Hostplus Cup Finals Week 2 preview

Author: Rikki-Lee Arnold Statewide content producer
Timestamp: Fri 1 Sep 2023, 07:15 AM

Finals intensity will reach a new level this weekend, with both Hostplus Cup matches do-or-die for the four teams fighting for a Finals Week 3 berth.

With the Burleigh Bears and Brisbane Tigers already through to next week's preliminary finals, the Souths Logan Magpies and Wynnum Manly Seagulls will go head-to-head on Saturday to join them, while the Central Queensland Capras will play host to the Sunshine Coast Falcons on Sunday for the fourth and final spot.

Check out your Finals Week 2 'stats pack' with all of the numbers you need to know for this weekend's games, courtesy of Brad Tallon, as well as your coaches' thoughts on the matches ahead.

Hostplus Cup Finals Week 2

Souths Logan Magpies v Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Head-to-head (overall): Wynnum Manly 32, Souths Logan 18, drawn 1
Head-to-head (finals): First meeting
Last meeting: Souths Logan 42 def Wynnum 30 in Round 21, 2023
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

Both sides have lost three of their last four games
Souths Logan have won the last five meetings between these two teams
Magpies winger Jack Smith requires three tries to equal the club's single season try scoring record of 23 set by Matt Soper-Lawler in 2019
Wynnum Manly's Will Samuel will celebrate his 50th Cup game this Saturday. He's notched up this milestone at Souths Logan, Brisbane Tigers and Wynnum Manly

Sailor: 'We really need to crack down on our defensive efforts'

A word from the coaches

Souths Logan Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt: "Last week against the Tigers, our biggest issue was discipline. The Tigers really took advantage of the momentum we gave them through penalties so it’s a big focus for us this week to be a lot more disciplined. We have a different looking line-up this week and it provides a good opportunity for some of our boys that have missed out on games because of the affiliate relationship with the Broncos to play some footy this week. We’re really excited for those boys to experience finals footy and contribute at the back end of the year for us. We know Wynnum Manly are in a similar position and they will fight and scrap this week. They had a tough, gritty game against the Pride last week. But they’ll always find someone to put their hand up and be ready to play. It’s going to be a really, really exciting contest. We’ve played them a couple of times this year but with all the variables it will make an interesting contest. We’ve had two losses on the trot now but we’re very focused. We’ve played quality football but it hasn’t been enough to get the job done. The boys are really focused and ready for Saturday."

Wynnum Manly Seagulls coach Mat Head: "At the moment we're just extremely excited about what team we're going to be throwing out there. We’ve been working since November for this game of footy, to get a Wynnum Manly Seagulls team out on the park, and we’re excited about what that challenge brings to us. We've got a lot of excitement within our playing group… players have been waiting for this opportunity and now they get the chance to do it come Saturday. We’ve always had Josh Rogers. Someone like Kyle Foxwell gets his opportunity to play in the halves… he’s up and about, about that challenge and what might present itself. Then we've got some outside backs… we’ve still got to decide who is going to take Delouise Hoeter’s spot. It gives some excitement within our club and there'll be some young talent that gets to play that have been part of our club for a couple of years, so we're excited about that."

Finals Week 2 - Finals Week 2 - Saturday 2 Sep

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Magpies

WM Seagulls

Venue: Logan Metro Football Fields, Logan

Highlights Latest

Central Queensland Capras v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Head-to-head (overall): Sunshine Coast 14, Central Queensland 11, drawn 2
Head-to-head (finals): Central Queensland 1, Sunshine Coast 0
Last meeting: Central Queensland 26 drew Sunshine Coast 26 in Round 10, 2023
Broadcast: Qplus.tv, Kayo Freebies, 9Now

Central Queensland have lost two of their last three games while the Sunshine Coast are on a winning run, claiming their last four games
The last four meetings between these two sides have been decided by six points or less
Sunshine Coast's last win over Central Queensland was in Round 17, 2021, while their last win over the Capras at Browne Park was in Round 7, 2019
Falcons five-eighth Luke Polselli will play his 50th game for the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. He last week celebrated his 50th overall Cup game, having played just one match for Mackay

A word from the coaches

Central Queensland Capras coach Lionel Harbin: "I just thought the Bears showed us last week how to play finals football, especially in that second half. They controlled the game off the back of Tyrone Roberts and Guy Hamilton’s kicking game and strangled us out of it. We were just coming out of the back end of the field too much and couldn’t amount any pressure ourselves. It was a big lesson for us. That’s something we can take into this week. We have done a good job of it this year so we need to do it this weekend - mount pressure. I’m expecting a tough game, regardless of who is in or out for the Falcons. It’s finals footy, it doesn’t matter who’s playing. They’re a really good side and they’ve had a few games where they haven’t had a lot of Storm players and done really well. We’re expecting a tough contest. What Burleigh did to us was a good to lesson for us. That’s what’s required for finals footy and we need to bring that same attitude this weekend."

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: "The big takeaway from last week is rugby league is an 80 minute game. We just didn’t control the ball as well as we could have against Redcliffe and they were enormous in that second half, with Trai Fuller hard to contain. I was really relieved to hold on and get through because it’s a hard place to go on and win. It’s a really, really different team this week. We’ve never had this many Melbourne players coming back each week in previous years. We average three to four at best but this year been it’s six, seven, eight. We have a lot of quality local players that train every week that haven’t got the opportunities - Wyatt Reynolds, Campbell Duffy, Jai Smoothy... it’s a great opportunity for some guys. Jason Gillard has been waiting and waiting and young Mason Peut will make his debut for us in the centres. It’s a really exciting time. Luke Polselli will be playing his 51^st Cup game but his 50^th for the club. It’s a bit of a milestone game for a couple of our favourites. We haven’t played the Capras since Round 10 and it was physical. It always feels really personal for some reason when we play them and going up there can be pretty hostile but it’s an elimination semi-final so you want it to come with that atmosphere and intensity. I expect them to be physical and to be good. They’re a pretty consistent team. They’ll be hurting after last week so we have to try to go up there and ambush them which won’t be easy. We’re capable of causing an upset."

Finals Week 2 - Finals Week 2 - Sunday 3 Sep

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