The Ipswich Jets will travel to Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday looking to finish their Hostplus Cup regular season on a high, as they take on a Sunshine Coast Falcons side that has hit top gear at just the right time of the year.
The Falcons secured their first minor premiership since 2019 last week; and they’ll be hoping to take their finals campaign one step further in 2026, after falling short in the preliminary finals 7 years ago.
This was a Falcons side boasting Nicho Hynes, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Harry Grant.
Ironically the Jets will have Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui in their front row this week.
Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui was huge against the Norths Devils last week making an enormous 180 metres and letting his attacking arrows take aim at the Devils at the right time.
The last time Ipswich headed north to Sunshine Coast Stadium, the Jets prevailed 25-24 in a golden-point thriller in the first weekend of the 2025 finals.
The Jets can finish anywhere from fourth to eighth depending on results this weekend.
The Falcons have won their last four games and will be determined to carry that momentum into the finals, while the Jets have also found some form, winning their last two matches.
With both sides entering the contest with confidence, the final round promises to be an intriguing battle.
The two clubs have a remarkably even history, with Ipswich holding a narrow 15-14 advantage, along with two draws from their previous 31 meetings.
The Falcons, however, claimed bragging rights earlier this season, defeating the Jets 24-12 in Round 2 at Hervey Bay.
Four tries from Sunshine Coast, including one to Flynn Camilleri, proved too much for Ipswich on that occasion.
Ipswich will be hoping for a very different result on Sunday.
While the Falcons have won three of the last four meetings between the clubs, the Jets can take plenty of confidence from their record at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Ipswich have won the last two games between the sides at the venue, giving them a psychological edge despite the Falcons' current form.
However, one of the major storylines will be Flynn Camilleri and his pursuit for Falcons’ history.
Flynn Camilleri is now equal with Luke Polselli as Sunshine Coast's all-time leading try-scorer, with 38 Falcons tries.
Camilleri has scored 50 tries overall in his career and will have a chance to move outright to the top of the Falcons' record books on Sunday.
The Falcons’ left has been lethal all season and will prove a headache for the Jets’ right-side defence.
Zion Johnson has scored 15 tries in his 18 appearances this season, while the fast feet of his inside man, Mason Peut, adds another layer of dynamism to their edge.
The Jets are going to have to defend their hearts out or they will be chasing a lot of points to win.
The Jets forwards are their strength, and the Falcons will need to hold them there to give their backs a chance to unleash.
This is a great contrasting battle of skills that could come up again in September.
This weekend’s broadcasted match is shaping to be anyone’s game and the only way to catch all the action live and free is via Qplus.tv.
