Best and worst scenarios: Rugby League Gold Coast

Author: Cameron Stallard QRL content producer
Timestamp: Fri 2 Oct 2020, 04:58 PM

The seven-team race will be reduced to only four come Sunday when the regular season of the Rugby League Gold Coast QTOP A Grade Premiership wraps up.

With Runaway Bay guaranteed the minor premiership, the final round is particularly important for the teams below the ladder-leaders to determine who will play whom and where in the knockout semi-finals.

Below are the best and worst scenarios for each QTOP A Grade team in the hunt to qualify for finals footy next weekend.

QTOP A Grade Premiership

1. Runaway Bay Seagulls (26 points)

Best / worst: 1st
Final match: Bye

Runaway Bay couldn't have finished the season any better... undefeated, on top and have a chance to freshen up before finals thanks to their final round bye.

The only hiccup was their Round 1 draw to Ormeau, but that was weeks ago and they've certainly put that one behind them.

They'll be spending their weekend with an eye on this weekend's results to see who'll they'll face in their do-or-die semi-final at Bycroft Oval next week.

2. Burleigh Bears (21 points)

Best / worst: 2nd - 4th
Final match: v Mudgeeraba Redbacks

It's been a topsy-turvy month for the defending premiers, most recently going down to the seventh-placed Currumbin Eagles.

They're guaranteed to play finals footy regardless, but a win against Mudgeeraba will keep them in second spot and could lock in a grand final rematch at home against Southport for a chance to play in the big dance again in 2020.

A loss could see the Bears drop to fourth and a matchup against the red-hot Seagulls.

3. Mudgeeraba Redbacks (21 points)

Best / worst: 2nd - 4th
Final match: v Burleigh Bears

The Redbacks have been seen as the competition's dark horse this season, although they wouldn't have been impressed with their loss to the Tigers last week.

A win against Burleigh will elevate them to second and earn a home semi-final against either the Bears or Southport, but a loss will see them drop to fourth should the Tigers win.

Either or, they do have the security of a top four finish regardless of this weekend's result.

4. Southport Tigers (19 points)

Best / worst: 3rd - 5th
Final match: v Tugun Seahawks

Whilst a win is important this weekend for the Tigers, next weekend's fate is all but set to be determined by the match between Burleigh and Mudgeeraba.

Should Southport and Burleigh win; they'll face off against each other at Pizzey in a do-or-die blockbuster.

Should Southport and Mudgeeraba win; depending on the margin, the Tigers will likely stay fourth and be up against the minor premiers.

But a really heavy loss against Tugun will send last year's grand finalists packing from this year's playoffs.