Campbell Construction Co. Tweed Seagulls coach Ben Woolf said at the start of the 2021 Intrust Super Cup season that his squad had more depth than ever before. He never envisaged the test that depth, and his team’s character, would face as the season progressed.
No team in the competition has faced the adversity that the Seagulls have in the past three months.
Yet victory against the PNG Hunters on Saturday at Bycroft Oval could secure Tweed a top four position in the finals and possibly second place if other results go their way.
Being NSW-based, the Seagulls have been affected by the Covid restrictions more than any other ISC club. The 17 player who will take on the unpredictable Hunters are the only fit players left in the squad – and includes Colts second-rower Juwan Compain.
They have five players who reside south of the border who are unavailable, including key playmaker and goalkicker Lindon McGrady. The others are winger Caleb Hodges and forwards Daniel Ross, Joshua Patston and Matt Koellner.
And they have no access to Gold Coast Titans’ NRL squad members which means they have lost three halves in McGrady, Toby Sexton and Luke Jurd who was injured in last weekend’s 26-all draw with Townsville Blackhawks.
Ten players who were prominent in the first three rounds are now unavailable – McGrady, Talor Walters, Hodges, Kirk Murphy and Titans Sexton, Jayden Campbell, Herman Ese’ese, Sam McIntyre, Jai Whitbread (now playing for Leigh in England) and Joe Vuna.
Yet Tweed have beaten eight-placed Northern Pride in Cairns and sixth-placed Townsville in the past fortnight with a team that has shown tremendous fighting spirit and is still displaying form strong enough to be a real contender in the finals.
“To be where we are … I don’t think people realise the adversity we have gone through,” said Woolf.
“We’re down to virtually a 17-man squad. The impact of border closure and not having access to Titans players has been enormous.
“Six weeks ago we had so many good players who couldn’t get a run and having to make tough selection decisions every week. Now we’re down to the last men standing.
“We’ve used 40 players this season, which I’d say would be the most of any ISC team.
“But to draw with Blackhawks and beat the Pride is a tribute to the character of our players and how well we are hanging in. Their resilience and consistency and refusal to buckle is something you have to be so proud of.
“I saw a stat where our team that played the Blackhawks had an average of just 20 games’ experience per player and average age of 22.
“I don’t think it is a level playing field and we’ve been hit by setbacks more than anyone. But we won’t use that as an excuse. We know what we’re capable of with the players we still have and their belief in each other.
“But we have to finish the premiership rounds off with a good performance against PNG.
“It’s a danger game; definitely not a game you can bank on winning. They’re going to be tough.
“But our destiny are in our own hands if we win. Redcliffe would have to win by a certain number of points to knock us out of fourth spot, so we just have to win and put pressure on other teams.”
The teams to clash at Bycroft Oval, Runaway Bay on Saturday at 2.10pm are:
TWEED SEAGULLS: Jack Mackin, Brayden McGrady, Treymain Spry, Lee Turner, Ryland Jacobs, Will Brimson, Tevin Arona, JJ Collins, Brent Woolf, Harrison Muller, Lamar Liolevave (capt), Juwan Compain, Braden Robson. Interchange: Liam Hampson, Darius Farmer, Stuart Mason, Jack Glossop.
PNG HUNTERS: Edwin Ipape, Junior Rau, Gilmo Paul, Brandon Nima, Solo Wane, Ase Boas, Charlie Simon, Stanton Albert, Wartovo Puara, Enock Maki, Benji Kot, Epel Kapinias, Illa Alu (capt). Interchange: Judah Rimbu, Samuel Yegip, Emmanuel Waine, Jordan Pat, Mark Piti.
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