SEAGULLS OUT TO BE GIANT-KILLERS OF NRL GRAND FINAL DAY

The tight-knit and motivated Campbell Construction Co. Tweed Seagulls will take last weekend’s victorious side into another giant-killing challenge in Sunday’s preliminary final against Wynnum Manly at Suncorp Stadium.

After a 41-22 win against Redcliffe Dolphins, the wealthy leagues club backed entity that is chasing an NRL license and fielded five NZ Warriors squad members, the Seagulls take on another of the richest Intrust Super Cup opponents in the ‘other Seagulls’ as part of the NRL grand final day at Suncorp.

Tweed will do battle in the ‘Flockbuster’ at 12.15 pm while Norths Devils will take on Burleigh Bears at 2.45pm, with the Panthers-Rabbitohs grand final at 6.30pm. All games will be telecast by the Nine Network.

Wynnum Manly have one of the largest ISC football budgets with the support of a large leagues club that recently underwent big extensions and will field five current Brisbane Broncos in Selwyn Cobbo, David Mead, Jesse Arthars, TC Robati and Richie Kennar plus 315 NRL and Super League game veteran Zeb Taia and Kiwi international Isaac Luke.

The remaining four teams cover two Broncos-associated clubs (Wynnum Manly and Norths Devils) and two Titans feeder teams (Seagulls and Burleigh Bears) yet while Tweed will take the least experienced side on the smallest budget into the preliminary finals, they are far from intimidated.

The Seagulls Club (part of the Norths Group) supported Tweed will field one Titans squad member in halfback Toby Sexton (four NRL games in 2021), Wynnum five current NRL squad members, Norths will field Broncos Danny Levi, Brendan Piakura and possibly Xavier Willison plus experienced former NRL men Tyrone Roberts, Nene Macdonald and Leivaha Pulu.

Burleigh Bears have only one current NRL player in Titans utility Tanah Boyd at halfback (and Titans squad member Jonus Pearson) but have a wealth of NRL experience in centre Sami Sauiluma, hooker Pat Politoni, props Jack Stockwell and Luke Page under former NRL and Super League coach Rick Stone.

The cornerstone of the Seagulls’ spirited performances this season has been a “dig in for each other” defensive attitude and a willingness to use the ball in all parts of the field and the fact that the bulk of the squad has been available for all training sessions (NRL players traditionally return just for the final session of a week).

That’s not to downplay the experience and talent of Ben Woolf’s side that includes older brothers of prominent NRL players AJ Brimson and Reece Robson. Five-eighth Will Brimson and lock Braden Robson will again be key players against Wynnum.

Prop JJ Collins, skipper and Fijian international Lamar Liolevave and centre Treymain Spry have also played NRL while Robson, Lindon McGrady, Harrison Mueller, Lee Turner, Ryland Jacobs and Brent Woolf have a wealth of state cup experience.

The Tweed Seagulls team for the clash with Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Suncorp Stadium (12.15pm) on Sunday, October 3:

1            Lindon McGrady

2            John Mackin

3            Treymain Spry

4            Lee Turner

5            Ryland Jacobs

6            Will Brimson

7            Toby Sexton

8            JJ Collins

9            Brent Woolf

10          Harrison Muller

11          Lamar Liolevave (capt)

12          Juwan Compain

13          Braden Robson

14          Liam Hampson

15          Daniel Ross

16          Jack Glossop

16          Tevin Arona

18          Matthew Koellner

19          Stuart Mason