Coach of Campbell Construction Co. Tweed Seagulls, Ben Woolf, knows firsthand what a threat the struggling Cutters pose to his side in Saturday’s clash at BP Print Stadium in Mackay.
While the Cutters, coached by former Cowboys and Raiders assistant coach Michael Crawley, may have had only one win this season they will field some of the brightest young players in the competition.
Woolf had three Cutters in his Queensland Emerging Under-20s squad last year who were set to play in the annual State of Origin clash which had to be abandoned because of COVID-19 restrictions, all contracted to the North Queensland Cowboys.
They are 19-year-old utility back Daejarn Asi who will play halfback on Saturday, 20-year-old centre Michael Bell and 19-year-old second-rower Ben Condon who has played six NRL games for the Cowboys this season.
Add the experienced five-eighth Ata Hingano, who has played 24 NRL games for the Raiders and Warriors and eight Tests for Tonga, and the Cutters will field plenty of danger men against the third-placed Seagulls.
“The Cutters had a big loss to Wynnum last weekend but they have been contention right to the end of most matches this season, so I’m expecting a real hard game,” said Woolf.
“The three young Cowboys guys are very talented and I saw that firsthand when they were with the under-20s emerging squad. Ben Condon has played NRL and Daejarn Asi has been 18th man a couple of times this season while Michael Bell has enormous potential.
“And you add some pretty decent forwards and Hingano who is a real threat with the ball, it means we have to be right on our game up there.”
It is likely the Seagulls squad will be boosted by only three Titans players in prop Herman Ese’ese who is returning from a three-week NRL suspension, second-rower Darius Farmer and halfback Toby Sexton, the side’s main game manager.
The other regular Titans who have played most matches for the Seagulls this season – Jai Whitefield, Joe Vuna and Jayden Campbell – are likely to be kept on ice waiting for the fitness of the Titans’ four returning Origin I players.
The Seagulls have been good on the road this season, a big contributor to their standing on the ladder, and have four victories from their past five away matches. They have won in their past two visits to Mackay.
With the final line-up to be determined after Friday evening’s last training session, the game could see the return of regular good performer of 2016-19 Jack Cook. The tough utility player has been in excellent form for Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast competition after spending a season in France with the Limoux.
Tweed are determined to put behind them their worst performance of the season last Saturday, a 40-12 loss to second-placed Norths Devils.
The teams for the clash at BP Print Stadium, Mackay on Saturday, 6pm kick-off:
TWEED SEAGULLS: Lindon McGrady, Talor Walters, Treymain Spry, Lee Turner, Brayden McGrady, Will Brimson, Toby Sexton, Herman Ese’ese, Brent Woolf, JJ Collins, Lamar Liolevave (capt), Darius Farmer, Braden Robson. INTERCHANGE (from): Liam Hampson, Ryland Jacobs, Harrison Muller, Luke Burton, Jack Cook.
MACKAY CUTTERS: Josh Smith, Jake Riley, Michael Bell, Blake Atherton, Keanu Kemp, Ata Hingano, Daejearn Asi, Ross Bella (c), Sean Mullany, Jack Brock, Jesse Dee, Ben Condon, Jack Quinn. INTERCHANGE: Brandon Finnegan, Kell Jenner, Aidan Beard, Jaymon Moore.
Round Details:
- Mackay Cutters v Tweed Seagulls v Norths Devils at BP Print Stadium, Saturday June 12 at 6pm
- COVID safe practices will be enforced
Media: Neil Cadigan
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