The BRL A Grade In Safe Hands Cup returns this weekend, but only briefly as Round 9 will be played between two representative weekends.
Last weekend, the competition was put on hold for the 2018 Alpha Sports Chairman's Challenge and next weekend will be another bye week as the QRL State Carnival takes centre stage.
Poinsettias coach Mark Gliddon, who named a squad of 24 players earlier this week, will still be looking at the performance of fringe players due to Intrust Super Cup selection, meaning Round 9 will be the last chance for players to impress.
Round 8 results were a little more one sided than previous rounds with convincing wins by Redcliffe, (25-18) over the Tigers and Seagulls (24-8) over the Magpies.
The remaining fixture, however, went down to the wire with the premiers, Valleys, continuing their winning run over the Panthers 13-10 at Emerson Park.
Emerson Park will host the first game of Round 9, when Valleys take on their 2017 grand final opponents Redcliffe. Redcliffe won their first meeting this year 16-8.
Redcliffe coach Danial Green has named Trai Fuller at fullback. The Dolphins back three have mesmerising speed to go on the back of the big units like Bailey Butler, Jordan Pinnock and James Flack who march up the middle.
The Diehards also have some slippery side steppers out wide, but it is their halves combination of Brett Doherty and Jack Miers that could cause the most headaches for the visitors, as they have done in previous weeks.
Over at Davies Park, the Magpies host the West Brisbane Panthers. Wests won the first encounter this season 34-12.
That day, the first half defensive efforts by the Panthers was the catalyst to take the three competition points on offer.
Souths, with a higher percentage of time in possession in that first half, pounded away at the red and black wall to no avail and the Panthers pounced at the back end to secure victory.
The Panthers are coming off just their second loss of the season after going down to Valleys in Round 8, but they remain at the top of the ladder.
West Brisbane have named an almost identical 17 from two weeks ago, whereas the Magpies have some new names in their ranks from previous weeks.
Shaun Tupou, Lorenzo Chung-Kwan and Anthony Chang are some of the new faces. It will be a baptism of fire as the Panthers will be out to right the ship this Sunday morning at 11.45am.
Finally, the Seagulls are at BMD Kougari Oval against the Tigers. Two weeks ago, the baysiders flexed their premiership muscle with a near perfect first half against Souths.
The Seagulls were facing a third straight loss but were at their very best to notch a 24-8 win against a very talented Souths outfit.
Seagulls coach Ron Troutman had mixed feelings about the timing of the bye.
On the one hand; they will be looking to continue the winning momentum, but he was also happy for players to have a break and get over some niggles.
Tigers coach David Krause will be the man with a four-leaf clover, a rabbit's foot and a horse shoe in his kit as he looks for some luck.
Easts have a wealth of talent but have been unlucky on several occasions this year. They have led a few games only to have the three points on offer reduced to just one.
BRL A Grade In Safe Hands Cup - Round 9
Diehards v Dolphins – Emerson Park Saturday, May 26 at 3pm
Diehards
1. Jordan Mitchell 2. Tom Collins 3. Kegan Tuhega 4. Callum Klein 5. Sam Wright 6. Brett Doherty 7. Jack Miers 8. Stephen Coombe 9. Chris Aiton 10. Patrick Akauola 11. Brendan Cousins 12. Liam Herrington 13. Moses Noovao - Mc Greal 14. Mitch Walker 15. Mattais Heimuli 16. Jacob Kelly 17. Stacey Everitt
Coach: Don Gailer
Dolphins
1. Trai Fuller 2. Josh Beehag 3. Corban Daniels 4. Sam Leach 5. Obed Kahwin 6. Reece Braun 7. Manaia Rudolph 8. Bailey Butler 9. Tristan Hope 10. Ben King 11. James Flack 12. Agassi Stowers 13. Samson Graham 14. Jordan Pinnock 15. Aiden Devery 16. Tauaalo Vaipulu 17. Josh Fauid
Coach: Daniel Green
Magpies v Panthers – Davies Park Sunday, May 27, 2018 at 11.45am
Magpies
1. Lorenzo Chung - Kwan 2. Toa Faataape 3. David Pritchard 4. Lenny Magey 5. Josh Tuilagil 6. Sato Ketia-Opo 7. Lane Ferling 8. Justin Fai 9. Brad Frith 10. Jordan Mago 11. Matty Brown 12. Will Samuel 13. Cody Mc Intosh 14. Savaan Tahere 15. Shaun Tupou 16. Ian King 17. Anthony Chang
Coach: Steve Bretherton
Panthers
1. Kyle Van Klaveren 2. Sam Collins 3. Mitch Hallinan 4. Kennedy Pettyborne 5. James Olds 6. Kane Zalewski 7. Zach Strasser 8. Josh Afoa 9. Mikaere Beattie 10. Michael Molo 11. Troy Swift 12. Billy Rogers 13. Dominic Biondi 16. TBA 17. Riley Leota 18. Drae Aiono 19. Simona Vavega
Coach: Wayne Weekes
Seagulls v Tigers – BMD Kougari Oval Sunday, May 27, 2018 at 1.15pm
Seagulls
1. Matthew Milson 2. Jack Goodsell 3. Mitchell Mc Millian 4. Harlan Collins 5. Tumoana Halkyard 6. Adrian Elder 7. Jayden Berrell 8. Billy Solah 9. Kalolo Saitaua 10. Semisi Ahoafi 11. Jaz Nahu-Main 12. John Te Reo 13. Kelly Tate 14. Corey Davis 15. Braden Collins 16. Jacob Paulo 17. Tamati Ioane
Coach: Ron Troutman
Tigers
1. Brett Kelly 2. Delroy Berryman 3. Maeli Seve 4. Leon Ellia-Nuikore 5. Evander Cummins 6. Josh Ralph 7. Ollie Olds 8. Gene Ropoama 9. Ryan Cameron 10. Heath Wilson 11. Harry Pondekas 12. Jack Anderson 13. Jarred Tuite 14. Jack Walters 15. Andrew Thompson 16. Jesse Uhlmann 17. Connor Jones
Coach: David Krause
| Ladder | |
|---|---|
| Panthers | 20 |
| Dolphins | 19 |
| Seagulls | 17 |
| Diehards | 17 |
| Magpies | 12 |
| Tigers | 11 |
* John Devine is a QRL correspondent covering the BRL A Grade
