The finals may start next weekend but this week was a chance for the Ipswich Jets to make sure they cemented third spot by beating the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
The Jets entered the game against the Falcons in third spot and a slim four point advantage in for against over the Wynnum Seagulls.
Ipswich started like they were in a hurry to push the lead over Wynnum out further when, with their second touch of the ball, the Jets found a Dane Phillips and Marmin Barba combination. Phillips contributed all the speed and finished off a great try to have the Jets up 6-0 just after the kick off.
Next it was Chris Walker’s turn to flash through and find the Jets’ Manly-bound hooker Matt Parcell for a 12-0 advantage.
The Sunshine Coast’s most capped player Rowan Klein, playing his 86th Intrust Super Cup game, scored a great try off a cross field kick to get the Falcons back to 12-6 after 20 minutes.
It took 24 minutes but it joined the other certainties in the Intrust Super Cup, like rain at Tweed, Easts claiming underdog status and the Wynnum crowd being angry. It was a Marmin Barba try.
Barba started and finished the movement that led to his 27th try this year and the Jets were now in front 18-6
Ipswich took the safe two points on offer and Carlin Anderson took his season tally to 166 points and the Jets to 20-6.
It wasn’t long before Anderson was moving onto 170 points when he hit the gap and scored his 14th try this season.
At 24-6 and half time the Jets found a comfortable lead over the Falcons and the Wynnum Seagulls.
The Falcons started the second half with a try from a clever kick just inside the dead ball line when Falcons’ leading try scorer Young Tonumaipea crossed.
At the 50 minute mark the Jets lead was now 24-12.
Richard Pandia cut through the defence and tried to remove the posts too but still got the ball down despite the collision. The Jets had answered back 30-12.
A Jets’ spilt bomb saw Jacob Samoa score and the Falcons were 30-16 down.
Ipswich winger Brendon McGrady ended the contest with a late try that had the Jets singing 34-16.
The Jets will now host the Northern Pride in Sunday’s elimination final at the North Ipswich Reserve.
IPSWICH JETS 34 (Carlin Anderson, Marmin Barba, Brandon McGrady, Dane Phillips, Matt Parcell, Richard Pandia tries; Carlin Anderson 5 goals) def SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 16 (Rowan Klein, Young Tonumaipea, Jacob Samoa tries; Ryan Hansen 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
Ipswich Jets: 1. Carlin Anderson 2. Marmin Barba 3. Chris Walker 15. KURTIS LINGWOODOCK 5. Brandon McGrady 6. Josh Cleeland 7. Dane Phillips 8. Josh Seage 9. Matt Parcell 10. Rod Griffin 11. Fakahoko Teutau 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Richard Pandia 17. LIAM CAPEWELL 16. Billy McConnachie 18. Keiron Lander (c) 22. Sam Martin
Sunshine Coast Falcons: 1. Sam Wright 2. Rowan Klein 3. Young Tonumaipea 4. Hymel Hunt 5. Travis Robinson 6. SAM YOUNG 7. David Oakes 20. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 9. Jay Lobwein 10. Ryan Hansen 11. Paul Ivan 12. Jacob Samoa 13. JOHNNY VUETIBAU 15. Jon Platt 14. BRETT DOHERTY 16. Mboya Adams 17. Jye Ballinger