Coaches' call: Hostplus Cup Round 2 preview

Burleigh Bears v Townsville Blackhawks

Burleigh Bears coach Luke Burt: "Effort was really, really good last week despite the result. I was very, very happy with the little effort areas but the discipline and completions weren’t up to scratch. The 29 per cent second half completion took the game out of our hands. We spoke before the game that early rounds will be clunky and things aren’t always going to go well with new combinations. It was always going to be clunky but it was not good enough with the discipline and there were a couple of penalties we weren’t happy with. To me, it’s easy turnarounds. There’s a lot of individual people owning their role and doing their job. There's been a real focus of knowing what’s expected of you and doing your job for the team. Then, on the back of that, having a real team effort. This Saturday will be a very tough match. The Blackhawks are obviously a side that don’t receive players from the NRL. They’ve been training with that same squad since November so it should be a very tough match coming off a gusty win last week that had a few things go against them. It shows they can get through adversity. They have a very, very strong left edge that they use very well and they have very good middles that work hard and play big minutes. It will have to be a very complete game from us and we will need to be better than what we were last week."

Townsville Blackhawks coach Terry Campese: "With the preparation we had last week, and getting thrown a few curveballs, I think the boys handled last week well. The way they put everything to the side and moved on… our attitude was exceptional. I couldn’t have been prouder as a coach. To be Round 1 and to turn up focused, it was a great day for me personally but also for the club. This weekend heading to Burleigh, it’s going to be one of the tougher road trips in the comp, I reckon. Burleigh are always in the top four. They have great senior leaders and their affiliation with the Broncos means they get some class players back. It’s going to be a tough day out. Watching the video back from their Round 1 match, they were probably the better team on the day and were unlucky with Norths getting a few intercepts. They have a lot of strike across the field. Hopefully we can turn up with the same attitude. We just need to worry about what we can do and once we cross that white line, it’s about giving 100 per cent."

Broadcast: Qplus.tv.

Central Queensland Capras v PNG Hunters

Central Queensland Capras coach Lionel Harbin: "The biggest takeaway for me from Round 1 was that when the Clydesdales had a lot of ball early, a lot of possession, we were able to defend and show a bit of resolve and keep them to nil. That was pleasing. The way we responded, given our trial form hasn’t been too good, was also pleasing to see. The few things we’ve been focusing on since last week is that we turned the ball over and released the pressure valve quite a few times in the first half. In the second half, it was our discipline at times that gave away penalties. We can’t really do that to the Hunters. They showed on the weekend that they can score points from anywhere and do it really quick. When we played the Hunters in the trial a couple of weeks ago, they had the momentum and were able to score a lot of points and they did the same against Wynnum Manly. It’s about trying to maintain them, which is easier said than done."

PNG Hunters coach Paul Aiton: Comments to come.

Broadcast: Qplus.tv.

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: "Last week's performance is pretty hard to put into words. At the end, it almost felt like we'd lost, to throw away such a good lead. But the bottom line is all I spoke about during pre-season was winning Round 1 and we did that. I’m reasonably happy about that now I’ve had a chance to reflect and review. It wasn’t pretty but we got the two points we wanted. Moving forward, we need to keep the focus on our own game. As staff, I probably put too much emphasis on what the Brisbane Tigers may do in Round 1 rather than keeping the focus internal and concentrating on what we can control. We spiralled backwards and couldn’t turn the tide. The focus has been internal this week on how we get through those tough periods and keep it simple yet be effective. Mackay present a little bit of the unknown. They had a really good win against us last year and recruited really well but kept a lot of their strong players. They have players like Kenny Edwards and Mahe Fonua in their team so will be formidable. I’m expecting a really physical game. Physicality is something I hope we do well this year but if we don’t play for 80 minutes, we will get caught out."

Mackay Cutters coach Michael Comerford: "We’re excited to finally play after a Round 1 bye. We’ve retained a fair chunk of our group from last year but had a lot recruits that have slotted straight into our team this weekend. While the team might look a bit different, there’s still a lot of familiar faces around the building. It’s a very positive environment. Internally, there’s probably a bit of expectation coming off a pretty ordinary 2023. We’re all aware that we’ve got a strong squad and there’s expectation on us. We’ll see this weekend - we have all the way from Kenny Edwards and Mahe Fonua in their 30s down to Jamal Shibasaki still in his teens. To have that spread in our team and even at training is something that has been rare. From a coaching perspective it’s great to have those senior players to help guide our leaders. You look at Sean (Mullany), Ross (Bella), Hiale (Roycroft)… they’re still not what you consider veterans in experience but they’ve been our leaders for a while, so for them to have a couple extra guys to take that leadership load has been great. To have that genuine support from our leaders and genuine experience there, it sets up a good environment. We start our season against the Falcons and last week their middles started on fire. Scoring tries next to the post virtually won them the game. We have to be on high alert for their forwards like Caius Faatili, Sam Burns, Laz (Vaalepu) and Aaron Pene. They play really flat and fast out of the end. We have to match them early and you can't afford to let them out to a good start. I think both teams will be looking to match each other in that first 20 minutes. It will be very important."

Broadcast: Qplus.tv.

Souths Logan Magpies v Tweed Seagulls

Souths Logan Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt: "It was a bit of a rusty start as a group. Some of the focuses we had going into the game we were on top of, but others weren’t at our standard. Full credit to Redcliffe, they played really gritty. Our focus moving forward is still largely on our D. In saying that we can’t forget about respecting the ball and being patient in attack. Too many times we were our own worst enemy. This week we need more patience with the ball and to tighten up some areas on the defensive side as well. We're expecting typical Tweed - they play a lot of footy, grind away. They’re very disciplined. They won't be too happy with their result last week so we’re expecting a really good contest for our first home game this year."

Tweed Seagulls coach David Penna: "Last week's loss was a performance that we all weren’t really happy with and we didn’t see coming. We could make a thousand excuses but everything we did in trials and pre-season went out the window and the damage was done. It’s time to get the boots back on and prepare for another tough match. I’d like to go back to where we started and work really hard on our decision making in defence and just sticking to what we know. They’re a physical side. They’re well-drilled and they’ll throw a lot at you. You have to be on your game for 80 minutes. We’re expecting a tough game."

Broadcast: Qplus.tv.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Norths Devils

Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te'o: "I was really happy with the performance from the guys last week. I was probably more happy with their preparation leading up. Everyone talks about a tough pre-season but I’m more impressed with the four weeks leading up to the games where we taper off our training and really focus on our game plan. That’s where I’m more happy. I haven’t been flogging them, we’ve been focusing on getting better. We had a new hooker, half and five-eighth... you have to spend a lot of time on that. It was good to see it come together. This week, with getting guys back from NRL and guys with injury, the team's been juggled so it could be a new side. I wouldn’t say I expect the same from us this week but I expect us to adjust to whatever we have to do. Everyone can see from the Devils' side that they named last week the amount of talent they have – big, strong, powerful bodies, a huge forward pack. We are under no illusion of how physical the game is going to be and we’re prepared for that."

Norths Devils coach Dave Elliott: "It was a pleasing result last week for the 17 that played off the back of a good pre-season. Everyone knows how tough it is to go to Burleigh and beat Burleigh on their home turf. They’ve been a very consistent, very good footy team for a few years. But we’re not getting carried away with a Round 1 win. We’re just looking for improvement from some of the things we did in pre-season – they seemed back of mind instead of forefront of mind. As good as it was and gritty as it was last week - we missed just five tackles all game - we were pretty poor with ball control and some of the simple stuff and we’re looking to improve on that. This weekend, it’s not a rivalry round but it’s that kind of game for us and for Redcliffe, I’m sure. There’s been some battles across many years between Redcliffe and Norths. We’re both coming off wins and we’re expecting a tight game because it does mean a lot to both clubs so we’re under no illusion it will be a tight contest."

Broadcast: Qplus.tv, 9Now and Kayo Freebies

Western Clydesdales v Ipswich Jets

Western Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin: "I wasn’t too happy with our performance last weekend. We didn’t do what we know we can do. We didn’t stick with what we should have stuck with. I’m not taking anything away from Capras – they deserved to win and were the better team – but we didn’t play the way we wanted to and the way we talked about. It’s our own problem. This week against Ipswich we just have to perform. We have to play footy. We’ve trained well. We’ve realised this and we’ve all come together as a group. We have to move forward. We’re ready for the local derby against Ipswich. We’ll go ahead with what we want to do and how we’ll do it."

Ipswich Jets coach Ben Cross: "We trained as a group for the first time on Friday last week, with the Titans affiliates coming back, and we're still learning each other’s names. I know all the players are desperate to improve on last week’s performance. Everyone was really disappointed and we were within four points of the Blackhawks, even when we played that poorly. In total we gave them a whole extra 14 sets of footy. You can't do that. But we were able to hold on and scrap and stay within four points. Unfortunately we just couldn’t get it done in the end. This week the focus has definitely been tackling. We missed too many tackles. It’s a lot of early season footy too, so you’re a bit rusty, but we need to improve individual tackling and clean up our attack. This weekend, it’s a bit of a derby, a bit of a battle of the west and some bragging rights are up for grabs. From their standards, they would be disappointed as well. There are some former Jets players coming up against us and they’ll be up for a big game, I’m sure."

Broadcast: Qplus.tv.

Bye: Wynnum Manly Seagulls