Failure to play consistent football has led to a six-point loss for the Absolute Enterprises Mackay Cutters.
This is the verdict handed down by coach David Simpson who saw his side lose to the Dolphins 26-20 on Saturday night.
“We were in it for 60 minutes and then dropped off,” he said.
“At this level we can't afford to do that.
"We need to play hard for the full 80 minutes.”
Despite the loss, Simpson was happy to see some stand-out performances in the game.
“Patrick Mago and Josh Chudleigh were great for us up the middle of the field,” he said.
“It allowed us to move forward and set up the backs to play some good football.”
Following a tough game, the Cutters coaching staff will have to assess the team this week with three players injured during the game.
“Tyson Martin (arm) will see a surgeon and face surgery, Jack Creith sustained an orbital fracture and Regan Verney aggravated an ankle injury," Simpson said.
The Cutters will head south for their next game of the season where they will take on Tweed Heads.
“We are going to do a captain's run on the Saturday down there,” Simpson said.
For Redcliffe, outside Dan Randall made his club Cup debut to become Dolphin 717, while back row forward Daniel Bridge was unable to finish the game after suffering a knee injury.
The Cutters game against the Seagulls on Sunday will be the televised match of the round, with the Dolphins to take on Easts Tigers at Burpengary Sporting Complex on Saturday.
View the full scoring details and final team lists via QRL Live
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 26 (Zach Strasser, Joseph Bradley, Harley Aiono, Brandon Lee, Aaron Whitchurch tries; Darren Nicholls 3 goals) def MACKAY CUTTERS 20 (Michael Pearsall, Jack Creith, Johnny Faletagoa’I, Liam Taylor tries; Liam Taylor 2 goals) at BB Print Stadium Mackay.
*This first appeared via Mackay Daily Mercury as Cutters fall short and lose players in hard game
