The Romano Group Seagulls will take a much-changed team north to Julia Creek to take on Souths Logan with coach Aaron Zimmerle deciding to blood some fresh talent in the team’s remaining five games.
Debuting tomorrow will be fullback Jayden Baker, centre Kurtis McDonald and halfback Jack Cook, a week after hooker Jenan Parish debuted. David Sheridan is also back in the side after some outstanding form in the World Cup and Sam Carson has been promoted from A-grade to the bench.
Centre John Olive will travel with the Titans as 18th man, with his spot taken by McDonald, while Sam Meskell and Pheonix Hunapo have been relegated to A-grade to make way for the newcomers. Halfback Michael Burgess out for the remainder of the season with a pectoral injury.
“We want to finish the season as well as we can but now is the opportune time also to find out how the guys who are performing well in A-grade can handle Intrust Super Cup level too, and I feel a responsibility is to give them that chance,” said Zimmerle.
“I’ll give other players opportunities progressively in the last few rounds as well and that will give incoming coach for next season an idea of what he has got at the club now and the potential of the next group of players coming through.
“It may mean some of our more establish players miss out but they need to perform.
“The A-grade have been successful and it was a good performance last week in beating Burleigh who were undefeated while we have lost our last three. So it’ time to give some players a chance.”
Cook has played halfback and hooker for the A-grade side this season after being in the Melbourne Storm under-20s squad last season. McDonald has consistently been one of the best performers in A-grade while Baker has been in tremendous form in the last month.
As part of the QRL’s ‘Country Week’ promotion, the Seagulls travel to Julia Creek today for tomorrow’s clash with the Magpies which kicks off at 2pm. They have a seven-hour trek via coach to Brisbane, charter flight to Cloncurry then a 90-minute drive to Julia Creek.
The Romano Group Seagulls’ side is:
| 1 | Jayden Baker |
| 2 | David Sheridan |
| 3 | James Wood |
| 4 | Kurtis McDonald |
| 5 | Peter Lee |
| 6 | Lindon McGrady |
| 7 | Jack Cook |
| 8 | Carne Doyle-Manga |
| 17 | Will Johnstone |
| 10 | Ben Nakubuwai |
| 11 | Lamar Liolevave |
| 12 | Nick Harrold |
| 13 | Keegan Hipgrave |
| 14 | Tristan Lumley |
| 15 | Sam Carson |
| 16 | Eddy Pettybourne |
| 20 | Jenan Parrish |
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