Toowoomba smash Wynnum

TOOWOOMBA CLYDESDALES 46 defeat WYNNUM SEAGULLS 18

Like a catfish with his whiskers testing the depths, Toowoomba?s John Dixon has a knack for feeling out questions, passing up bait on anything that may be misconstrued or prone to hyperbole.

So when asked if Neville Costigan was the sort of hard-edged forward Queensland could use for future State of Origin campaigns, Dixon declined to shoot off at the mouth.

Instead, after Costigan scored three tries and destroyed anything that moved in a 46-18 win against Wynnum, Dixon was happy enough to describe him as someone who was born for football.

?Neville is a wonderful rugby league player,? Dixon offered.

?He?s just so raw-boned and explosive. He can play footy that?s for sure and while I?m not sure on that other stuff, he?s going to be a long-term NRL player. At this (Wizard Cup) level he?s a standout.

?There?s a bit of that Nathan Hindmarsh about Neville. He doesn?t have the real athletic look to him, but he is definitely a footballer.?

Bringing up his hat-trick with the second-last try of the evening, Costigan thrived in the confrontational atmosphere at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

The visiting Seagulls did well themselves to trail just 26-18 at halftime against a Toowoomba team that not only included Costigan, but also the likes of Dane Carlaw, Darren Mapp and Steve Michaels.

A bye in the NRL for the Brisbane Broncos allowed for the sudden influx of talent and all players handled their assignment to State League with good grace. After ending 2004 with an extra-time semi-final loss to Wynnum, the Clydesdales perhaps hammered the final nail in the coffin of Wynnum?s 2005 aspirations.

?We were a very strong in terms of our line-up this weekend and we have to temper that with the knowledge we probably won?t be this strong again for the rest of the season,? Dixon said.

?I?m very pleased with the way the (NRL) players came back to us, because sometimes it can be hard for them to have ownership of the performance.?

Opposite the club?s more experienced players, youngsters Michael Bond and Greg Eastwood were again fantastic for the Clydesdales, with Michael Ryan and Stu Kelly gelling the side wonderfully.

In posting a double Tony Duggan moved further ahead as Toowoomba?s leading career try scorer, with the possibility that by the end of the season he could be in the all-time Queensland Cup top five

Next weekend sees Wynnum away to North Queensland on Saturday evening, while Toowoomba and Norths square off on Sunday in a big duel at Suncorp Stadium.

TOOWOOMBA 46 (Neville Costigan 3, Tony Duggan 2, Michael Ryan, Greg Eastwood, Steve Michaels, Michael Bond tries; Berrick Barnes 5 goals)

beat

WYNNUM 18 (Simon Phillips 2, Peter Penaia tries; Damien Quinn 3 goals)

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