Queensland Cup - Round 6 -
Preview

WHO can stop Redcliffe? When will Ipswich and Brothers Valleys post their first wins? Can North Queensland win at home? These are some of the big questions confronting Queensland Cup followers as the competition enters its sixth week. Premiers Redcliffe are the competition pace setters and they should be too strong for Tweed Heads Seagulls in Saturday?s ABC televised clash at Dolphin Oval. In fact there are many good judges who believe Redcliffe, expertly coached by Neil Wharton, will go through the season undefeated. Tweed has won three of its five matches, all on the road, so there is a warning there for the Dolphins. But Tweed were out muscled by North Queensland last Sunday and Redcliffe?s pack will be looking to do the same. Ipswich and Brothers Valleys drew in round one and they have not gained another competition point since, an unexpected scenario in Ipswich?s case given the talent in the club which last year featured in the finals. Things do not get any easier this Saturday night with the Jets playing North Queensland in Townsville, and the Young Guns full of confidence after a big win over Tweed. But North Queensland has lost both matches at home this year, both in the dying stages, so it appears there is no real home ground advantage for Adrian Thomson?s men. Brothers Valleys face a daunting task against Toowoomba in Toowoomba on Saturday with the Clydesdales coming off a 50-6 win over Souths Logan, after the Magpies beat Brothers Valleys 52-16 the week before. Souths Logan travel to Rockhampton to play the Central Comets on Saturday night with Central coming off a loss to Norths. On Sunday there are two high quality matches in south east Queensland both deserving of big crowds with no NRL action in the area. On the Gold Coast the Burleigh Bears host Norths Devils at Pizzey Park, Miami while in Brisbane Wynnum Seagulls host neighbours, Easts Tigers. Both matches could feature internationals with Darren Smith set to lead Easts and Rodney Howe due back from the Melbourne Storm to play for feeder club, Norths. Next Friday night in Newcastle Australia plays New Zealand in the Anzac Test with both teams to be named this Sunday night. The curtain-raiser to the Test will feature aboriginal teams from Queensland and New South Wales. Next weekend there is another full round of Queensland Cup action (see draw at back of the programme) but the following weekend the competition will be suspended because of the QRL?s under 19 and under 17 divisional carnival at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast.