Ben Woolf’s side has confidence in the depth of the squad and is ready for the tough character test and the opportunity to beat their neighbours for a second time in the same season for the first time since 2013.
That season Tweed won 24-8 at Pizzey Park then 26-20 at Piggabeen Sports Complex. The following year they almost pulled off the double again after a 24-0 win at Pizzey Park only for Burleigh to fight back from 12-4 at half-time to snatch a 12-all draw at Piggabeen.
The Bears have dominated since, snaring eight wins in a row (after a loss in the only clash of 2015) before Tweed turned the trend with a 16-12 victory at Piggabeen earlier this season in round four.
However, the Bears have won six of seven games since then to stand fifth on the ladder with often only two Titans players in their line-up.
Both sides will field players with plenty of NRL experience including Tweed skipper and Fijian international Lamar Liolevave, prop JJ Collins and centre Treymain Spry. The Seagulls also boast a wealth of Queensland Cup/NSW Cup experience in Lindon and Brayden McGrady, Talor Walters, Braden Robson, Brent Woolf and Lee Turner.
“We still have a lot of experience at Cup level with players who really have stood up consistently this season and I think they’re up for the challenge,” said Woolf.
“It’s also a good opportunity for some guys to make their debuts after playing well in lower grades in the Northern Rivers competition (Joshua Patston and Ben Ross) and show what they can do.
“Obviously, it’s a big game, they always are against Burleigh. They are three points behind us on the ladder and keen to reel us in a bit and avenge the loss earlier this season while we could go five points clear of Burleigh and maybe a couple of other teams on 14 points who face sides higher than them on the ladder (Souths Logan and Redcliffe).
“Burleigh are one of the teams who have always been pretty strong without NRL players coming back so we know we’re in for a tough one.”
The Tweed Seagulls team to play Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park, Miami on Saturday, July 10 at 2:10pm.
1 Lindon McGrady
2 Brayden McGrady
3 Treymain Spry
4 Lee Turner
5 Talor Walters
6 Will Brimson
7 Luke Jurd
8 JJ Collins
9 Brent Woolf
10 Harrison Muller
11 Lamar Liolevave (capt)
12 Joshua Patston
13 Braden Robson
14 Liam Hampson
15 Daniel Ross
16 Stuart Mason
17 Ryland Jacobs
18 Charlie Murray
Round Details:
- Tweed Seagulls v Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park, Pacific Pde, Miami on Saturday July 10 at 2.10pm
- COVID safe practices will be enforced
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