QCUP Round 12: REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v TWEED HEADS

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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.

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

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Redcliffe Dolphins
1. Ryan Cullen 2. Marty Hatfield 3. Paul Ivan 4. Tim Yee 5. Liam Georgetown 6. Chris Fox 7. Michael Wilson 8. Chris Farrell 9. Michael Roberts 10. Matt Britt 11. Matt Hand**** 12. Troy Giess 13. Derrick Watkins

14. Dave Hala 15. Michael Spence 16. Tom Butterfield 17. Greg Byrnes

Coach: John Dixon

Tweed Heads Seagulls
1. Shannon Walker 2. Cameron White 3. James Wood 4. Dominique Peyroux 5. Ryan Milligan 6. Kayne Lawton 7. Brad Davis 8. Brock Hunter 9. Tim Maccan 10. Selasi Berdie 11. Tom Kingston 12. Ben Ridge 13. Luke O’Dwyer

15. Jake Leary 16. Kingi Akauola 17. Cody Nelson 18. Will Matthews

Coach: Ben Anderson

Referee: Chris Butler

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Kayne's six of the best in switch


Kayne Lawton at training under the watchful eye of Nathan Friend

HE was once anointed the next Nathan Friend but highly-touted Gold Coast Titans rookie Kayne Lawton appears set for a switch to the backline after being groomed as a five-eighth for feeder club Tweed Heads Seagulls.

The Titans' most valuable player in the national youth competition in 2009, Lawton made his NRL debut in Round 20 against the Broncos last year.

Since returning from a back injury this season, he has been taken under the wing of Seagulls skipper and former Titan Brad Davis in the Queensland Cup.

While not contracted this year, Davis and his `football brain' remain highly respected by the Gold Coast hierarchy.

Lawton has excelled in his first full season of open age competition and Titans coach John Cartwright said he was pleased with the 21-year-old's progress in the halves.

"It is good experience for him," he said. "He had never played Queensland Cup before, only age group footy.

"So this is a good chance to see how he goes at that level. He has made a good fist of it so far."

During the at-times bitter contract wrangle between Friend and the Titans at the start of last season, the club extended Lawton's deal out to the end of 2011.

With Friend expected to move on at the end of last year, the plan was for Lawton to take on the hooking role this season.

But those arrangements were tossed when the Titans and Friend later reconciled and he agreed to a new two-year deal.

With the acquisition of utility Riley Brown and under-20s rake Matt Srama performing well in the Toyota Cup, the Titans have ample depth at hooker. But there is little cover in the halves.

While familiarising Lawton with playmaking duties in case injury hits is an obvious benefit, the move could also be seen as a glimpse inside Cartwright's long-term plan for his backline.

Lawton would be an ideal halves partner for skipper Scott Prince, allowing Greg Bird to shift into the pack and Preston Campbell remain at fullback.

Lawton played halfback at Palm Beach Currumbin High School before playing hooker when he started with the Titans.

"Your six, seven and nine are important parts of the jigsaw and if you are strong in one area you want to strengthen the other areas," said Cartwright.

"It is about giving him game time there."

Source: http://www.goldcoast.com.au/

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Thanks for Shamus for telling me that I stupidly put Lawton news in the Burleigh thread. Fixed now. Thanks mate!