Hastings Deering Colts preview: Jets aim to halt Gulls

The Seagulls sit in second place behind the Bears and will prove a tough challenge for the Jets who have only secured one win so far in 2019.

The Seagulls have pecked away at eight wins from 11 games and this weekend will have the service of Queensland Under 18 center Reece Hoffman, fresh off a win on Wednesday night.

Ipswich Jets coach Brendon Marshall was clear on what his team needed to rectify in order to have a positive result at the Bay.

“We need to play the whole 70 minutes, we concentrate well in periods or bits here and there and I think that has cost us probably four games this year,” Marshall said.

“Wynnum are a class side and that’s reflected in where they’re on the table, so this is a big challenge for us this week.”

Wynnum coach Joe O’Callaghan said his team would have to be on guard against a Jets side that was sure to aim up against their high-placed opponents.

“Last year, the games we lost weren’t top four – they were these sort of games, so it’s really important that we go to the two week break with a win.

“We will debut two Auswide Bank Mal Meninga boys tomorrow and that’s exciting.”

Elsewhere in the round – there looks to be plenty of great games to look forward to.

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Mackay Cutters will take their show on the road to a chilly Gold Park in Toowoomba. The Cutters are just inside the eight and will see this game as a must win, while the Mustangs will be keen to gather some momentum and have a big finish to the end of the season.

Pride will take on the Capras in Cairns with the Capras just outside the eight. They have won their past four games and building nicely. Capras coach Damien Seibold was happy with the momentum his side was starting to find.

“We are starting to really find out feet and play some positive football,” Seibold said.

“Our fullback Travis Turnbull had a late start to the pre-season, but is starting to really have an impact for us.

“We have won our last four games so important to keep that going.”

The top-of-the-table Bears will come up against the Tigers who are ninth. The Bears have not lost since Round 4 and are sitting pretty up there with everyone chasing them now.

The Tigers have lost two in a row, but will welcome the test against the Bears and a chance to move forward positively in the second half of the season.

The battle of the north side will take place at Bishop Park. The Devils are in sixth position and coach Kevin Neighbour had this to say about the traditional rivals.

“Where you sit on the table doesn’t matter when you play Redcliffe, traditional rivals”

“We have some players who want to make the step up to Intrust Super Cup, so this is a chance to push for that in the second half of the season.

“Sosefo Filipine is a player in that position, he’s played some BRL A Grade and now has an opportunity to play in the Intrust Super Cup.”

There will be feathers and beaks everywhere on the Coast as the Falcons head south to take on Tweed.

The Falcons are currently in fifth, while the Tweed are just below them in seventh place.

Falcons coach Sam Mawhinney said that consistency was key.

“We are just trying to build consistency, we lost to the Bears last week and they’re top of the table so that gives us a gauge where we are need to be,” Mawhinney said.

“Tyson Smoothy had been very good for us, but as a whole team the culture around the club at the moment is about competing.”

The Blackhawks are in fourth place and will travel to Davies Park to take on the Magpies who are in 11^th. Townsville are coming off a big away win over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, while the Magpies lost to Tweed.