamie TOMLINSON
8. Scott SIPPLE
Interchange:
14. Cameron DURNFORD
15. Damian DURNFORD
16. Steve GOODHEW
17. Marcus JENSEN
Coach: Michael BOOTH

Ipswich Jets
Players:
1. Luke WALKER
2. Ben McFADGEAN
3. Rickie DODD
4. Chris SCANLAN
5. Jonathon MUIR
6. Travis BAKER
7. Steven WEST
13. Danny COBURN
12. Joel REITHMULLER
11. Daniel FULLARTON
10. Isaak AH MAU
9. McKenna GIBSON
8. Cameron MULCAHY
Interchange:
14. Matt McPHEE
15. Mat CAMERON
16. Tyson LOFIPO
17. Aaron WERTH
Coach: Trevor GILLMEISTER

TOOWOOMBA v SOUTHS LOGAN
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Saturday August 12, 3.00pm
Referee: Clayton Sharpe

THE STORY: A win here is vital for Toowoomba if it wants to make the August 19 clash against North Queensland a true battle for the minor premiership. The Clydesdales have been hit hard by Brett Seymour?s sacking from the Brisbane Broncos, but will be used to the chopping and changing on match eve which has occurred all year.

THE STAT: Souths Logan has still not beaten the Clydesdales in a Wizard Cup match since June 30, 1996. Over that time the Magpies have conceded an average of roughly 50 points per game against Toowoomba. Still if they can recapture their early season form, an upset is not entirely outside the realms of possibility.

THE STAR: Pat Dall has been named to fill Seymour?s jersey this weekend. It?s fair to say the two share markedly different profiles. Two seasons ago Dall was a member of the Brothers Valleys team which did not win a game, while Seymour was a rising star of the NRL. Nevertheless Dall has played a part in some wonderful tries in recent weeks.

CHANGES: TOOWOOMBA ? In: Gideon Mzembe, Jason Moon, Chris Muckert, Ben Green. Out: Todd Parnell, Brett Seymour, David Stagg, Joel Moon .
SOUTHS LOGAN ? No announced changes.

CHARGES: None
Toowoomba Clydesdales
Players:
1. Scott MINTO
2. Denan KEMP
3. Steve MICHAELS
4. Jamie SIMPSON
5. Gideon MZEMBE
6. Pat DALL
7. Ben GREEN
13. Lachlan MORGAN
12. Ben VAEAU
11. Chris MUCKERT
10. Dave TAYLOR
9. John TE REO
8. Dane CARLAW
Interchange:
14. Luke BROSNAN
15. Lynden MURPHY
16. Simona VAVEGA
17. Jason MOON
Coach: Mark GEE

Souths Logan Magpies
Players:
1. Quentin LAULU-TOGAGAE
2. Tyrone COPPEDGE
3. Michael ANSCHAU
4. Damian WILLIS
5. Derek FLETCHER
6. Brandon COSTIN
7. Phil DENNIS
13. Jason MITCHELL
12. Tanu WULF
11. Jerry AHERN
10. Josh GRIFFITH
9. Cameron JOYCE
8. Angus MARTIN
Interchange:
14. Stanley FAU
15. Chris McGURK
16. Shaun NIPPERESS
17. Tim CANNARD
Coach: Mark GLIDDON

CENTRAL v NORTHS
Browne Park, Saturday August 12, 7.30pm
Referee: Brett Suttor

THE STORY: Imagine if last year?s wooden spooners could finish the season higher than the feeder club for the NRL?s most dominant team. That could well be the case if Central finishes the year with wins against Norths and Easts in Rockhampton.

THE STAT: It?s not quite in the Greg Inglis category, but for a forward it?s not bad going. Sam Tagataese has scored nine tries in 11 games for Norths this year, including a hat-trick against Toowoomba last week. It continues a prolific record which he carried all the way through junior grades.

THE STAR: Between them Matt Rua and Jamie Feeney boast nearly 200 games at NRL level. It will be interesting to see how the younger backrowers such as Tagataese, Matthew Bartlett and Tyron Haynes perform in their midst. Norths boss Mark Murray admitted earlier this year he would have been interested in Rua, had he known he was available.

CHANGES: CENTRAL ? In: Marty Hatfield. Out: Brendon Gibb.
NORTHS ? In: Jamie Feeney. Out: James Aubusson.

CHARGES: NORTHS ? James Aubusson (Grade 1 Careless High Tackle, Early Plea + 93pts, 1wk + 49pts). Jeffery Lima (Grade 1 Careless High tackle, Early Plea, 0wks + 56pts).

Central Comets
Players:
1. Jimmy McCONACHY
2. Christian DAVIES
3. Marty HATFIELD
4. Misi TAULAPAPA
5. McConkie TAUASA
6. Scott PORTER
7. Guy WILLIAMS
13. Matt RUA
12. Wayne BARNETT
11. Tyron HAYNES
10. Peter PENAIA
9. Herewini RANGI
8. Aaron SWEENEY
Interchange:
14. Kristian MENE
15. Mark SINIULA
16. Marty OBORN
17. Cheyenne MOTU
Coach: Matt PARISH

Norths Devils
Players:
1. Smith SAMAU
2. Chad LEACH
3. Jackson NICOLAU
4. Ryan SHORTLAND
5. Steve FRANCISCUS
6. Michael BOND
7. Isaac KAUFMANN
13. Trent HENRICK
12. Jamie FEENEY
11. Matthew BARTLETT
10. Jeffery LIMA
9. Brenton STONIER
8. Troy HANSEN
Interchange:
14. Brendan AFITU
15. Aaron MORGAN
16. Sam TAGATAESE
17. Phil WUERSCHING
Coach: Wayne TRELEAVEN

WYNNUM MANLY v NORTH QLD
BMD Kougari Oval, Sunday August 13, 3pm * Live on Bay FM 100.3
Referee: Michael Wise

THE STORY: Wynnum Manly considered itself unlucky to lose 18-14 to the Young Guns earlier this year and will be keen for another good showing. A big crowd should be on hand to cheer the Seagulls home, given it is the club?s last home game of the year and the Australian Primary Schools titles kick-off at Kougari straight after this match.

THE STAT: Last year Scott Smith tallied 25 points in the QANTAS Player of the Year award to be among the leading contenders. With reduced opportunities at North Queensland he has not earned a single vote this year. However he has earned considerable respect playing for the Herbert River Crushers in the Townsville league. Although forced to travel three-hour round trips to play ?home? games in Ingham, he has displayed great passion for his adopted club.

THE STAR: Schoolboy speedster Obe Geia sizzled with two second half tries for the Young Guns against Redcliffe last week. Between Geia, Brenton Bowen and Rodney Barba, there should be some eye-catching tries from this game.

CHANGES: WYNNUM MANLY ? No announced changes.
NORTH QLD ? In: Brenton Bowen, Scott Smith, Dean Payne. Out: Neil Sweeney, Clint Amos, Rod Jensen.

CHARGES: None.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Players:
1. Tangi ROPATI
2. Rodney BARBA
3. Brian JELLICK
4. Steve IRWIN
5. Chris CURRIE
6. Jim AHMAT
7. Albert TALIPEAU
13. Luke DALZIEL-DON
12. Darren BAIN
11. John BRUCE
10. Sam CRABB
9. Zac CHISHOLM
8. Fili SOFA
Interchange:
14. Josh ROVELLI
15. MicHael COOREY
16. Daniel EVANS
17. Kerry SMITH
Coach: Neil WHARTON

North Qld Young Guns
Players:
1. Jason BARSLEY
2. Brenton BOWEN
3. Mark DALLE CORT
4. Jamie FRIZZO
5. Obe GEIA
6. Brett FIRMAN
7. Brent McCONNELL
13. Shane MUSPRATT
12. Scott BOLTON
11. Daniel STRICKLAND
10. Sam FAUST
9. Scott SMITH
8. Ray CASHMERE
Interchange:
14. Dean PAYNE
15. Leigh COGHILL
16. Jim ANDERSEN
17. Greg BYRNES
Coach: Mick CRAWLEY

BURLEIGH ? Bye
CHARGES: None.