Down to the last round to decide finals combatants
IT HAS come to the last regular season round in all three grades of the QRL’s Major Competitions – and thrillingly, the final make-up of the upcoming finals series still hangs in the balance.
Download this weeks FOGS Cup and FOGS Colts Challenge team lists here.
The Ipswich Jets, Norths Devils, Sunshine Coast Falcons and Souths Logan Magpies clubs are all relying on the results of this weekend’s final round to see if they will have a team playing in either of the finals of the FOGS Cup and FOGS Colts Challenge competitions.
The most crucial match of the weekend will be Sunday’s Colts game between Souths Logan and Sunshine Coast. Both teams sit on 31 points – but with the Magpies just in the top five with a superior for-and-against record.
Whoever wins this match will most probably play in the elimination semi-final next weekend, while the third placed Wynnum Manly and fourth placed Tweed Heads Seagulls will want to win to and claim third on the ladder and a place in the qualifying semi final.
In the FOGS Cup however, although anything is possible – the likely top four seems a lot more settled, with the Ipswich Jets facing an uphill battle to qualify for back-to-back grand finals.
They will need to beat the ladder leading Redcliffe Dolphins to make the climb into the top four.
They would also need to rely on Carina defeating the Devils in a major competition upset. However, Carina could struggle to make headway against a Norths team who know they are playing to keep their season alive.
Elsewhere – if the Jets were to defeat the Phins in Saturday’s only game; Wynnum Manly will do everything they can to grab their chance at finishing the season as minor premiers when they travel to Langlands Park on Sunday. The Tigers will finish in third place no matter the results.
However, it seems unlikely that the final round will produce much movement on the Leading Points Scorer and Leading Try Scorer ladders, with Ipswich winger Daniel Jennings (21) well out in front in the Colts try-scorers tally; and Wynnum Manly fullback Josh Bowen-Bowyer (192) 22 points clear of nearest rival Ben Jackson (Souths Logan).
In the FOGS Cup, Jet Pat McCallum (12 tries), would have to cross for five tries to overtake Wynnum’s Mitchell Krause (16 tries), while Ben Cook from Redcliffe would need to score 15 points to overtake Luke Pollock from the Jet who has 126 points from seven tries and 49 goals.
All clubs will also where blue socks in support of beyondblue as part of this weekend's Turn to Me round of matches.
*Referees for this weekend can be found here: Weeky Appointments
