Nothing brings people through the gate like a try scorer and the Jets have had some fantastic ones in their history.
Gordon Langton just needed to nod and Allan Langer knew it was on and Marmin Barba scored 59 tries in 52 games for the Jets.
Now the Jets have Michael Purcell. He scored three tries yesterday that showed all his pace, agility and evasive skills.
Purcell has now scored 25 tries for the Jets in 26 games and 12 of those tries have been scored in his 12 games this season.
From the 53rd minute to the 66th minute, Purcell scored three tries and the game went from an even game at 14-12 to a game won 30-18 by the Jets.
At the start of the match, Wynnum opened the scoring when Wes Conlon and Nemani Valekapa got caught up defending their line and Mitch Cronin went a sneaky blind side and scored.
Ben White answered for the home side with an intercept and a 70m run to score.
They were in again when Sam Martin followed through a Dane Phillips’ kick to creep closer to his 100 points; bringing up his 96th point with his put-down.
Gulls veteran Travis Burns scored just before halftime to ensure it was a tight one at the break with Wynnum Manly trailing by just two point 14-12.
At halftime, coach Ben Walker reminded the Jets to off-load only to a player in a better position and that’s what they did in the second half.
Luke Capewell bombed for the sky and the Seagulls’ fullback Mitch Cronin was out-jumped by a flying Purcell who took the grab and scored on the Jets’ left.
Seven minutes later, he had his second try after showing off his speed and evasive skills with a four-pointer that was set up by some good work from his forward including Tyson Lofipo and Huskie Teatau in his 50th game for the Jets.
Wear your Intrust Super Cup club’s jersey or polo when you visit the competition tent at Maroon Festival today to go in the draw to win a signed football. Winner will be drawn in the afternoon of May 28.
Six minutes later he had his hat-trick following a Wynnum Manly error. The Gulls dropped the ball and a quick-thinking Chris Ash scooped it up before offloading to Purcell who ran 60m to score.
However, Wynnum Manly had the final say in the match when lock Max Elliot scored try to end the day 30-18.
Next weekend, the Jets will travel to the Sunshine Coast while the Wynnum Seagulls will be heading to Mackay to meet the Cutters.
See the full scoring details and final team line-ups for this game via QRL Live
IPSWICH JETS 30 (Michael Purcell 3, Ben White, Sam Martin tries; Wes Conlon 5 goals) def WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 18 (Mitch Cronin, Travis Burns, Max Elliott tries; Mathew Seamark 3 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
