Neil Cadigan
Coach Ben Woolf has called in vastly experienced winger Fetuli Talanoa into his side for the big local derby clash with Burleigh Bears at Piggabeen Sports Complex on Saturday (3.30pm).
The 33-year-old, who has played 223 NRL and Super League matches (95 with South Sydney and 228 with Hull) and won two Challenge Cups in England, will play just his second match for the Campbell Building Co. Seagulls after being restricted to the Gullies’ only match last season before the Intrust Super Cup competition was abandoned.
He played a handful of games with Tugun in the Gold Coast competition last year but this will be his first appearance for 2021 after work commitments saw him become a late starter to Seagulls’ off-season training.
Credit KPM Sports Images: [Ethan O’Neil making a break on the wing]
“Ethan played well last Saturday against Souths Logan but Fetuli is in good shape now and I thought I’d just go for the extra experience in this game, which is always a tough, physical battle against an experienced Burleigh,” Woolf said.
“Fetuli has had a lot of big-match experience and it will come in handy.
“Burleigh are the reigning premiers but they’ve had a slow start to the season. They’ll be really keen to bounce back in a derby match after being beaten 50-10 by Easts Tigers.”
That is likely to be the only change in the Tweed side, which is otherwise as was selected last Tuesday.
Titans players Sam McIntyre and Herman Ese’ese have again been chosen in Gold Coast’s 21-man squad (to take on Manly on Saturday) and will drop back to the Seagulls’ starting 13 if not required by the Titans.
Centre Brayden McGrady, who was last round set to make his first appearance for Tweed since 2018 but dropped out because his hamstring injury had not quite recovered well enough, will be given further time to get back to full health.
With the persistent wet weather predicted to be behind us, Piggabeen has recovered and this will be Tweed’s first appearance there in 2021 after having to relocate the rounds 1 and 3 games to Tugun.
Your Campbell Construction Co Tweed Seagulls Team to Take on Burleigh Bears:
1 Jayden Campbell
2 Talor Walters
3 Will Brimson
4 Lee Turner
5 Fetuli Talanoa
6 Lindon McGrady
7 Toby Sexton
8 Jai Whitbread
9 Liam Hampson
10 JJ Collins
11 Lamar Liolevave
12 Joe Vuna
13 Braden Robson
INTERCHANGE
14 Brent Woolf
15 Darius Farmer
16 Kirk Murphy
17 Jack Glossop
18 Ethan O’Neill
Round Details:
- Tweed Seagulls Vs Burleigh Bears 3.30pm – QLD
- Piggabeen Sports Complex, Carramar Dr, Tweed Heads West NSW 2485
- COVID safe practices will be enforced
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