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Two teams with an interwoven history will come together as part of XXXX Rivalry Round this weekend.
Easts Tigers and Carina, both feeder teams for the Tigers’ Intrust Super Cup side, go head-to-head at Leo Williams Oval on Saturday afternoon.
A number of Carina players previously donned the black and orange of the Tigers, adding an extra element of intrigue.
Former Easts stalwarts Kev Stephensen and Isaac Kaufmann have both played for Carina this season alongside Steve Tyrrell, Chris Cook and Brandan Purcell, who won Colts premierships with the Tigers.
Kaufmann played 153 games for the Stones Corner based club, while Stephensen is third on the club’s all-time Cup try scoring list.
Easts coach Jason Di Lizio said there may be bragging rights on offer.
“I have no doubt that they’re not going to make it easy for us… it should be a tough game, they hit some form last week,” he said.
While Carina jagged their first win over the season against Normanby, the Tigers picked up their fifth with a nine-try result against Valleys.
Maeli Seve, Whetu Austin and Sam Bielefeld crossed for doubles but defence remains the main focus.
Statistically, the Tigers are the second best defensive unit behind first-placed Ipswich, but Di Lizio insists that their best overall form is still in the bank.
“At times we’ve just had one half who has had to take care of both sides of the field, so I think our attack has suffered a bit,” he said.
“But Maeli Seve has been great for us at fullback while Brent Warr (halfback) gets us around the paddock – his kicking game has been excellent.”
Seve is equal fourth on the Brisbane Rugby League Player of the Year leader board after five rounds and was named in the SEQ Poinsettias preliminary squad earlier this month.
He will line up at fullback for the Tigers.
Sunday sees two of Brisbane's traditional rivals meet at Bishop Park as the opener to the Norths vEasts Intrust Super Cup fixture.
Valleys and Wests (now playing as West Brisbane Panthers) dominated the BRL for a 25-year period from the early 1970s.
The Diehards made four grand finals in a row from 1970-74, claiming three premierships to go with success in '79, '88, '89 and '90.
Wests lifted the trophy in '75 and '76 and peaked in the early '90s, going back-to-back in '93 and '94.
In other fixtures, Wynnum Manly Redland City take on-top placed Ipswich in what shapes as the match of the round, while Logan Brothers can rebound against Normanby and Redcliffe host Gaters.
Round 7 (XXXX Rivalry Round)
Saturday, May 30
Logan Brothers v Normanby at Civic Park, 3pm
Wynnum Manly Redland v Ipswich Jets at Kitchener Park, Wynnum, 4pm
Carina v Easts at Leo Williams Oval, 5pm
Sunday, May 31
West Brisbane Panthers v Valleys Diehards at Bishop Park, 11.45am
Redcliffe Dolphins v Gaters at Dolphin Oval, 12.15pm
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