The Campbell Construction Co. Tweed Seagulls’ depth will receive a further test after losing five-eighth Will Brimson and second-rower Joshua Patston for Sunday’s (rescheduled round 12) clash with Souths Logan Magpies at Davies Park.
Brimson, the older brother of Titans and Maroons star A. J. (Alexander) Brimson, has been in tremendous form in recent weeks but will miss two games after taking an early plea on a crusher tackle charge.
Patston, who has impressed in his two appearances since being promoted from Lismore Marist’s A-grade side, was unsuccessful in challenging his charge (also a crusher) and will miss three matches.
This is scheduled as being the last Intrust Super Cup round in which NRL players in the bubble cannot back to their feeder teams, so it takes on extra importance for the Seagulls (Titans’ feeder team) and Magpies (Broncos) who will be missing several players who have been regular performers for them this season.
Tweed have performed tremendously in the past two weeks with their core semi-professional players – going down narrowly to Burleigh Bears and winning convincingly against Sunshine Coast. Darius Farmer, who played against the Falcons, had been released from the Titans’ bubble and will come off the bench in Ben Woolf’s side after playing against the Falcons.
On top of Brimson and Patston, the Gulls will be without starting hooker Brent Woolf and winger/interchange forward Ryland Jacobs through injury, which gives another couple of talented players their opportunities.
Caleb Hodges, who played in the round three clash with Wynnum Manly, goes onto the wing with Brayden McGrady to play fullback, the position he excelled at as an under-20s player with the Titans under the coaching of Woolf. Lindon McGrady switches back to five-eighth.
A newcomer is Tevin Arona, an experienced utility player, a Cook Islands Nines international and New Zealand Residents representative from his hometown of Christchurch who played under-20s for the Canberra Raiders and was in the Warriors’ NRL set-up. He has been in the Seagulls system for two seasons but his playing time has been limited by some head injuries but he has returned to full fitness and confidence and been impressive with Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast competition.
Also debuting for the Seagulls will be Matt Koellner, the second-rower/lock who has been playing for Ballina under the coaching of former Titans and Sharks ironman prop Luke Douglas.
Coach Woolf is confident the team’s best level of depth in his four seasons as coach will again show through on Saturday in another must-win game with the Bears and Redcliffe Dolphins just a point below on the ISC ladder.
“We’ve had to make a few changes but we still have plenty of experience and talent in the team and we’ve shown a lot of character the past couple of weeks,” he said.
“Souths will be without their NRL players too but they still have Kiwi international Kevin Locke on the wing and a few talented young players, including their halfback Ezra Mam who’s pretty lively and we have to watch closely.
“Our number one goal is to stay in the top four so this becomes a very important game for us with all teams getting their NRL players back the following weekend, all being well.”
The teams for the clash at Davies Park, Brisbane on Sunday July 25 at 2.10pm:
TWEED SEAGULLS: Brayden McGrady, Caleb Hodges, Treymain Spry, Lee Turner, Talor Walters, Lindon McGrady, Luke Jurd, JJ Collins, Liam Hampson, Harrison Muller, Lamar Liolevave (capt), Juwan Compain, Braden Robson. Interchange: Tevin Arona, Matt Koellner, Stuart Mason, Darius Farmer.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES: Creedence Toia, Kevin Locke, Ethan Qaui-Ward, Jacob Tonge, Jack Goodsell, Ezra Mam, Lachlan Cooper, Logan Bayliss-Brown, Brad Frith, Raiden Fonoti, Kobe Tararo, Unga Wolske, Rory Ferguson. Interchange: Blake Scott, Jacob Elmore, Fabien Paletua-Kiri, Justin Fai.
Round Details:
- Souths Logan Magpies v Tweed Seagulls at Davies Park, Montague Park, West End, Brisbane on Sunday July 25 at 2.10pm
- COVID safe practices will be enforced
- Telecast live on Kayo
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