The Campbell Construction Co. Tweed Seagulls will hit the road this weekend as they travel to face the Central Queensland Capras at Browne Park, Rockhampton in Round 13 of the QRL Hostplus Cup.
The Tweed Seagulls are building nicely towards the back end of the season despite a slip-up in Round 12 against the Mackay Cutters, going down 22-24 in a tight contest. The positive for the Seagulls is that they only beat themselves with a 66% completion rate and just 40% of the ball in that game.
Tweed are at their best when rolling through the middle thanks to their creativity around the ruck before shifting smoothly to the edges in good ball. They afford themselves a chance to do so thanks to their discipline and attention to detail on both sides of the ball. Tweed’s 17.1 missed tackles per game is the lowest across the competition this season, and with the ball their 8.4 handling errors is the fourth least per game in 2022. The time in possession and field position Tweed earn for themselves on the back of this eventually turns into points, particularly with the attacking skill across the Seagulls’ lineup.
In Round 12 however, Tweed simply made it too hard for themselves.
With 13 errors, nine infringements and a whopping 37 missed tackles, the Seagulls were off their game and we can expect a much improved performance against the Capras on Saturday. Some minor adjustments and a keener focus on the basics should bring out the best of Tweed and if it does, the Seagulls profile well to grind Central Queensland out of the game in Round 13.
The Capras bring similar form into Saturday’s matchup with a draw and shaky wins over Townsville and Wynnum-Manly in their last three games. The Capras started the year red-hot but have slowed slightly as the season progresses, settling to third on the QRL ladder coming into Round 13.
Despite the Capras sitting a few rungs above Tweed on the ladder, this match will pit the league’s third and fourth best defences against each other. Both the Seagulls and Capras have been dominant without the ball in 2022 but it’s Tweed who hold a slight advantage in attack, having scored 14 more points across 11 games so far this season. While there is plenty of strike in both backlines, whoever can win the yardage battle and dominate the ruck on Saturday will likely come away with the result.
These sides last met in the 2021 season opener, with Tweed Seagulls taking care of the Capras 28-18 at Tugun RLFC. Current fullback Ryland Jacobs ran for a team-high 178 metres in that game from the wing, perhaps in a sign of things to come given his recent form out the back for Tweed this season.
Player to Watch
First choice hooker Brent Woolf is named to start in his favoured hooker position this week, marking a successful return to the side in what has been an injury disrupted season.
Woolf was one of Tweed’s best to begin the year, taking a leading role in steering his side around the park in attack and providing plenty of starch through the middle off the ball, too. Woolf played a starring role in the Seagulls’ first three games but hasn’t played consecutive games since, with a shift at five-eighth in Round 9 and a cameo from the bench in Round 11 his only appearances since.
The silver lining of Woolf’s absence has been the fast-tracked development of young dummy-half Blake Scott, but the Seagulls are without a doubt a stronger side with Woolf in the mix. His combination with Tweed’s middle forwards around the ruck – particularly JJ Collins this week with Lamar Manuel-Liolevave ruled out by concussion protocols – will be crucial to winning the yardage battle. As they’ve shown consistently this season, one strong carry and quick play-the-ball from Collins is all the Seagulls need to trigger a smooth backline shift, and Woolf is a guy who can help bring Collins onto the ball.
Another Seagull who deserves a mention this week is young Klese Haas who gets another start in the backrow after punching out 80-minutes there against Souths Logan in Round 9. His big brother has set the bar pretty high in the Haas household, but at 19 years old Klese is a powerful, mobile prospect who runs a good line on the edge. If Tweed can get themselves into attacking field position, a crash ball for Haas onto the opposing half seems a likely and promising action to look out for.
Coach’s Comments
Head Coach Ben Woolf will wait until game day to decide on the final line up, but confirms having Brent Woolf back is a big boost.
“Craig Garvey and Blake Scott have done an excellent job so far this season but it’s always good to get a player like Brent back in the squad,” said Woolf.
“He’s our strongest defensive hooker so he’ll help tighten us up through the middle.”
Woolf conceded the Capras present a real challenge on Saturday.
“The Capras have been travelling well and they’ll be tough up there. Our focus has been around our effort areas in defence this week as that lacked at times against Souths.”
Team List
- Ryland Jacobs
- Sosefo Fifita
- Lee Turner
- Ioane Șeiuli
- Scott Galeano
- Will Brimson
- Lindon McGrady
- JJ Collins
- Brent Woolf
- Daniel Ross
- Joshua Patson
- Klese Haas
- Braden Robson
- Craig Garvey
- Reuben Porter
- Charlie Murray
- Reece Summer
- Blake Scott
Written by Rugby League Writers for Tweed Seagulls Media
Our aim at Rugby League Writers:
The Pub Test is a classic rugby league reference. Heck, the NRL have changed rules based on what they think does and doesn’t pass The Pub Test. We want YOU to be the most informed person at that pub. By digging into the best players, teams, shapes and schemes, we observe the game through an analytical lense and piece it all together through weekly previews, reviews, newsletters and features.
Related Posts
