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In Safe Hands Cup Round 12 Preview

With the representative stage of 2018 over, the BRL A Grade In Safe Hands Cup returns for Round 12 this weekend.

With just eight games left in the season, this weekend marks the start of the race for the final four.

Last year's premiers Valleys sit just inside the top four, looking for consistency as they strive to go back-to-back, while last year's minor premiers the Redcliffe Dolphins are on the charge after a disjointed start to the season.

Grand finalists last year and premiers in 2016, the Dolphins have not lost a game since Round 5 against the Panthers, who themselves sit at the top of the table.

Wests have only lost twice in 2018, both times against Valleys. Meanwhile, the Tigers won back-to-back games prior to the bye and are starting to show the potential that has existed on paper all season.

The Bayside Seagulls have gone about their season nicely, grinding out wins on a regular basis. The Gulls, grand finalists in 2015, sit in third position and depending on the club's depth in the halves, have the squad to feature in the decider.

The Magpies have struggled of late. Like the Tigers, Souths have the cattle to challenge for the top four, however, injuries and promotion of players to the top grade have left their mark on the Pies. It would be folly for oppositions to take the Souths lightly. Like a cyclist in spring, the Magpies are capable of striking without notice.

In Safe Hands Cup Ladder   
1. Panthers  28  +95 
2. Dolphins 27  +65 
3. Seagulls  23  +26 
4. Diehards  21  -28 
5. Tigers  18  +45 
6. Magpies  15  -205 

Emerson Park will host the Diehards and the Magpies from 3pm on Saturday afternoon, with Souths set to welcome back the inspirational and talented, Luke Archer. Archer will be joined at the back by the deceptive Jarvan White who is also returning.

Queensland Universities halfback and skipper Lane Ferling and five-eighth Sato Ketia-Opo join a talented backline, but the forwards will have to do the hard work first.

It won't be easy against the Diehards. Valleys have the game breaker in Alex Bishop at hooker, plus the damaging Stephen Coombe to name just a few of the blue wall the Magpies have to knock over.

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Panthers will host the Tigers at 3.15pm at Arana in what shapes as the match of the round.

The Tigers are starting to roar after impressive back-to-back wins. Tigers coach David Krause may have been happy to go without last week's bye round as his charges have finally found their mojo.

Easts have the talented Brayden Torphy and Jack Walters as part of a confident and impressive line-up, including try line finders in the forwards with Jack Anderson and Heath Wilson hungry for more meat pies.

The Panthers also have game changers within their ranks. Hooker Adam Harris, the nimble half Gavin Causer, the powerhouse winger Namila Davui and Kyle Van Klaveren form only a part of the Panther team that has them at the top of the In Safe Hands Cup table.

Finally, on Sunday, the clash between the Dolphins and Seagulls also shapes as a ripper as these sides sit second and third respectively.

The Phins have three of the best that ran out for the XX Queensland Rangers last week in fullback Trai Fuller, prop Bailey Butler and hooker Tristan Hope.

Bayside, meanwhile, have once again named a monster pack, but it is the dynamic duo in the backs of Jeriah Goodrich and Jack Goodsell that may pose the greatest threat.

Diehards v Magpies – Emerson Park, Saturday, June 30 at 3pm

Diehards

1. Kegan Tuhega 2. Tom Collins 3. Callum Klein 4. Regan Glyn 5. Stacey Everitt 6. Brett Doherty 7. Jordon Mitchell 8. Stephen Coombe 9. Alex Bishop 10. Patrick Akauola 11. Liam Herrington 12. Moses Noovao-Mc Greal 13. Dalton Phillips 14. Jamie Casey 15. Mattais Heimuli 16. Jacob Kelly 17. Brendan Cousins

Coach: Don Gailer

Magpies

1. Javarn White 2. Josh Tuilagi 3. David Pritchard 4. Cameron Booth 5. Luke Archer 6. Sato Ketia-Opo 7. Lane Ferling 8. Jordan Mago 9. Brad Frith 10. Will Samuel 11. Matty Brown 12. Aleki Falepaini 13. Cody Mc Intosh 14. Savaan Tahere 15. Jesse Matafeo 16. Justin Fai 17. Charlie Kaipati

Coach: Steve Bretherton

Panthers v Tigers – Kev McKell Oval, Saturday, June 30 at 3.15pm
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Panthers

1. Kyle Van Klaveren 2. Namila Davui 3. Mitchell Hallinan 4. Sam Collins 5. James Olds 6. Kane Zalewski 7. Gavin Causer 8. Hemi Mullen 9. Adam Harris 10. Michael Molo 11. Troy Swift 12. Billy Rogers 13. Che Fa'alafi 16. To be announced 17. Dominic Biondi 18. Henry Togiasua 19. Drae Aiono

Coach: Wayne Weekes

Tigers

1. Brett Kelly 2. Brandon Downey 3. Leon Ellia-Nuikore 4. Connor Jones 5. Rahkeem Auda 6. Josh Ralph 7. Brayden Torpy 8. Gene Ropoama 9. Jack Walters 10. Heath Wilson 11. Jack Anderson 12. Harry Pondekas 13. Jesse Uhlmann 14. Hayden Elsebach 15. Ryan Cameron 16. Andrew Thompson 17. Jack Schaffer

Coach: David Krause

Dolphins v Seagulls – Dolphin Oval, Sunday,  July 11 at 11.45am
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Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jed Simbiken 3. Rinsma Saueha 4. Justice Utatao 5. Will Partridge 6. Reece Braun 7. Josh Fauid 8. Bailey Butler 9. Tristan Hope 10. Ben King 11. Corban Daniels 12. Agassi Stowers 13. Jordan Pinnock 14. Tauaalo Vaipulu 15. Paranas Bokuik 16. Brett Anderson 17. Manaia Rudolph Coach: Daniel Green

Seagulls

1. Matthew Milson 2. Jack Goodsell 3. Jeriah Goodrich 4. Tumoana Halkyard 5. Harlan Collins 6. Mitchell Forrest 7. Adrian Elder 8. Billy Solah 9. John Te Reo 10. Jacob Paulo 11. Jaz Nahu-Main 12. Brad Mana 13. Kelly Tate 14. TBA 15. Semisi Ahoafi 16. Tamati Ioane 17. Joshua Hoffman

Coach: Ron Troutman

* John Devine is a QRL correspondent covering the BRL A Grade

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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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