DIEHARD
12-03-16, 11:40 AM
Burleigh Bears to take on local rivals Tweed Heads Seagulls in Queensland Cup
COMPETITION points, pride, bragging rights – it’s all on the line at Pizzey Park tomorrow in the Queensland Cup rugby league local derby.
The Burleigh Bears and Tweed Heads Seagulls both enter the match having notched promising Round 1 wins last weekend.
The Bears have named an unchanged line-up from their 44-22 victory over Wynnum Manly but coach Jim Lenihan is wary of their opponents from across the border.
Just as they did in their opening match against Easts, Tweed will rely on the speed, mobility and fitness of their smaller forward pack against a Burleigh side that has several big men.
“I think probably with the eight interchanges now, especially in the heat, it’s almost an advantage to have a smaller, mobile pack,” Lenihan said.
On top of the rivalry between the sides – with Burleigh keen to avenge their 50-4 demolition last year on the Seagulls’ turf – Lenihan says there is even more at stake.
“As much as there is the local rivalry, there’s just as much rivalry in the Titans ranks to sort of get yourself up in the pecking order,” he said.
One such battle will be between home hooker Matt Srama and Tweed’s Kierran Moseley, who is on the comeback trail from a pre-season ankle injury.
Another pressing his case for a promotion to the NRL is Burleigh playmaker Cameron Cullen.
The 22-year-old has found form and is pushing for a top-grade debut.
“I just want to be consistently performing really well at Queensland Cup so if an opportunity arises I’m putting my hand up,” he said.
Cullen earned a second-tier contract with the Gold Coast on the back of his performances in the pre-season trials and is enjoying his combination with Burleigh co-captain and former Seagulls halfback Jamal Fogarty.
“He is really good with *organising and takes the pressure off me and adds to my game,” Cullen said of *Fogarty.
Although they will play opposite sides of the field, Cullen’s rival five-eighth is a familiar face: the in-form Sam Irwin.
“I played Australian Schoolboys with Sam Irwin,” Cullen said. “I went to school with him and I know him *really well.”
The Seagulls have one forced change to last week’s triumphant side, with Cory Blair’s one-week suspension for striking opening the door for back-rower Jackson Clarke to make his debut.
Clarke is one of five Tweed players who have turned out for Burleigh in the past. Others are his older brother Dane Clarke, Irwin and co-captains Sam Meskell and Sam Saville.
COMPETITION points, pride, bragging rights – it’s all on the line at Pizzey Park tomorrow in the Queensland Cup rugby league local derby.
The Burleigh Bears and Tweed Heads Seagulls both enter the match having notched promising Round 1 wins last weekend.
The Bears have named an unchanged line-up from their 44-22 victory over Wynnum Manly but coach Jim Lenihan is wary of their opponents from across the border.
Just as they did in their opening match against Easts, Tweed will rely on the speed, mobility and fitness of their smaller forward pack against a Burleigh side that has several big men.
“I think probably with the eight interchanges now, especially in the heat, it’s almost an advantage to have a smaller, mobile pack,” Lenihan said.
On top of the rivalry between the sides – with Burleigh keen to avenge their 50-4 demolition last year on the Seagulls’ turf – Lenihan says there is even more at stake.
“As much as there is the local rivalry, there’s just as much rivalry in the Titans ranks to sort of get yourself up in the pecking order,” he said.
One such battle will be between home hooker Matt Srama and Tweed’s Kierran Moseley, who is on the comeback trail from a pre-season ankle injury.
Another pressing his case for a promotion to the NRL is Burleigh playmaker Cameron Cullen.
The 22-year-old has found form and is pushing for a top-grade debut.
“I just want to be consistently performing really well at Queensland Cup so if an opportunity arises I’m putting my hand up,” he said.
Cullen earned a second-tier contract with the Gold Coast on the back of his performances in the pre-season trials and is enjoying his combination with Burleigh co-captain and former Seagulls halfback Jamal Fogarty.
“He is really good with *organising and takes the pressure off me and adds to my game,” Cullen said of *Fogarty.
Although they will play opposite sides of the field, Cullen’s rival five-eighth is a familiar face: the in-form Sam Irwin.
“I played Australian Schoolboys with Sam Irwin,” Cullen said. “I went to school with him and I know him *really well.”
The Seagulls have one forced change to last week’s triumphant side, with Cory Blair’s one-week suspension for striking opening the door for back-rower Jackson Clarke to make his debut.
Clarke is one of five Tweed players who have turned out for Burleigh in the past. Others are his older brother Dane Clarke, Irwin and co-captains Sam Meskell and Sam Saville.