QUEENSLAND CUP
ROUND 15 PREVIEW

WYNNUM SEAGULLS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS Kougari Oval, Saturday 2pm, July 2.

As with all matches this weekend, the form guide for the ABC televised game will need to be adjusted in accordance with the with the unavailability of Queensland Residents representatives.

For Wynnum this means the absence of three-quarters Damien Quinn and Jim Ahmat, while Redcliffe will be without Shane Perry, Ryan Cullen and Jamie Russo.

The Seagulls? captaincy is handed from Quinn to Jace Van Dijk , while Troy Lindsay will take Perry?s mantle as Dolphins skipper.

Both clubs have had to make some surprise selections to cover their losses, most notably the announcement of representative backrower Daniel Green as Redcliffe five-eighth.

For Wynnum, centres Herman Lafaele and Michael Wilhelmson will play their first State League games of the season.

Matches between Wynnum and Redcliffe are traditionally fought out for the Herald Cup and this weekend?s clash will also assist in determining the top five. At present Redcliffe holds fourth spot, however a win by Wynnum could catapult the Gulls above both the Dolphins and Toowoomba.

Redcliffe sharp-shooter Greg Bourke needs 15 points to overtake John Wilshere and become the third-highest pointscorer in Queensland Cup history behind Damian Richters and Reggie Cressbrook.

Fresh from officiating the City Country match, the referee for Saturday?s match will be Justin Eastwood.

WYNNUM: Daniel Sorbello, Simon Phillips, Herman Lafaele, Michael Wilhelmson, Michael Rose, Nathan Murphy, Jace Van Dijk ?, Danny McAllister, Royce Simms, Craig Greenhill, Gary Winter, Gareth Turton, John Bruce. Interchange: Peter Penaia, Clayton Maher, Darren Bain, Brett McPherson.

REDCLIFFE: Liam Georgetown, Phil Shilvock, Greg Bourke, Nick Emmett, Matt Gruszka, Daniel Green, Mick Roberts, Adam Starr, Shannon Fish, Troy Lindsay, Matt Mapes, Danny Burke, Grant Flugge. Interchange: Nick Walker, Luke Tonion, Duane O?Grady, Damien Jentz. ___________________________________________

NORTH QLD YOUNG GUNS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday 5pm, July 2.

Despite sitting second and boasting an unbeaten record at home this season North Queensland has shown no intention of taking cellar dweller Souths Logan easy.

Coach Grant Bell has delayed announcing a captain and is giving serious consideration to the role, taking into account the ?greenness? of his squad.

With usual leader Daniel Strickland serving his second week of suspension, the favourites to take the helm are Shane Muspratt (pictured) and Micheal Luck.

Whoever wins the job will direct youngsters Drew Campbell, Michael Fairweather, Tyler Smith and Simon Boyes, possessing just six Wizard Cup games between them in 2005.

However Souths Logan is hardly blessed with experience either, captained by 24-year-old Darren Glase and led up front by 21-year-old prop Stan Fau. Regardless the pair have been standouts on a battling team.

Although Dairy Farmers Stadium has been a graveyard for visiting teams this year, several Magpies will be looking forward to going home to North Queensland. Cameron Joyce, Daniel Joyce, Nathaniel Bowman, Jim Baira, Adrian Maloney and Eddie Dodd have all spent time in Townsville while Tanu Wulf is from Tully.

It is well documented that the Magpies have never beaten North Queensland in the Queensland Cup and indeed, have never conceded less than 42 points against their foe.

Cairns-based referee Michael Inman will officiate the curtain-raiser to the Cowboys v Warriors NRL game. The final of the Laurie Spina Shield for under 11 teams from North Queensland is to be held in between.

NORTH QUEENSLAND: Rory Bromley, Drew Campbell, Wallace Solomona, Dean Payne, Michael Fairweather, Shane Muspratt, Brent McConnell, Matthew Scott, Clint Amos, Jaiman Lowe, Mark Dalle Cort, Micheal Luck, Scott Bolton. Interchange: Tyler Smith, Ben Lowe, James Anderson, Simon Boyes.

SOUTHS LOGAN: Eddie Dodd, Jacob Christie, Tanu Wulf, Grant Lewis, Matt Templeman, Nathaniel Bowman, Cameron Joyce, Stan Fau, Scott Smith, Ashley Lanfranchi, Darren Glase ?, Matt Bell, Marvin Alo. Interchange: Shaun Nipperess, Tee Levu, Adrian Maloney, Daniel Joyce. ___________________________________________

CENTRAL COMETS v NORTHS DEVILS Browne Park, Saturday 7pm, July 2.

Central strike weapon Mark Henry is in doubt following a knee injury sustained in last weekend?s City Country match.

The scorer of a blistering long-range effort, Henry (pictured) played both five-eighth and fullback in Country?s big loss, with talk abounding about a possible move to North Queensland.

He has not been named by coach Neal Crow for this Saturday?s clash in Rockhampton, however one spot remains free on the Comets? bench.

Norths has a test of depth, missing Nathan Friend, Jeremy Smith, Anthony Boyd, Rob Tanielu, Greg Inglis and possibly Josh Graham. The Devils six-pack are either away on NRL duty or have been selected for Queensland Residents.

Still, the Nundah natives have a squad many would be envious of, containing six-season NRL veteran Peter Robinson and some of the best teenage players in Australia.

Josh Tatupu and Ryan Shortland look to have the makings of a strong partnership out wide, while Scott Anderson was the youngest player in the City Country match.

Past history shows that from 17 games in the Queensland Cup between Norths and Central, the Devils have lost just two.

Central chief executive Jamie Boon says it could be as long as a fortnight before the club?s head coach for 2006 is announced. Applications closed this week, but first a selection and interview process must be adhered too.

Refereeing the Devils and Comets will be Michael Wise.

CENTRAL: Clint Rothery, James Radloff, Matt Hill, Dallas Williams, Martin Hatfield, Adam Geddes, Aoterangi Herangi, Kurt Cawdron, Herewini Rangi, Grant Broadhurst, Todd Brandon, Andrew Dale, Tyron Haynes. Interchange: Fili Sofa, John Bidgood, Mitch Wyatte, (one to be added).

NORTHS: Quentin Laulu-Togagae, Josh Tatupu, Josh Graham, Ryan Shortland, Aaron Morgan, Marc Brentnall, Luke Millwood, Pat Gardner, Brenton Stonier, Antonio Kaufusi, Aaron Bulow, Peter Robinson, Jeremiah Pai. Interchange: Col Wilkie, Scott Anderson, Adam Blair, Sika Manu. ____________________________________________

TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v EASTS TIGERS Piggabeen Complex, Saturday 3pm, July 3.

A true crunch game for two sides existing on the fringe of the top five. With just seven rounds remaining after this weekend neither club will want to lose ground.

The sense of urgency for eighth-placed Easts can be seen in Michael Booth?s selections. Five players come into the Tigers? squad, while youngster Nathan Forde retains a spot in the backline after debuting against the Jets.

Most surprising of the selections is Scott Alo, a prop in last year?s grand final but on the outer at Langlands Park for much of the season. Speculation even had the big forward linked to Ipswich local league club Goodna where good friend Hale Va?asa relocated mid-year.

Others slipping into the gold-and-black this weekend will be former Cronulla player Nathan Vagg, Rowan Graham, Steve Goodhew and Michael Pearce.

Meanwhile, Tweed has been buoyed by the expected return of captain Andrew Moroney from injury. Fellow forward Tom Prichard (pictured) has also been given a clean bill of health after a rugged display for Country last week.

Five-eighth Brad Davis needs just six points to break 100 for the season, a figure his Tigers opposite Brandon Costin passed last round. Costin was the most contentious omission from the Queensland Residents team after a stirring display for City.

The Seagulls are ranked seventh at present and are just one point higher than Easts on the table. Tweed?s points differential is plus-37, while the Tigers have a plus-50 margin. Keeping the two sides honest at the Piggabeen Complex will be referee Brett Suttor.

TWEED HEADS: Ryan O?Connell, Nathaniel Barnes, David Strachan, James Wood, Nathan Small, Brad Davis, Tim Maccan, Tom Prichard, Matt King, Eddie Harrison, Selasi Berdie, Andrew Moroney ?, Ben Hill. Interchange: Jeff Moate, Cory Bond, Ben Quinlan, Jay Hampson, Josh Vaughan.

EASTS: Matt Lockyer, Steve Beattie, Nigel Roy, Nathan Forde, Walter Imo, Brandon Costin ?, Jason Connors, Dallas Hood, Steve Goodhew, Trevor Exton, Matt Elley, Marty Allen, Mark Cantoni. Interchange: Nathan Vagg, Scott Alo, Rowan Graham, Michael Pearce. ____________________________________________

IPSWICH JETS v BURLEIGH BEARS QLD Group Stadium, Sunday 3pm, July 3.

Former Ipswich rake Matt Doeg will become just the 25th player used this season by Burleigh when he returns to his old stomping ground on Sunday.

A secret to the Bears? success this year has been the relatively tight squad it has called upon, compared to some clubs who have used close to 40 players in 15 rounds. In fact nine Burleigh players have managed to play in every one of the club?s games so far this season.

Yet this weekend the competition leaders will be without four players courtesy of Queensland Residents selection. Ali Brown, Balin Cupples, Adam Hayden and Martin Griese have all been called up to Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday.

Doeg (pictured) wins his first State League appearance of the season off the bench, while in another notable selection Adrian Vowles moves to five-eighth. Previously with the Canberra Raiders, Doeg left Ipswich for the nation?s capital at the same time as Marshall Chalk.

Host Ipswich has named influential duo Ricky Bird and Grant Young to make their comeback from injury against Burleigh, with Geoff Chalk and Matt McPhee dropping out.

Plenty of interest will be invested in the pointscoring form of Reggie Cressbrook over the remainder of the season. Having shared his Queensland Cup career between Burleigh and Ipswich, Cressbrook needs 118 more points to become the most prolific player in the competition?s 10-year history.

Clayton Sharpe will hold the whistle for the clash of the Southern Division rivals.

IPSWICH: Luke Walker, Steven West, Andy Poynter, Jonathon Muir, Aaron Davey, Brendon Lindsay, Ricky Bird, Grant Young, Jamie Tomlinson, Mat Cameron, Steele Retchless, Geoff Chalk, Daniel Coburn ?. Interchange: Bevan Heuir, Walter Mackie, Shannon Cameron, Cody Fullarton.

BURLEIGH: Reggie Cressbrook, Trent Purdon, Nick Shaw, Trent Leis, Aseri Laing, Adrian Vowles, David Hicks, James Griffiths, Ryan Gundry ?, Shane O?Flanagan, Scott Cooke, Adam Hutchinson, Robert Apanui. Interchange: Jeremy Lateo, Travis Simpson, Wayne Phillis, Matt Doeg. _____________________________________________

BYE - TOOWOOMBA CLYDESDALES ______________________________________

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