A hat-trick of tries from livewire five-eighth Cameron Cullen provided the spark as the Mackay Cutters extended their Intrust Super Cup winning streak to three matches last night.
Cullen was in everything for the Cutters, who dominated from start to finish on their way to a comprehensive 30-8 victory over the Easts Tigers at Stadium Mackay.
The Cutters have now beaten three of last year’s Intrust Super Cup semi-finalists to stamp themselves as a major player in the 2015 premiership race.
Mackay coach Kim Williams said his team’s defence had been the cornerstone of wins over Tweed Heads, Wynnum Manly and now Easts.
“We’ve got some confidence in our attack at the moment. Our structures are really working well,” Williams said.
“We controlled that second half really well, our halves (Cullen and Rex Johnson) this year have done a great job in that respect.”
Other key performers in the Cutters’ winning streak include fullback Sam Clune, hooker Michael Sio, back-rower Chris Gesch and the dangerous Josh Chudleigh.
Sio finished with two tries against the Tigers, who trailed the Cutters 16-0 at half-time.
Cameron Munster and Liam Tyson were able to grab late consolation tries for the visiting Easts team.
After a long period out of the game due to injury, Melbourne Storm’s Matt Duffie took the field for the Tigers.
He was understandably a little off the pace but will much better for the hit out when the Tigers host Souths Logan in next Sunday’s television match.
Mackay are at home to the Norths Devils.
MACKAY CUTTERS 30 (Cameron Cullen 3, Michael Sio 2 tries; Rex Johnson 5 goals) def EASTS TIGERS 8 (Cameron Munster, Liam Tyson tries) at Stadium Mackay.
Final teams
Mackay Cutters: 1. Sam Clune 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Mitch Day 4. Justin Tavae 5. Buchanan Rawhiti 6. Cameron Cullen 7. Rex Johnson 8. Sam Hoare 14. Michael Sio 17. Brenden Treston 11. Josh Osborne 12. Kelvin Nielsen 13. Chris Gesch (c) 15. Aleki Falepaini 16. Josh Chudleigh 10. Brad Lupi 20. Pulou Vaituutuu
Easts Tigers: 1. Matt Duffie 2. Richie Kennar 3. Shane Neumann 4. Cameron Munster 5. Mahe Fonua 6. Shaun Nona 7. Liam Tyson 8. Liam McDonald 9. Tommy Butterfield 10. Christian Welch 11. Dane Hogan (c) 12. Matthew Zgrajewski 13. Troy Giess 14. Jake Foster 15. Francis Tualau 16. Dean Britt 17. Brentt Warr
