Devils aim to build momentum ahead of Clydesdales clash

It’s been a disrupted start to the season for the Devils, with coach Rhett Tronc looking to find some positive momentum.

“We started with a cancelled game, then played Souths, then a bye, then played Ipswich and then another week off,” Tronc said.

“It’s been hard to get traction and build with weeks off. (But) I think we showed some good signs against Ipswich two weeks ago.”

In that last game against Ipswich Jets in Round 3, the Devils posted 44-22 win after they controlled the game from the first minute with a try to Harry Walters.

From then, the Devils dominated with and without the ball.

Their strong running was rewarded with 41 tackle break and eight tries. Without the ball, they only missed 27 tackles. However, they did concede 11 penalties, which kept inviting the Jets down field.​

“We knew the Jets would be a danger and they have some very speedy players who can cause problems," Tronc said. 

“We have reviewed what we did well and what we need to improve and this week against the Clydesdales will be another test.

“Young guys can sometimes look at scores and think we will beat them, but it’s never easy going up to Toowoomba.

“We will have some Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup players pushing up and hopefully keeping pressure on our Colts players.

“They can bring some enthusiasm and keep learning and moving forward.”

Elsewhere in the competition, there will be two more games played, with the undefeated Central Queensland Capras hosting the Northern Pride on Saturday.

The Capras last played against the Tigers in Round 3 where they came away with the win to remain undefeated. The Central Queensland team ground it out and came away with the seven tries to four in the win.

Laish Salam had a great impact with the ball, making 167 metres and Brendon Clarke made two line breaks.

The Pride were beaten 60-12 by Redcliffe Dolphins in their last game and they will be keen to get to this next game and right some wrongs.

The Pride only scored two tries and could only muster 44 per cent of the ball, which made it hard for the team to score.

However, they were not short on effort and players like Corey Kennedy made 32 tackles as he tried to stop the Dolphins.

After winning the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup title for 2022, it would not be a surprise to see some of those players push into the Souths Logan Magpies Hastings Deering Colts side in coming weeks.

In their last outing, the Magpies suffered a 34-12 loss at the hands of Wynnum Manly Seagulls, however, Denzel Samoa was a strong performer with 134 metres.

This weekend, the Magpies will take on the Burleigh Bears, who accounted for the Western Clydesdales with a strong performance that might be the catalyst for bigger things to come.

Big forward Isaac Matalavea-Booth will be making sure he takes his 201-metre running form forward to this round and reproduce his performance which saw him make three line breaks and score three tries.

You can watch all the Hastings Deering Colts matches via QPlus.tv. 

QRL Match Review charges Round 5 Hastings Deering Colts