Queensland Cup Round 14 Preview
by
Friday June 18, 2004

Only five Queensland Cup matches will be played this weekend, but they will stretch all the way from Cairns to Tweed Heads.

Brothers-Valleys and Souths-Logan will play their round 14 clash next Saturday, which is a weekend off for the rest of the teams.

Nevertheless, this weekend promises to be another entertaining and exciting round of Queensland Cup football, as the race towards the finals continues.

The battle of the Seagulls will be fought out at Tweed, the Clydesdales will travel to the graveyard of Bishop Park to face the high-flying Devils, while reigning premiers Redcliffe will try to keep their form going against the Young Guns in Cairns.


EASTS TIGERS vs CENTRAL COMETS
Saturday, June 19; Kick-off 2:05pm.
Langlands Park
Referee: Rob Alexander

Easts:
Wade Liddell, Steve Beattie, Steve Renouf, Rob Maller, Michael Pearce, Isaac Kaufmann, Dane Campbell, Scott Sipple, Trent Young, Ben Bourke, Darren Smith (c), Martin Allen, Phil Dennis; Interchange: Charlie Tonga, Trevor Exton, Matt Lockyer, Jason Barsley.
Coach: Michael Booth

Central:
Ryan Cullen, Clint Rothery, Heath Egglestone, Wade Rothery, John Tamanika, Terry Benson, Hayden Karena, George Tuakura, Shanon Fish, Fili Sofa, Kane Hardy, John Bidgood, David Nixon; Interchange: Rex Gamble, Gerard Parle, Peter Penaia.
Coach: Neale Crow

THE ABC televised match will be broadcast from the beautiful ground of Langlands Park at Stones Corner, where the high-flying Easts Tigers will look to continue their impressive form. Both sides here are coming off good wins from last weekend, when Easts downed the Clydesdales and the Comets managed to overcome the Ipswich Jets. Despite the Comets' good form this year, I can't see them toppling the Tigers who are proving themselves to be genuine contenders for the throne.

Predictions
Chris Cox: Easts by 30
Michael Fedrick: Easts by 18


NORTH QUEENSLAND YOUNG GUNS vs REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Saturday June 19; Kick-off 4pm.
Vico Oval, Cairns
Referee: Michael Inman

North Queensland:
Daniel Sorbello, Brenton Bowen, Rod Jenson, Wallace Solomona, Neil Sweeney, Michael Meigan, Nathan Fien, Jaiman Lowe, Steven Goodhew, Matthew Scott, Clint Amos, Daniel Strickland, Derrick Watkins; Interchange: Tyler Smith, Dean Limpus, Ben Lowe, Ben Laity.
Coach: Adrian Thomson

Redcliffe:
Justin McKay, Phil Shilvock, Damien Richters, Brian Jellick, Joel Barnes, Shane Perry, Michael Roberts, Troy Lindsay (c), Caleb McEniery, Adam Starr, Danny Green, Ben Jones, Grant Flugge; Interchange: Nick Walker, Matt Anderton, Nathan Sologinkin, Danny Burke.
Coach: Neil Wharton

THE Queensland Cup comes to Cairns with this blockbuster match between two of the most exciting sides in the competition. Redcliffe bounced back from a 4-game losing streak to notch a big win against the Magpies last weekend, while the Young Guns toughed out a victory at Kougari Oval. This match is crucial for both sides, who know all too well just how close the top seven teams are. Could easily go either way, but I think the "home" crowd will get the Young Guns home.

Predictions
Chris Cox: North Queensland by 10
Michael Fedrick: North Queensland by 2


NORTHS DEVILS vs TOOWOOMBA CLYDESDALES
Sunday, June 20; Kick-off 3pm.
Bishop Park
Referee: Tony Maksoud

Norths:
Quentin Laulu-Togagae, Fifita Moala, Jake Webster, Anthony Zipf, Derek Fletcher, Marty Turner, Marc Brentall, Robert Tanielu, Cooper Cronk, Sione Finefueiaki, Glen Turner, Anthony Boyd, Andrew Hamilton; Interchange: Andrew McFadden, Aaron Bulow, Jeremy Smith, Pat Gardner.
Coach: Gary Greinke

Toowoomba:
Nick Parfitt, Grant Booker, Scott Minto, David Stagg, Steve Irwin, Ian Lacey, Berrick Barnes, Sam Thaiday, Paul Green, Carl Webb, Tom Learoyd, Neale Wyatt, Adrian Vowles (c); Interchange: Matt Ballin, Joe Clarke, Ben Czislowski, Nick Kenny.
Coach: John Dixon

BISHOP Park has become a graveyard this season, as the Devils go from strength to strength. Both teams are tied at the top of the table with 18 points, and this match could well be a taste of what is to come in August. Both teams play a similar style of football, with a big forward pack making the space up the middle for the talented halves and backs to score the points. This should be a very close and even match-up - if you're in the area I would definitely head down to Bishop Park for this one!

Predictions
Chris Cox: Toowoomba by 2
Michael Fedrick: Toowoomba by 4


IPSWICH JETS vs BURLEIGH BEARS
Sunday, June 20; Kick-off 3pm.
Bendigo Bank Oval
Referee: Tony Long

Ipswich:
Joel Smallwood, Giedeon Mzembe, Adam Connolly, Stephen Matai, Steven West, Brendan Lindsay, Ricky Bird, Kerry Theuerkauf, Paul Cohen, Danny McAllister, Kyle Warren, Marcus Jenson, Danny Coburn; Interchange: Matt Cameron, Marc Fickling, Brian McCarthy, Nicholas Cowburn.
Coach: Trevor Gillmeister

Burleigh:
Trent Purdon, Faron Anderson, Reggie Cressbrook, Nick Shaw, Aseri Laing, Kris Flint, Brett McConnell, Adam Cook, Ryan Gundry, Shane O'Flanagan, Tony Gray, Paul Anoleck, Robert Apanui; Interchange: Travis Simpson, Afa Gafa, Dean Allen, Adam Fielder.
Coach: Rick Stone

IPSWICH have had an extremely poor season, after many people tipped them to be in the running for the finals. With a dismal 2 wins from 13 matches, I can't see them troubling the consistent Bears, who are one of the 4 teams tied for first position on the table. Burleigh will be smarting after last weeks upset 28-26 loss against Tweed, where they were ambushed in the second half. Coach Rick Stone will have them ready and firing, and they should do it with ease.

Predictions
Chris Cox: Burleigh by 16
Michael Fedrick: Burleigh by 30


TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS vs WYNNUM SEAGULLS
Sunday, June 20; Kick-off 3pm.
Piggabeen Complex
Referee: Shane Spicer

Tweed Heads:
Justin Walker, Jeremy Walters, Mick Gordon, Balin Cupples, Ryan O'Connell, Ben Quinlin, Daniel Evans, Matt Ross, Matt King, Andrew Moroney, Michael Kelly, Grant Stuart, Ben Hill; Interchange: Aaron Zimmerle, Eddie Harrison, Corey Maher, Luke Kelly.
Coach: Steve Murphy

Wynnum:
Jimmy Ahmat, Herman Lafaele, Greg Bourke, Justin Hoggart, Simon Phillips, Denny Lambert, Brett McPherson (c), Grant Wooden, Wade Bachmann, Cameron Durnford,  Gary Winter, Damien Durnford, John Bruce; Interchange: Clayton Maher, Chris Morrow, Darren Bain, John Shillington.
Coach: Kelly Egan

TWEED have shown a great "never say die" attitude over the past month, but no win was more impressive than their effort against Burleigh last weekend. After trailing 26-6 at the half-time break, they managed to overcome a tired Bears outfit to snatch a 28-26 win and keep their slim finals hopes alive. Wynnum were unable to overcome the Young Guns at home last weekend, and will be desperate for a win here on Sunday. I can't see them having too many worries collecting the two points, and putting a further nail in Tweed's coffin for 2004.

Predictions
Chris Cox: Wynnum by 14
Michael Fedrick: Wynnum by 10