QLD Wizard Cup Preview - Round 17

JOE Galuvao has commanded the headlines in the lead-up to his first game for the Easts Tigers, while speedster Trent Purdon brings up his 100th in Burleigh colours. Find out what else is happening throughout the QLD Wizard Cup this weekend.

NORTH QLD v TWEED HEADS                          
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Friday July 13, 5.30pm.                                                       
Referee: Gavin MORRIS
A YOUNG Guns team unbeaten at home and in number one spot faces a Tweed Heads side which is still undefeated since April. Only one competition point separates the clubs on the ladder. The visiting Seagulls have offered a shock selection, picking teen prop Will Matthews to replace David Myles in the centres, Matthews was an Australian Schoolboys teammate of Obe Geia in 2006. Geia, named on the wing for the Young Guns, has been the subject of speculation about a possible NRL promotion. Tweed halfback Tim Maccan will play his 50^th Wizard Cup game in the black butcher stripes. Both Brad Davis and Jackson Nicolau passed 100 points for the season in Round 16. Young Guns’ winger Toshio Laiseni’s christian name reportedly means ‘genius’ in Japanese.




EASTS v ASPLEY                                         *Live on ABC TV
Langlands Park, Saturday July 14, 2pm.
Referee: Michael WISE
JOE Galuvao need not feel aggrieved by playing Wizard Cup football when he makes his debut for the Tigers this weekend. Eight members of the New Zealand Test squad from 2006 have played Wizard Cup at some stage. That includes David Faiumu, Jake Webster and Tame Tupou, all of whom have featured as recently as this year. If he can make a difference to an Easts side battling for a spot in the five, Galuvao will only further his credentials. Aspley rival Andrew Lomu is another in the Wizard Cup to have played Test football in Kiwi colours. Easts coach Michael Booth has bitten the bullet after last weekend’s lacklustre performance against Redcliffe, and has moved teenager Luke Capewell to fullback and promoted Wallace Solomona to five-eighth. Solomona has not played Wizard Cup since winning the 2005 grand final with North Queensland. Ian Lacey is back for Aspley after being granted a week off.




CENTRAL v WYNNUM MANLY
Browne PARK, Saturday July 14, 7.30pm
Referee: Justin DAVIS
THERE has been no leniency from Wynnum Manly coach Shane McNally in light of his team’s fourth straight loss. Club stalwart Jimmy Ahmat has been relegated to the bench, with Chris McQueen at fullback. Meanwhile local Capalaba junior Mitchell Dodds and Cairns junior Warren Jensen will be handed debuts. Aoterangi Herangi, a former Comet, is another elevated into McNally’s top squad. This will be the first time Denny Lambert has played at Browne Park since his colourful stint with the Comets in 2006. Lambert, celebrating 50 games for the Seagulls, faces a side bristling with home-grown talent and situated only two wins behind on the ladder. Central still has the bye up its sleeve, so a win would effectively be worth four points in its pursuit of Wynnum Manly and Souths Logan.




NORTHS v REDCLIFFE
Bishop Park, Sunday July 15, 3pm
Referee: Clayton SHARPE
NORTHS forward Will Scanlan celebrates his 50^th game in the Wizard Cup, having started out with the Central Comets in 2003. This year the Tuggeranong junior has risen to representative heights, playing for XXXX City and performing strongly. Both the Devils and Dolphins had dealings with the judiciary this week, but thankfully only in the FOGS Cup. Norths players Clay Morgan (3wks) and Dan Donovan (2wks) have been outed, while Jamie Tomlinson of Redcliffe has a week out. Norths will stage a player reunion prior to this match against the club’s long-standing rival. Next year the Devils host their 75^th anniversary, having started as Past Grammars. Redcliffe has not named Shane Perry despite the likelihood of him playing. The Dolphins are still equal first on the ladder.




BURLEIGH v SOUTHS LOGAN
Pizzey Park, Sunday July 15, 3pm
Referee: Justin EASTWOOD
BURLEIGH cannot afford to lose another game this season and will be out to help Trent Purdon celebrate his 100^th game for the club. One of the competition’s leading career try-scorers, Purdon joined the club in 2003 from Redcliffe. Gold Coast Titans pair Josh Graham and Lelea Paea have both been listed on the bench for the Bears, with rookies Marty Paulson and Alex Glenn named to start in the backline. The game could provide a battle of the monsters in the wing, with Aseri Laing and Tevita Folau both lurking out wide. Folau is the older brother of Melbourne Storm sensation Israel. Key men Scott Marks and Josh Griffith are back for the Magpies and give greater grunt and options up front. Purdon (11) and Nick Parfitt (10) have crossed the stripe the most times for the Bears, while Kyle Lodge has eight for the Magpies this season.