The second week of the Round 16 split round has two vitally important matches as part of the AUSCOAL Super Cup.
The Round 16 Preview analyses these games and the potential bearing on finals footy.
Game 1: Saturday 2nd August – Souths v Wests at Souths
Huge game for both clubs! Wests can secure the Minor Premiership with victory, while the Sharks can lock down a top three finish.
Wests already sit two games clear at the top of the table and with two games to go they only need to win one to secure the minor premiership. Perhaps more significant though is the fact they are yet to beat Souths in 2014. A win over the Sharks will give them the much deserved Minor Premiership and also a very timely confidence boost over the competition heavyweights. The strength of Wests this year has been their ability to just win games. They have rarely put a team to the sword but have consistently found a way to get the job done.
Beware the sleeping Sharks! Souths will have enjoyed the week off and are starting to get some troops back from injury. This is a big game for them. A win here would just about lock down a position somewhere in the top three (which gives them two bites at the cherry come finals). A loss would have them travel to Sarina next week to take on a red hot Crocodiles side with the threat of slipping out of the top three.
Game 2: Saturday 2nd August – Magpies v Moranbah at Magpies
Potentially do or die for both clubs. A Magpies source made the comment last week that if they don’t win this game they can start dusting off the eskies. These teams are looking to lock down fifth spot. A win for Magpies would give them the edge on the Miners heading in to the last round. They will need that edge as their task does not get any easier next week when they will face the Tigers away from home.
Moranbah are traditionally poor travellers but with the season on the line we might just find that the shifts are all aligned this week and they roll in to Glenella at full strength. Beating Magpies will give them some breathing space as they will probably back themselves to take care of Brothers next week at home.
