Easts meet Wests in top-of-the-table blockbuster

New Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership leaders Easts Magpies will take the inside running to the minor premiership if they are able to complete a perfect second full round of the competition with a win over Wests Panthers in a top-of-the-table blockbuster.

After successive victories over Wallaroos, Waves Tigers, Hervey Bay Seagulls and Past Brothers, the Magpies have moved to the head of affairs on 13 points with six rounds to go, but they are just one point ahead of the Panthers - who have surrendered top position - losing two of their past three games and three of their last six in total.

The stakes are also high in the other two matches of the round, with the hot and cold Wallaroos, who slipped to sixth and last position with a surprise home loss to the Tigers last Saturday, needing to bounce back when they host Hervey Bay at 5pm Saturday at Eskdale Park, after the Seagulls moved into third place in ending a four-game losing streak last Sunday against the Panthers.

Reigning champions Brothers, who dropped back to fourth and into the danger zone when they were blown away by Easts on Sunday, must also bounce back at 3.30pm Sunday against the Tigers, who shocked them 46-18 when they last matched motors on May 8.

Easts’ last loss was a 38-26 defeat at the hands of a red-hot Panthers five weeks ago, when Caleb Tull and Dyirun Johnson both bagged doubles, but the former has since joined Central Queensland Capras in the Intrust Super Cup and the latter is still out injured, while gun forward Dan Tanner is again unavailable for the clash.

The Magpies on the other hand are missing electrifying back Andreas Nona, but have still named an awesome side, including with coach Brent Kuskey at hooker after missing the Brothers’ rout.

Ross edged out Seagulls 22-18 at the Bay last time, but the hosts were without their then-suspended two representative stars Logona Vetemotu and Jeremiah Pati, who have been in brilliant form since their returns, and it is set to be an epic Fraser Coast Derby between two very good sides.

Waves have named the same side which outgunned Roos last week, but the Brethren have some big ins and outs, with strike-weapon backs Zak Bainbridge and Jayden Alberts, hooker Tom Murray and front rower Brendan Stewart the most notable absentees.

They will be greatly bolstered by the availability of game breaking second rower Jake Thompson, but have named just 14 players with three to be added.

Round 10 fixtures