The Campbell Construction Co. Tweed Seagulls head to Cairns tomorrow (Saturday) knowing victory against Northern Pride will almost certainly secure an Intrust Super Cup finals position – but Ben Woolf’s side have their eyes focussed on greater rewards.
Tweed know they will face a desperate Pride team that, in the last round of matches five weeks ago, beat second-placed Wynnum Manly 42-12 and will see this as the clash that might decide if they play in the eight-team final series. The Pride face fourth-place Redcliffe and third-placed Burleigh in their final two matches.
The Seagulls, after missing an opportunity to take second spot in the loss to Souths Logan, are fifth with a three-point buffer ahead of the Pride, Townsville Blackhawks (who Tweed play in the next round) and Souths Logan. They have their finals fate clearly in their own hands.
And despite their NSW-based players being taken from them for the remainder of the season because of the Covid shutout and uncertainty surrounding whether any Titans’ NRL squad members (other than Darius Farmer) will be back, the Gulls have a squad depleted in number but still experienced and classy when it comes to quality.
And Woolf says his team – that had been unable to train as a group for a month before last Friday – are focussed on making the most of the rescheduled last few weeks of 2021, whether that is from fifth or in the top four where they would get a second chance in the finals.
“We’re planning on only having the players we’ve got now for the rest of the season and there is enough class and experience there to be very competitive in the finals,” said Woolf.
“Our biggest challenge is staying fit. We’ve only got Talor Walters missing this weekend because of an ongoing back issue but without Lindon McGrady, Josh Patston, Daniel Ross and Matt Koellner (all NSW-based) and the chance we won’t get any more Titans back, we don’t have the numbers. We might have to call up Colts players if we hit some injuries.
“On top of the 17 we’ll take to Cairns, I think we’ve only got three others left who have played with the team this season (Walters, Jack Glossop and Tevin Arona).
“But we’ve got a lot of experience still with Lee Turner back from injury and Will Brimson back from suspension and a strong pack who have really defended well, so we know it’s a team that can go up there and win and then build some confidence for the finals.
“The Pride are a very good side with a good blend of talented youth and experience and they showed that by how convincingly they beat Wynnum. And their training would not have been as disrupted as ours.
“It will be a lot warmer and more humid up there too and they’ve got a lot to play for.”
Tweed and Pride drew 18-all at Piggabeen in round seven back in May and these clashes are traditionally close. In the past eight matches between the two sides, Tweed have won four with two draws while seven of those eight have been decided (or not) by six points or less.
The Seagulls are chasing their 200th Intrust Super Cup victory in their 404th match.
The teams for the clash at Barlow Park, Cairns on Saturday August 28 at 5.30pm:
1 Jack Mackin
2 Brayden McGrady
3 Treymain Spry
4 Lee Turner
5 Ryland Jacobs
6 Will Brimson
7 Luke Jurd
8 JJ Collins
9 Brent Woolf
10 Harrison Muller
11 Lamar Liolevave (capt)
12 Luke Burton
13 Braden Robson
14 Liam Hampson
15 Darius Farmer
16 Stuart Mason
17 Juwan Compain
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