Queensland Cup: Season 2007 Thread

[Queenslander]

Round 11 Results

REDCLIFFE 46 (Ryan Cullen 2, Matt Harris, Nick Emmett, Rory Bromley, Marty Turner, Troy Lindsay, Palmer Wapau tries; Marty Turner 7 goals)
NORTH QUEENSLAND 32 (Jamie Frizzo 2, Karl Johnson, Toshio Laiseni, Col Wilkie, Keiron Lander tries; Jackson Nicolau 4 goals) at Dolphin Oval.

TWEED HEADS 18 (Nathanael Barnes 2, David Myles tries; Brad Davis 3 goals) EASTS 12 (Mark Cantoni, Luke Capewell tries: Matt Lockyer 2 goals) at Carrara Stadium.

ASPLEY 40 (Denan Kemp, Jamie Simpson, Gideon Mzembe, Michael Green, Nick Kenny, Dave Taylor, Brynjar Ragnarsson tries; Ben Green 6 goals)
CENTRAL 16 (Wayne Barnett, Luke Fatnowna, Steve Farrelly tries; Nat Bowman 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium.

IPSWICH 26 (Brendon Marshall, Luke Walker, Rickie Dodd, Chris Walker, Danny Coburn tries; Rickie Dodd 2, Geoff Chalk goals)
SOUTHS LOGAN 18 (David Wood, Mick Anschau, Phil Dennis, Darren Glase tries; Paul Rolls goal) at North Ipswich Reserve.

WYNNUM MANLY 24 (Paoa Faamita, Bill Wyatt, Chris Birch, Wade Bachmann tries; Chris Birch 4 goals)
BURLEIGH 22 (Nick Parfitt 2, Jordan Atkins, Leigh Coghill tries; Nick Parfitt 3 goals) at BMD Kougari Oval.

BYE: NORTHS


TABLE AFTER ROUND 11

Redcliffe 18
North Queensland 16,
Aspley 15,
Easts 14,
Ipswich 14,
-------------------
Tweed Heads 13,
Burleigh 12,
Norths 10,
Wynnum Manly 10,
Souths Logan 8,
Central 2.

[Queenslander]

Round 16 Results:

Aspley 34 d Burleigh 28
Redcliffe 28 d Easts 12
North Qld 40 d Norths 12
Ipswich 40 d Wynnum 26
Tweed Heads 46 d Central 12
Souths Logan bye.

Standings:

North Queensland 24
Redcliffe 24
Tweed Heads 23
Aspley 21
Ipswich 21
Easts 20
Burleigh 16
Norths 13
Souths Logan 12
Wynnum Manly 12
Central 6.

[Queenslander]

Round 18 Results:
Redcliffe 22 d Tweed Heads 18,
Ipswich 24 d Central 10,
Wynnum Manly 28 d North Qld 16,
Easts 34 d Souths Logan 12.
Burleigh bye.

Standings:
Redcliffe 28,
North Queensland 26,
Ipswich 25,
Easts 24,
Tweed Heads 23,

Aspley 21,
Burleigh 20,
Wynnum Manly 16,
Norths 13,
Souths Logan 12,
Central 6.

[Queenslander]

ABC's Latest Thriller Series

GET set for four absolute blockbusters over the remaining rounds of the Queensland Wizard Cup on ABC TV.

Starting with this Saturday?s do-or-die clash between Easts and Burleigh at Langlands Park, lounge room buffs will be treated to a non-stop assault of semi-finals intensity.

In Round 20 (August 4) viewers will get to witness Ipswich taking on Redcliffe at QLD Group Stadium. That?s followed in Round 21 (August 11) by the Jets backing up against the Aspley Broncos at Bishop Park.

To end the fixture rounds, the August 18 telecast will feature Easts against Tweed Heads at Langlands Park, a match that may well see one team miss out on the five. Of course, through the finals ABC will maintain its great 2pm coverage across the State.

Latest figures indicate a 20% increase on peak viewership for the Queensland Wizard Cup from season 2006. The largest audience for a game this year was Easts v North QLD on June 30, attracting a commendable 115,000 Queensland fans. The match comfortably beat that day?s AFL game.

Combined with a consistent 60% surge in the number of visitors to QRL.COM.AU and the buoyant state of rugby league in general, there?s no reason the competition should not encounter greater sponsorship and media opportunities in the foreseeable future.

www.qrl.com.au

[Queenslander]

Mackay Welcomes Cup Return

MACKAY and District Rugby League Chairman Greg Sutherland says hosting this Saturday?s Wizard Cup blockbuster between likely finalists North Queensland and Ipswich will set the ?standard? for the city?s submission to the 2008 competition. Read the extended story.

Sutherland confirmed this week that Mackay would join Cairns in applying for next year?s Wizard Cup, with an application to go before QRL Northern Division on August 25.

Mackay last competed in the competition in its inaugural year, 1996, with the Sea Eagles finishing twelfth in a 16-team league. The Sea Eagles also hold the honour of scoring the first-ever points in the Wizard Cup - a try by Ray Gagai on March 30, 1996.

A successful application for re-entry would do Mackay and neighbouring regions justice, being the breeding ground for numerous State of Origin players from current Maroon Neville Costigan back to the likes of Paul Bowman, Kevin Campion, Travis Norton, Wendell Sailor, Martin Bella and Dale Shearer.

?We?ve been going about our business quietly, but working very hard talking to sponsors, players, the North Queensland Cowboys and local organisations about next year,? Sutherland revealed.

?The advantage we have over a lot of places is that we can combine a great coastal lifestyle with a booming economy and fantastic job prospects.

?We?re keen to come back into the Wizard Cup and this weekend?s game will give us a close look at the standard required.?

The MDRL has gone to significant lengths to highlight the match between the Young Guns and Jets ? a crunch battle between second and third on the table. As well as local media promotions, organisers have sold corporate tents and invited a bevy of junior teams for the 4.30pm match at Tiger Park, home of Mackay Wests.

Among those set to play for the Young Guns is Queensland State of Origin flyer Ty Williams, confirmed today as a starter in the match.

?It?s great that the Young Guns and Cowboys continue to take these types of games to rural areas. It gives provincial people an up-close opportunity to see the quality that the Wizard Cup provides,? QRL Managing Director Ross Livermore said.

?Let?s hope if their application for next year is successful, they?ll get this standard of game every second week.

?You have to remember this goes beyond football, but also towards what it does for the local economy and sense of community.?

The steering committee of the Mackay submission has made no secret of the fact they are tying the Wizard Cup application to the city?s desire for a new rectangular stadium.

North Queensland football manager Kelly Egan said in recent years the Cowboys and Young Guns had taken more than 30 games, both fixtures and trials, away from Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Earlier this season the Young Guns staged a trial in Moranbah, while full-blooded fixture matches have been held in recent seasons at both Proserpine and Sarina.

?The people in Mackay should see a top-notch game. Not only are the Wizard Cup finals on the horizon, but the squeeze is on for the NRL top eight and that means hot competition between our players,? Egan said.

?Ipswich beat our boys by a field goal earlier in the year and we also lost top spot last week, so we?re certainly out for a big performance.?

The game is one of four Wizard Cup matches this weekend with a major bearing on the finals make-up.

Elsewhere Easts takes on Burleigh at 2pm Saturday at Langlands Park, Tweed Heads hosts Aspley at 3pm Sunday at the Piggabeen Complex, and Redcliffe meets Wynnum Manly in the Herald Cup at Dolphin Oval, also 3pm Sunday.

www.qrl.com.au

[Queenslander]

Round 19 Results:
Burleigh 42 d Easts 22,
Norths 40 d Souths Logan 18,
North Queensland 30 d Ipswich 12,
Redcliffe 50 d Wynnum Manly 10,
Tweed Heads 30 d Aspley 10.
Central bye.

Standings:
Redcliffe 30,
North Queensland 28,
Tweed Heads 25,
Ipswich 25,
Easts 24,

Aspley 23,
Burleigh 22,
Wynnum Manly 16,
Norths 15,
Souths Logan 12,
Central 8.

[Queenslander]

Round 21 Results:
Ipswich 34 d Aspley 16,
Norths 28 d Easts 10,
Souths Logan 42 d Wynnum Manly 24,
Redcliffe 48 d Central 0,
Tweed Heads 26 d Burleigh 20.
North Queensland bye.

Standings:
North Queensland 32,
Redcliffe 32,
Tweed Heads 29,
Ipswich 29,
Easts 26,

Aspley 23,
Burleigh 22,
Norths 19,
Wynnum Manly 18,
Souths Logan 14,
Central 8.

[Queenslander]

QLD Wizard Cup Final Round - It's War!

THE BATTLE to finish number one, the battle for pride, the battle for the Club Championship and the battle to be leading tryscorer. The hostilities continue until the end with five big games to end the Wizard Cup regular season. Previews for all games enclosed.

EASTS v TWEED HEADS *Live on ABC TV
Langlands Park, Saturday August 18, 2pm.
Referee: Michael WISE
EASTS skipper Trent Young has been cleared to play after being found not guilty of a Grade Two Dangerous Throw. The finding is a huge shot in the arm for the Tigers, who could have lost their little general for up to three weeks. Teammates John Tamanika and Wallace Solomona will celebrate their 50th games in the Wizard Cup in a match that also has great bearing on Tamanika’s claims to being top tryscorer for 2007. A cousin of Jonah Lomu, Tamanika is equal on 16 tries this year with Redcliffe’s Rory Bromley. The Tweed Heads trio of Shannon Walker (15), James Wood (14) and Nathanael Barnes (14) are also huge threats. Needing a win to keep third spot and two chances in the finals, the Seagulls welcome NRL veteran David Myles and Australian Schoolboys representative Will Matthews. This will be the last game at Langlands Park for Damian Durnford, set to retire after 10 seasons in the Cup.

NORTH QLD v REDCLIFFE
Dairy Farmers Satdium, Saturday August 18, 5.30pm.
Referee: Gavin MORRIS
THE biggest game of the Wizard Cup thus far in 2007, with the winner to secure the minor premiership. Although the two heavyweights are equal on 14 wins apiece, Redcliffe has suffered a glut of injuries going into the contest. Ryan Cullen and Palmer Wapau were late withdrawals on Thursday, while Deon Bird (cheekbone) and Marty Turner (jaw) are gone for the season. Mick Roberts, Shane Perry and Nick Emmett will also be absent on NRL duty, with Perry now ineligible for the Wizard Cup finals. North Queensland is less hampered, but is still without regular captain Shane Muspratt and forward Sam Faust, who will play for the Cowboys. The absences make for opportunities for both club’s younger brigade, with 17-year-old Ray Thompson at half for North Queensland and 20-year-old Townsville boy Matt Seamark returning home in the number seven jersey for the Dolphins. Mackay teenager Josh Hoffman will play fullback for Redcliffe in place of Cullen, while Pat Gardner fills Wapau’s spot after recovering from an ear infection.

BURLEIGH v WYNNUM MANLY
Pizzey Park, Saturday August 18, 6pm
Referee: Justin EASTWOOD
WYNNUM Manly is claiming a club record 62 tackles from Simon Phillips in last weekend’s loss to Souths Logan. A winger for most of his career, Phillips has played more and more time at lock as the season has progressed. Coach McNally recently said of the switch: “Simon is a guy who loves to get involved, loves the physicality and loves to compete”. Originally with the Young Guns, Phillips will bring up his 100th Wizard Cup game this weekend. Burleigh’s Nick Parfitt will also reach the century milestone and is a dead-set certainty to finish the year as the competition’s leading points-scorer. Both Parfitt and teammate Trent Purdon have 13 tries for the season and could catch the likes of Tamanika and Bromley with a big game. The Bears’ skipper Ryan Gundry has been outed for a week for a Careless High Tackle, plus carry-over points. Wynnum has raised eyebrows by dumping its own leading try-scorer Paoa Faamita to FOGS Cup, while shifting Steve Irwin to five-eighth. Both of these clubs will play FOGS Cup finals.

CENTRAL v ASPLEY
Browne Park, Saturday August 18, 7.30pm
Referee: Nick KALPAKIDIS
CENTRAL captain Wayne Barnett has escaped from a possible six weeks on the sideline with a one-match ban. Barnett was charged with a Grade Three Contrary Conduct and a Grade One Reckless High Tackle, but escaped the latter charge and had the former downgraded to a Grade One. The Comets have named Queensland Rangers standout Stephen Lill on the bench in a big weekend for CQ local football. Both the Rockhampton and Gladstone grand finals are to be held Sunday. This stands to be Aspley’s last game in the Wizard Cup, with the club to form an alliance with Norths next season. Players such as Jamie Simpson, Gideon Mzembe and Derrick Watkins appear headed elsewhere.

SOUTHS LOGAN v IPSWICH
Davies Park, Sunday August 19, 3pm
Referee: Clayton SHARPE
THOUGH Souths Logan cannot make the finals in any grade, the Magpies are expected to put up a fight, as they have done all year. Ipswich leads the Spotless Club Championship by 11 points at present and stands to win $4000 if it can at least win the Wizard Cup grade, guaranteeing a further 10 points and pushing it clear of Redcliffe and Tweed Heads. The Jets also need to win to further their finals cause, hopefully finishing above Tweed Heads and getting two lives in the finals. Jason Bulgarelli will notch his 100th game in the Wizard Cup, having started out at Wests and Easts. Rickie Dodd is Ipswich’s leading scorer this season, having left Souths Logan as one of their leading career scorers.

www.qrl.com.au

[Locky24]

A BARNSTORMING Scott Bolton try has clinched North Queensland the Wizard Cup minor premiership in a thrilling 14-12 win over Redcliffe at Dairy Farmers Stadium.



Crashing over beneath a mountain of defenders in the 74th minute, Bolton made referee Gavin Morris look long and hard before awarding the decisive four-pointer.

Without the benefit of a video official, the Cup?s leading whistleblower was almost down on all fours as he confirmed the ball had touched the turf.

In the wash-up, Redcliffe was left to rue a number of missed opportunities, electing not to take penalties from within kicking range at 12-10 ahead.

Regardless, the Dolphins could still hold their heads high at fulltime, again proving more than the sum of their parts, with a severely depleted squad battling bravely in the loss.

Indeed the reigning premiers were without nine players due to injuries and NRL commitments and looked headed for a pasting as North Queensland dominated territory early in the contest.

Hooker Scott Smith was dynamite for the Young Guns and when he was first to cross in the 10th minute, it was tipped to be the start of an avalanche.

A flummoxed Redcliffe struggled to come off its own line and wasn?t helped when rookie Josh Hoffman elected to chip-chase inside his own half just 20 minutes into the contest.

But while North Queensland continued to hold the upper hand, it suffered injuries to both Sam Bowie (right ankle) and Keiron Lander (concussion). The Young Guns were also denied tries several times by the slimmest of margins, ankle taps and desperation tackles leaving them inches short.

For all the weight of possession and territory, the home side could not convert and had every reason to be frustrated when Redcliffe was next to score.

Chris Fox made a 40m break down the right touchline, only to be held up brilliantly by backrower Jimmy Andersen. But on the very next play Townsville junior Matt Seamark grubbered for former Mackay boy Josh Hoffman and it was 6-all.

The theme of locals coming back to haunt North Queensland developed even further when Rory Bromley was the next to score for Redcliffe. A premiership winner with the Young Guns in 2005, Bromley raced 70m after a Lander stab kick was directed straight into his arms.

That gave the Dolphins a 12-6 advantage at halftime, the inside running for top spot and a week off in the first round of finals.

However North Queensland refused to give the visitors breathing room, Daniel Backo proving too strong out wide to peg the score back to 12-10 just three minutes after the break.

For more than half-an-hour that remained the score, both teams slugging it out in a battle of wills. During this period the veterans came to the forefront, Troy Lindsay charging relentlessly for Redcliffe, while Young Guns skipper Shane Muspratt applied pressure with his kicking.

This time around it was the Dolphins who sustained the lion?s share of territory, but could not transfer that to points. Fox was held up a second time, shortly after Lindsay hit the posts as with a surging hit-up.

At that point it possibly seemed pointless for Redcliffe to take kicks for penalties when they arrived, rather than continuing to run the ball.

But that tactical oversight was exposed when the Young Guns took the ball to the other end of the paddock six minutes from fulltime.

North Queensland worked a huge overlap to the left, only for fullback Hoffman to cut down Brett Anderson spectacularly in cover. The next play they shifted the ball all the way over to the right, Bolton bouncing off Kaine Manihera and then taking a handful of tacklers over the line.

Back in front by two and with the clock winding down, North Queensland then let the subsequent restart go dead, forcing them to give Redcliffe prime field position as well as possession.

Raising tensions even higher, the Dolphins then camped on the Young Guns line and had several chances to score. Bromley almost became the hero when grounding a Seamark cross-kick in the 78th minute, only for it to be ruled a double knock-on.

North Queensland was forced to drop out twice more before fulltime and when the hooter finally blew it came like music to the players? ears, throwing their hands to the air in triumph.

Only once in the history of the Wizard Cup has the minor premier failed to contest the grand final.

The Young Guns now enjoy a week?s break before the major semi, to be played in Townsville. Redcliffe hosts Tweed Heads in the qualifying final at Dolphin Oval on Sunday.


NORTH QUEENSLAND 14 (Scott Smith, Daniel Backo, Scott Bolton tries; Jackson Nicolau goal) d REDCLIFFE 12 (Rory Bromley, Josh Hoffman tries; Alwyn Simpson 2 goals) at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

[Cowboy Titan]

Congrats to the Young Guns on the 2007 minor premiership.

Credit to the Guns and Redcliffe. It's a great result for both teams to finish 1st & 2nd after the amount of players they've had to supply to the Cowboys and Broncos this year.

[Locky24]

Yes Congratulations go to the Young Guns on getting Minor premiership,But Since my favourite team isn't in the top 5 (aspley Broncos) I will be going for the young guns to win the Premiership:woot:

[Queenslander]

Its finals time! :woot:

Finals Guide - Week One

VENUES and times enclosed for Week One of the Queensland Rugby League finals in the Wizard Cup, FOGS Cup and FOGS Colts Challenge.

SATURDAY AUGUST 25

QLD GROUP STADIUM (Ipswich)

12pm - Ipswich Jets v Burleigh Bears (FOGS Cup)
2pm - Ipswich Jets v Easts Tigers (Wizard Cup)
4pm - Easts Tigers v Western Districts Panthers (FOGS Cup)

DOLPHIN OVAL (Redcliffe)

11.30am - Redcliffe Dolphins v Wynnum Manly Seagulls (Colts Challenge)
1.10pm - Norths Devils v Western Districts Panthers (Colts Challenge)
3pm - Redcliffe Dolphins v Tweed Heads Seagulls (Wizard Cup)

# Dolphin Oval games originally scheduled for Sunday but altered at Redcliffe's request.

www.qrl.com.au

[Queenslander]

This the summary of this weeks finals:

Friday August 31

Major Semi Final
NORTH QLD v REDCLIFFE @ DAIRY FARMERS STADIUM: 5.15PM

Saturday September 1

Minor Semi Final
TWEED HEADS v IPSWICH @ PIGGABEEN COMPLEX: 2.00PM*
*Denotes ABC TV Live telecast.

[Queenslander]

Wizard Cup Grand Final Tickets Now On Sale



GENERAL seating for the 2007 Queensland Wizard Cup grand final is now on sale through Ticketek. Book your ticket now.

The Wizard Cup decider will be held on the same bill as the grand finals for the FOGS Cup and FOGS Colts Challenge at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, September 15.

Gates open from 10am, with the main game at 2pm.

Adult tickets are $17 or $11 for concession, including free public transport on the day of the game.

To grab your tickets simply visit your nearest Ticketek outlet, phone 132 849 or purchase them online at www.ticketek.com.au

Corporate packages at reasonable prices are also available by ringing the Queensland Rugby League head office on (07) 3393 2222.

Children under the age of 14 will be admitted free on the day.



www.qrl.com.au

[Queenslander]

FINALS WEEK TWO PREVIEWS:
www.qrl.com.au

NORTH QUEENSLAND v REDCLIFFE – Major Semi Final
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Friday August 31, 5.30pm.
Referee: Justin DAVIS

FOR the second week in a row Redcliffe has been the subject of great intrigue in the lead-up to a big match, this one guaranteeing direct access to the grand final. After in-form winger Kaine Manihera decided to take an early plea to a dangerous throw charge, ruling him out, there has been much speculation about how the Dolphins will line up. The early tip was for impact player Palmer Wapau to make a surprise return and Mark Shipway to shift to the centres, pushing Alwyn Simpson wider. However goal-kicking backrower Gerard Parle flew north on Thursday, not Wapau. Already the reigning premiers have been forced to use a makeshift halves combination in Danny Green and Chris Fox, though both played well in last week’s extra time victory against Tweed Heads. North Queensland has not played since these two teams met a fortnight ago in Round 22, a slugfest won 14-12 by the Young Guns. Teenage flyer Sam Bowie is out with an ankle injury, meaning a return for Toshio Laiseni at fullback. Over the past five years the minor premier has won the major semi final on each and every occasion. The losing side will play the preliminary final in Brisbane next Saturday. The curtain-raiser this week at Dairy Farmers Stadium is the national Arrive Alive Cup semi final between Queensland’s last hope Palm Beach Currumbin and Patrician Brothers Blacktown, kicking off at 4pm.

TWEED HEADS v IPSWICH – Elimination Final *Live on ABC TV
Piggabeen Complex, Saturday September 1, 2pm.
Referee: Michael WISE

TWEED Heads has to fight against history in this sudden death showdown, with the winner through to the preliminary final. The Seagulls have only contested three finals games in their history and lost all of them thus far. Also, in the last five years no club has lost in Week One of finals and been able to recover the following week. These two clubs are extremely evenly matched, winning 13 games, losing six and drawing one match over the course of the regular season. After 22 rounds, Tweed Heads held a slight for-and-against advantage of +32 over the Jets. Ipswich has named Josh Lewis to suit up again after a thoroughly dominant performance in last weekend’s knockout game, setting up all four Ipswich tries and then kicking the winning conversion after the siren. Joel Reithmuller is also free to have a gallop after fighting off a grade one careless high tackle that would have sidelined him. Teammate Geoff Chalk, brother of Canberra Raiders speedster Marshall, will celebrate 50 Wizard Cup appearances in this game. Potentially it could be the last match for Jets stalwart Ricky Bird, who is set to retire after more than 100 games and 64 tries for the club.