BURLEIGH BEARS v WYNNUM MANLY
Pizzey Park
Saturday, June 5 – 2pm* Live on ABC TV
Burleigh will attempt to get its 2010 campaign back on track after two poor performances. Last week’s 20-6 loss came hot on the heels of a 40-point drubbing by the Sunshine Coast.
In an unusual situation, Bears centre Steve Michaels runs out against Wynnum Manly, the side he played eight games for this year. Michaels is now dual signed with the Bears after a mid-season switch to the Gold Coast Titans from the Brisbane Broncos. In the head to head stakes, the Wynnum Manly Seagulls hold the edge with 13 wins to nine. Three games have been drawn, including the historic 0-0 round 1 result at BMD Kougari Oval this year. Burleigh will be without forward Bodene Thompson, who has been suspended for one match for striking.
EASTS TIGERS v IPSWICH JETS
Langlands Park
Saturday, June 5 – 2pm
The Tigers suffered a major blow during the week when key pair Liam Campbell (back) and Jace Van Dijk (hamstring) failed to finish training. Both players have been ruled out of the Langlands Park clash but coach Jason Gainey has found two competent replacements. Lance Morris comes in for Campbell, while Dane Phillips takes over from Van Dijk in the key pivot role. After a frustrating start to the season, the Tigers put together their best 80 minute performance of the season to comfortably beat Tweed Heads. Another victory on Saturday would put the Tigers right back in the finals mix. The match is virtually the last throw of the dice for the Jets, who again came up empty handed last week – this time by the smallest of margins. The Jets went down 15-14 to the Comets in Rockhampton, leaving them anchored to the bottom of the table.
SUNSHINE COAST v NORTHERN PRIDE
Stockland Park
Sunday, June 6 – 2pm
Reliable Northern Pride fullback Chey Bird plays his 50th Queensland Cup game. The former NQ Young Guns player has been a mainstay for the Pride since the club’s debut season in 2008. Bird and his teammates will have to be at their best if the Pride is to break its run of outs against the Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine Coast has won all four of its previous clashes with the Pride, including last year’s grand final at Stockland Park. The Pride returns to the scene of its 2009 grand final demise for the first time in high spirits after a strong win over Redcliffe. But coach David Maiden won’t have the services of forward enforcer Jaiman Lowe who is serving the first week of a three match suspension.
MACKAY CUTTERS v CENTRAL COMETS
Mackay Junior Fields
Sunday, June 6 – 3pm
Buoyed by a stirring victory over the Sunshine Coast, the Mackay Cutters will chase another victory in front of their home fans. The Cutters piled on 30 points in the second half to nail the Sea Eagles in last weekend’s round 11 action. The 40-26 triumph moved Paul Bramley’s side into sixth spot on percentages and another win here could see the Cutters leapfrog Burleigh into fifth. Central’s season received a vital shot in the arm last weekend when the Rockhampton club edged out Ipswich in a thriller. Both teams have named 11 players who took part in the first round match won 20-10 by the Central Comets. Classy utility back Justin Hunt, a prolific scorer this year with 90 points from seven tries and 31 goals, returns to the side after missing last week’s win.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v TWEED HEADS
Dolphin Oval
Sunday, June 6 – 3pm
Redcliffe enters this match on the back of a third-straight loss but it’s hardly time to hit the panic button. The Dolphins sit comfortably in fourth spot and a win over the Tweed could see them skip into third ahead of Wynnum Manly. Tweed also hit a bit of a rough spot last weekend after an indifferent performance against Easts. But the Tweed will be bolstered by the return of experienced halfback Brad Davis. The classy playmaker was a spectator last weekend at Langlands Park and his presence was sorely missed as the Tigers led from start to finish. Davis will pair up in the halves with impressive Titans youngster Kayne Lawton who scored a spectacular individual try last weekend that earned high praise from the ABC commentary team.
NORTHS DEVILS v SOUTHS LOGAN
Bishop Park
Sunday, June 6 – 3pm
Another big crowd is expected at Bishop Park for the top-of-the-table clash between the two premiership fancies. The Devils and Magpies have lost just three games between them this year but it is Souths Logan who can perhaps lay claim to being the form team of the competition. The Magpies have equalled their best run in the Queensland Cup with seven successive victories. Brett Kelly and Brad Cross – two players who have been instrumental in the Magpies’ recent success – have etched their names into the club’s record books. Kelly’s 14 point haul last week against Redcliffe made him the highest scorer for the Magpies in the Queensland Cup with 232. Cross, the Mapgies’ premiership-winning skipper in 2008, chalks up his 50th match with the Magpies in the Bishop Park blockbuster. The Devils have named regular back-rower Troyden Watene at centre in a new-look outfit that is again missing injured halfback Matt Smith.
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