Junior statewide competitions Round 3 preview

The Blackhawks started their season with a 36-10 win over the Central Queensland Capras last week, with forward Jamal Shibasaki proving to be unbreakable with 19 tackles.

Townsville have been all over the Pride the last two times they have met, with the Blackhawks running up big scores, winning 30-0 and 58-6 last season.

When it came time for the Blackhawks to attack in Round 2 of the competition last week, it was Tekelu Mene with one line break and 163 run metres that drove the Capras mad.

Kaiden Lahrs got the Blackhawks rolling in the seventh minute with a try and then the Townsville Blackhawks were able to score consistently and finished with seven tries to the Capras' two.

The Blackhawks gave themselves every chance, with 53 per cent of the ball and ran the Capras ragged with seven line breaks and 48 tackle breaks.

The Pride will have to overcome the Blackhawks defence, which gives opposition teams nothing, and Townsville coach Zeb Kyle hopes to take their brick wall approach into Round 3.

“Our defence won us that game last week,” Kyle said.

“In the first half they had one set that went past three tackles in our 20, so we limited their attack options through great defence.

“Mene was terrific for us, and Lahrs will be out this week but he was great for us too last week.

“Our captain Shibasaki will need another big game this week and we will be looking to him.”

The Northern Pride started with a loss to the Mackay Cutters - 24-4 in Cairns - and it wasn’t an ideal start, with the Pride taking until the 61st minute to score. By that time the Cutters had started and finished their scoring with four tries.

The Pride will need to get their ball control in order with 46 percent of the ball last week.

The extra defence just put the Pride under too much pressure and from there the cracks appeared - 48 missed tackles and 12 penalties against.

The bright spots for the Pride were Tait Coghlan with 26 tackles and one line break, making a great impact off the bench.

“We didn’t control what we needed to control, the ground or the tackle and then we just kept putting ourselves under pressure,” Pride coach Kris O’Farrell said.

“We didn’t play any trial games so this was our first hit out so I think we will be better this week against Townsville.

“Tait Coghlan has some things to work on regarding when to jump and when to kick but he was certainly a positive for us and will keep improving.”

For the full Round 3 draw and team lists, click here.

Harvey Norman Under 19s

The battle of the Warrego Highway is here in Round 3 of the Harvey Norman U19s as traditional and bitter rivals the Western Clydesdales take on the Ipswich Jets.

The Jets will be making the trek to Toowoomba and are seeking to reverse last year's result - a 38-4 loss.

Toowoomba are last start big winners, after overcoming the Wide Bay Bulls 40-4 last week.

Eight tries to one with 48 percent possession shows the Clydesdales made use of the ball when they had it available to them.

Reagan McMillan was a huge part of that attacking force with 150 metres while Chloe Pallisier made 22 tackles to top the tackle count for the game.

Meanwhile, Bonnie Zappa will be a constant threat for the Jets to keep an eye on after two line breaks last week.

Fullback Cheyenne Zirbel was also outstanding alongside No.13 Chelsea Middleton, which allowed halves Pallisier and Zappa to do their job.

Centre Lucy Davis was solid in defence while Rianna Haverhoek supported well and jumped out of dummy-half to keep the Bulls on their toes.

Clydesdales coach Russell Jones is looking for marginal gains this week.

“We have some areas to improve; the girls certainly weren’t happy with the win,” Jones said.

“We turned the ball over three times on the first tackle and had trouble wrapping up the Bulls’ front row.

“Our defence will be a focus this week and wrapping up that ball.

“We are moving forward and get a bit better every week.”

For the Jets it was a trip to the Sunshine Coast last week and they notched up their first win of the season, continuing on from last year's form that saw them claim a win against the Bulls in the last round in 2022.

The Jets took plenty of enthusiasm into the game against the Falcons and cashed in 26-4.

The Jets looked like they were going to be in a high-scoring game when both teams scored in the first five minutes but the game settled down and the Jets found a rhythm that resulted in five tries.

Ipswich coach Veronica White is confident the team is moving forward.

“We are a smaller team and Toowoomba are bigger so we need to use our speed but know too that we don’t have to go around them ... you can still go through them with speed,” White said.

“I’d like us to control our sets more and determine where they finish and where we are giving over the ball.

“Our captain Lynn Nielsen was great against the Sunshine Coast and we will be looking to her again to jump out and provide great service.”

For the full Round 3 draw and team lists, click here.

Cyril Connell Challenge

The Cyril Connell Challenge caravan rolls on to Round 3 and rivals Souths Logan Magpies and Wynnum Manly Seagulls will resume hostilities at Marsden State High on Saturday.

When they played each other last season it was the Magpies coming away with the win, 22-20.

Round 2 had the Magpies playing the Bears and leaving with a 14-14 draw. Souths Logan started well with two tries in the first 14 minutes.

Both the Magpies and Bears kept going until the end but couldn’t be separated.

Magpies coach Scott Bannon was happy with the improvement from week one to week two but knows the Magpies still have some work to do to get to where they want to be.

“It was a night and day improvement from the first round where we had 35 errors,’’ said Bannon.

“Our first half was nice and solid and then little errors crept back in and Burleigh came back pretty hard.

“We’d like to cut those little mistakes out and iron out a bit of discipline and then the boys will be on the money."

Fullback Tom Parker was great value for the Magpies and his one goal proved to be the difference.

Bannon also liked what he saw from his engine room.

“Props Fa’apale Feaunati and Mace Andrew led the way and kept us progressing.”

While in the other bird nest it will be the Wynnum Manly Seagulls looking for Round 3 redemption.

For the Seagulls it will be about their starts. Against Norths the Seagulls didn’t give themselves the best chance for success.

With 43 per cent of the ball and eight fewer sets than the Norths Devils, it was always going to be a struggle.

The Seagulls scored their first try of the day with 15 minutes left on the clock, down 28-0.

Exciting young back Tawa-Dean Simpkins set the tone with a couple of brave hit ups, before prop powerhouse Chaev Kolone barged his way over.

The Seagulls will need more of that for longer this week.

Lachlan Smith made 28 tackles and Kolone made 134 quality run metres for the Seagulls.

Wynnum coach Ben Weston can see where they need to improve and how they will do it.

“Our starts need to improve I know that, that’s an attitude thing,” Weston said.

“Norths scoring four times in the first half, us missing too many tackles and lacking discipline are the main things to fix.

“Chaev Kolone has a massive motor and just never stopped for us. That was pleasing that we kept coming and scored at the end.”

For the full draw and team lists, click here.