QCUP Preliminary Final: NORTHERN PRIDE v TWEED HEADS

NORTHERN PRIDE v TWEED HEADS
Dolphin Oval Saturday, September 17 ? 2pm* Live on ABC 1

The grand final showdown the pundits were predicting in the later stages of the season has come one week early; with the Tweed Heads Seagulls and the Northern Pride facing off this weekend for the right to play in the premiership decider. The two teams ? who finished one and two on the ladder ? have been thrown into this crucial game thanks to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls who stunned minor premiers Tweed Heads with their 24-12 win last weekend. Wynnum Manly were able to contain Tweed?s dangerous forward pack, one of their keys weapons this year. The Northern Pride however were easy 30-6 victors over the Ipswich Jets at Barlow Park. Although they conceded the first try, they were then able to shut their opposition out of the rest of the match and will go into this game as favourites. It?s a remarkable turn-around of fortunes for Tweed Heads, who only a few weeks beforehand seemed certainties to feature on grand final day. However, back-to-back losses ? their first loss of the season in round 22 against the Pride and then last week?s upset loss to Wynnum ? has them in danger of stumbling at the final hurdle. Their quest to steady the ship this weekend against an ever-improving Pride has been made all the more difficult with a number of injuries picked up in their semi final loss. Aaron Cannings sustained a head gash, but has been named, as has Ryan Milligan who suffered a cork. Late inclusion Kayne Lawton re-injured his ribs, a setback which had previously seen him out of action for six weeks, while Will Matthews has not been named. However, Brock Hunter and Matt Hundy have been added to the line-up. Understandably, the Pride have made minimal changes to their line-up, with Hezron Murgha in for Mark Dalle Cort who injured his ankle.

Head-to-Head: Pride 4, Tweed 4
Head-to-Head Finals: First game
Finals Record: Pride played 10 (won 7); Tweed played 8 (won 3)

http://www.qrl.com.au/

Northern Pride

1. Chey Bird 2. Michael Bani 3. Brett Anderson 4. Davin Crampton 5. Hezron Murgha 6. Ty Williams (c) 7. Ryan Ghietti 8. Luke Harlen 9. Jason Roos 10. Ben Laity 11. Ben Spina 12. Mark Cantoni 13. Joel Riethmuller 14. Mick Wilson 15. Rod Jensen 16. Noel Underwood 17. Alex Starmer

Coach: David Maiden

Tweed Heads Seagulls

1. Ryan Milligan 2. Nathanael Barnes 3. James Wood 4. Matt Hundy 5. Tom Merritt 6. Matt King 7. Brad Davis 8. Aaron Cannings 9. Tim Maccan 10. Josh Starling 11. Ryan Simpkins 12. Selasi Berdie 13. Cody Nelson 14. Tom Kingston 15. Rod Griffin 16. Jake Leary 17. Brock Hunter

Coach: Ben Anderson

Matthews lost to Seagulls in Qld Cup

WILL Matthews has been lost to the Tweed Heads Seagulls' back row for the remainder of their Queensland Cup campaign after undergoing hip surgery on Tuesday.

While the loss of Matthews is a blow for the Seagulls, the minor premiers were given some good news ahead of today's match against reigning premiers Northern Rivers, with Brock Hunter (groin) and Matt Hundy named to return while prop Aaron Cannings (head gash) and Ryan Milligan (cork) will also take their positions.

Falling to successive defeats following an unbeaten 21-game run this season, the losses meant little for the Seagulls, who now face a sudden-death showdown against the Pride.

Waiting for Tweed however are the resurgent defending premiers, who sealed second spot by ending the Seagulls' record run in the final round with their 16-10 victory in Cairns.

They continued their dominant ways with a 30-6 beating of Ipswich in last weekend's opening final.

www.goldcoast.com.au