Redcliffe vs Burleigh Preview

REDCLIFFE remains the only club in the history of the Queensland Wizard Cup to secure back-to-back premierships. Burleigh would dearly love to match the feat.

Sunday?s big match on the peninsula sees the two most successful State League clubs of the last decade go head-to-head.

Only one grand final since the inception of the competition has been played without the presence of the Dolphins or Bears (1998 ? Norths v Wests). Redcliffe boasts 161 wins in the last 10 seasons, while reigning premier Burleigh stands on 137 wins, albeit with one less season in the league.

Until last weekend the Dolphins and Bears were also the top-ranked teams on the 2005 ladder. A 28-22 defeat by Easts has dropped Redcliffe to third, while Burleigh has opened a five-point lead in first place.

Anthony Griffin has seen fit to reshuffle his bench after the loss to the Tigers, replacing Luke Tonion and Gerard Parle with Matt Anderton and Danny Green. Former Irish World Cup player Liam Tallon fractured his ribs in lower grades last week and could be out for a month.

Burleigh has made no changes to its team which flogged Souths Logan 64-4 in Round 12, with the Bears remarkably boasting three of the top four tryscorers in the competition.

Rob Alexander will officiate the big clash at Dolphin Oval.

REDCLIFFE: Ryan Cullen, Phil Shilvock, Greg Bourke, Jamie Russo, Chris Giumelli, Shane Perry ?, Michael Roberts, Adam Starr, Shannon Fish, Nick Walker, Matt Mapes, Danny Burke, Grant Flugge. Interchange: Matt Anderton, Danny Green, Duane O?Grady, Damien Jentz.

BURLEIGH: Reggie Cressbrook, Trent Purdon, Balin Cupples, Trent Leis, Aseri Laing, Adam Hayden, David Hicks, Ali Brown ?, Ryan Gundry, Shane O?Flanagan, Martin Griese, Adam Hutchinson, Adrian Vowles. Interchange: James Griffiths, Scott Cooke, Nick Shaw, Robert Apanui.

Article courtesy of the QRL. for more Qld Cup news and information visit www.qrl.com.au