The Late Mail: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
86 mins ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
ONCE Redcliffe heroes, Gavin Cooper and Charles Vis will take on their former teammates for the first time when the North Queensland Young Guns host the Dolphins.
Among many highlights at their previous club, Cooper and Vis are perhaps best remembered for assisting Redcliffe to a clean sweep of all grand finals in 2003.
Cooper scored an inspirational try in Colts (Under 19) grade just seven minutes from fulltime as the Dolphins beat overwhelming favourites Norths 24-20. Vis then starred in the Mixwell Cup decider, leaping high to collect a bomb and subsequently offloading for Joe Burley to take the lead in a game that finished 19-6 in Redcliffe?s favour.
The 2003 Queensland Cup final then went Redcliffe?s way as well, with eight players from that day named to line-up in Townsville this weekend. One of them, Danny Burke, has been named Player of the Match four times in the last five games.
North Queensland is boosted by the return of hooker Leigh McWilliams from NRL duties, but loses uncompromising prop Jaiman Lowe and utility David Faiumu to the Cowboys squad. Jaiman?s younger brother Ben takes his spot in the Young Guns pack.
Should Anthony Mundine make good and return to rugby league, he may yet face Danny Green. Green, the hard-working Redcliffe back-rower, has been elevated to the Queensland Cup after returning from off-season surgery with several big games in Mixwell Cup. Previously with Parramatta, Green was QRL South East Division Representative Player of the Year in 2004. Referee for Saturday night is Justin Eastwood.
NORTH QUEENSLAND: Jason Barsley, Rory Bromley, Mark Dalle Cort, Dean Payne, Charles Vis, Shane Muspratt, Brent McConnell, Ben Lowe, Leigh McWilliams, Matthew Scott, Wallace Solomona, Daniel Strickland ?, Scott Bolton. Interchange: Clint Amos, James Anderson, Gavin Cooper, Dean Limpus.
REDCLIFFE: Ryan Cullen, Phil Shilvock, Greg Bourke, Nick Emmett, Matt Gruszka, Shane Perry ?, Michael Roberts, Troy Lindsay, Shannon Fish, Adam Starr, Matt Mapes, Danny Burke, Grant Flugge. Interchange: Nathan Herbener, Nick Walker, Jamie Russo, Danny Green.
Article courtesy of the QRL. for more Qld Cup news and information visit www.qrl.com.au