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IT IS rivalry round this weekend in the Intrust Super Cup and beyond the storied history of these match ups there are crucial finals places up for grabs.


There are some brilliant contests which have pertinent bearing upon the ladder.


My pick for game of the round is Sunday's clash featuring the Redcliffe Dolphins who line up for a must-win contest against bay rivals Wynnum Manly Seagulls.


The Dolphins' season is slipping away quickly, making a mockery of my pre-season predictions they would win the premiership in a canter.


Redcliffe now sit six competition points outside the top five.


They are among a group of three teams (with the Burleigh Bears and Central Capras) hovering under 15 points that must post back-to-back wins in the next two rounds or their top-five hopes are dashed.


The Dolphins must-win clash comes after Wynnum Manly found form, posting three wins in a row after they were smashed by the Easts Tigers in round 13.


The Mackay Cutters hosting the Northern Pride will also be must-attend rugby league.


The Pride are four points clear at the top of the ladder and could practically wrap up the minor premiership with a victory over the Cutters.


The Ipswich Jets will be boosted for their 2008 grand final replay against the Souths Logan Magpies by the late inclusion of Brisbane Broncos recruit Lama Tasi.


Tasi, a giant prop, is another example of a player recruited to Sydney and forced to move away from his family.


To the NRL's credit it is a situation they are attempting to quell, with the game to start incentivising clubs who develop their own.


Tasi this week moved back with his family in Goodna and if he plays for the Jets this weekend as expected it will mark the first match he's ever played with younger brother Tautalatasi Tasi who has been picked up by the Broncos as well.


There is a third Tasi, Sani, who is signed to the Sydney Roosters and hopefully he too is given the chance to stay at home.


***


WRITE down the name Kalyn Ponga. The high school student is one of the best rugby league prospects in the country and he's also a Queenslander.


Ponga has made Australian representative teams a year above his age in the past and he starred again in the Australian 15 Years Championships held in Canberra.


Ponga was named player of the tournament as the Maroons stormed to win the title, defeating New South Wales Catholic High Schools 26-12.


It is a welcome win for a Queensland underage team after poor results so far this year.


The Queensland Under 20s team were soundly defeated by the Blues as were the Under 16 and Under 18 teams.


The Under 18 team lost 56-6 at Suncorp Stadium before State of Origin II, while the Under 16s were defeated 30-0 before Game 1.
Acknowledgement of Country

Queensland Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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