The Campbell Construction Co. Tweed Seagulls have the chance to avenge their last-gasp 2019 semi-final loss when they host the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Intrust Super Cup elimination semi-final at Tugun on Saturday.
Those who witnessed the 25-24 Dolphins victory at Piggabeen Sports Complex will remember it as one of the epic finals clashes. The Dolphins, the defending premiers, got home with five-eighth Tyson Gamble kicking a field goal with 15 seconds remaining, taking Redcliffe’s run to 10 wins from 11 matches.
Gamble was about to be awarded a field goal two minutes before the referee was ‘tipped’ by the pocket ref that Tweed’s second-marker Christian Hazard had been unlawfully blocked by Jamal Hopoate.
With 45 seconds to go, Seagulls five-eighth Lindon McGrady had a field goal attempt from 45 metres charged down by Hopoate, giving Redcliffe possession and the final chance they needed to seal victory before golden point extra-time, after Tweed had led 18-6 at half-time.
The Seagulls have won the two clashes between the teams since, 28-16 at Moreton Daily Stadium in round five this year and 14-12 at Piggabeen in round 11. But those results will mean for little on Saturday at Tugun, where the Seagulls have been forced to host the clash because Piggabeen is located just south of the border.
In selection news, former Gold Coast Titans NRL squad member Juwan Compain is on standby for second-rower Joshua Patston who suffered an ankle injury after an outstanding performance against Norths but the remainder of the team looks intact.
The Dolphins will field an experienced side led by halfback Cameron Cullen, the former Titans and Manly Sea Eagles player who led Redcliffe to a premiership in 2018. Redcliffe are a feeder team for the New Zealand Warriors and will field five NRL squad members in Edward Kosi, Viliami Vailea, Jackson Frei, Pride Petterson-Robati and Tom Ale plus former NRL hot property Jayden Nikorima.
“Redcliffe are going to be tough, that’s for sure,” said Woolf. “They’ve got five Warriors players in their squad, plenty of finals experience, and a lot of strike with the ball.
“But I’d like to think that we’ll benefit from last week’s match against Norths, We had two players in the spine who hadn’t played for a few weeks (Lindon McGrady and Toby Sexton) and our kicking game wasn’t as good as it could have been, probably because of that.
“We have to keep possession, as we did for most of the game against Norths, and defend like we have all year and that will put us in the match.
“We’ve might have beaten Redcliffe twice this year but I’d say this is the strongest side they’ve fielded against us.”
The winner of the match plays Wynnum Manly in the preliminary final.
The teams for Saturday’s clash at Tugun Rugby League Fields, kick-off 2.10pm:
TWEED SEAGULLS: Lindon McGrady, John Macklin, Treymain Spry, Lee Turner, Ryland Jacobs, Will Brimson, Toby Sexton, JJ Collins, Brent Woolf, Harrison Muller, Lamar Liolevave (capt), Joshua Patston, Braden Robson. Interchange (from): Liam Hampson, Juwan Compain, Daniel Ross, Tevin Arona, Darius Farmer, Stuart Mason, Jack Glossop.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS: Jayden Nikorima, Will Partridge, Jeremy Hawkins, Viliami Vailea, Edward Kosi, Patrick Gallen, Cameron Cullen (capt), Lachlan Timm, Sheldon Pitama, Jackson Frei, Peesi Kepu, Tom Ale, Pride Petterson-Robati, INTERCHANGE (from): Tyson Cleal, Preston Riki, Kina Kepu, Jarrett Boland, Benjamin King.
- Tweed Seagulls v Redcliffe Dolphins at Tugun Rugby League Fields, Boyd St, Bilinga on Saturday September 25 at 2.10pm
- COVID safe practices will be enforced
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