Preseason has come to a close for the six teams contesting the 2018 Brisbane Rugby League In Safe Hands Cup, with Round 1 kicking off this Saturday (March 17).
All six coaches have returned to their respective clubs and have named their sides for the opening round action.
The first game of the season has the defending premiers Valleys hosting the Easts Tigers. The Tigers have named a massive starting pack and have plenty of size on the bench as well.
Try scorers also grace the Tigers back line, with the likes of David McKenna and Maeli Seve sure to cause headaches.
Valleys will be led by 'Mr Reliable' Liam Herrington in the forwards, while the wizardry of the Klein brothers Rowan and Callum out wide will be a handful.
Souths will start their campaign off under the Magpies colours after Logan Brothers departure. Steven Bretherton remains as coach and has named a star-studded line up to take on the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Intrust Super Cup experienced players such as Luke Archer, Benaiah Bowie, Jordan Mago and Matt Boyce, will come against a Phins line up also bristling with Cup experience.
Curtis Johnson, Josh Fauid and Agassi Stowers have plenty of talent and this is a game that could take until the final minutes to decide a winner.
West Brisbane Panthers return to BMD Kougari Oval to start their season against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. The last outing between these sides was the in 2017 finals series and was decided by a Kane Zalewski field goal.
The Panthers have secured the services of former Dolphin and 2017 Player of the Year, the ‘magic man’ Kyle Van Klaveren. Shaun Rees and Sunny Monroe have also made the jump and help make up a backline full of speed and direction.
The intrepid Simona Vavega returns to the Panthers and joins a forward pack that will take on the big units Wynnum Manly coach Ron Troutman has named.
The Seagulls have a number of Cup players in their ranks, including Lachlan Lee. Lee was outstanding in his minutes in Wynnum Manly’s trial against the Brisbane Broncos.
Lefau, Davis, Solah and Gerard join the darting number nine Mitch Moore in a massive forward roster. Troutman will be glad to have them on the park and not around for dinner.
See the Round 1 BRL Referee Appointments here
Valleys Diehards v Easts Tigers Emerson Park, Saturday, March 17 - 3pm
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Valleys Diehards
1. Jarvan White 2. Tom Collins 3. Rowan Klein 4. Callum Klein 5. Sam Collins 6. Brett Doherty 7. Jack Miers 8. Liam Herrington 9. Chris Aiton 10. Patrick Akauola 11. Iain Riccardi 12. Jarryd Dodd 13. Dalton Phillips 14. Hayden Herbert 15. Jacob Kelly 16. Michael White 17. Regan Glyn
Coach: Don Gailer
Easts Tigers
1. Brett Kelly 2. David McKenna 3. Connor Jones 4. Maeli Seve 5. Rahkem Auda 6. MichaelRasmussen 7. Ollie Olds 8. Jack Anderson 9. Chris Ostwald 10. Heath Wilson 11. Harry Pondekas 12. Lachlan Lanskey 13. Jesse Uhlmann 14. Andrew Thompson 15. Foisa Peni 16. Jack Walters 17. Gene Ropoama
Coach: David Krause
Souths Logan Magpies v Redcliffe Dolphins at Davies Park, Sunday, March 17 - 4.45pm
Souths Logan Magpies
1. Benaiah Bowie 2. David Pritchard 3. Dan Russell 4. Elijah Alick 5. Luke Archer 6. Joe Burchell 7. Lorenzo Chung-Kwan 8. Jordan Mago 9. Brad Frith 10. Will Samuel 11. Matt Boyce 12. Dan Tamou 13. Sam Elliott 14. Matty Brown 15. Justin Fai 16. Cody McIntosh 17. Keenan Yourston
Coach: Steve Bretherton
Redcliffe Dolphins
1. Josh Beehag 2. Curtis Johnston 3. Jake Sparey 4. Sam Leach 5. Obed Kahwin 6. Reece Braun 7. Joshua Fauid 8. Bailey Butler 9. Tristan Hope 10. Ben King 11. Agassi Stowers 12. Corban Daniels 13. Jacob O’Shea 14. Tauaalo Vaipulu 15. Brayden Lee 16. William Partridge 17. Trai Fuller
Coach: Daniel Green
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v West Brisbane Panthers at BMD Kougari Oval, Sunday, March 18 - 4.45pm
Wynnum Manly Seagulls
1. Matthew Milson 2. Jack Goodsell 3. Dallas Anderson 4. Jacob Tonge 5. Tumoana Halkyard 6. Aaron Booth 7. Ben Jackson 8. Lachlan Lee 9. Mitchell Moore 10. Billy Solah 11. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard 12. Kelly Tate. Stedman Lefau 14. Kalolo Saitaua 15. Corey Davis 16. Jaz Nahu-Main 17. Tamati Ioane
Coach: Ron Troutman
West Brisbane Panthers
1. Kyle Van Klaveren 2. Shaun Rees 3. Sunny Monroe 4. Kennedy Pettyborne 5. James Olds 6. Logan Spaander 7. Zach Strasser 8. Jack Leehang 9. Mikaere Beattie 10. Hemi Mullen 11. Troy Swift 12. Billy Rogers 13. Michael Molo 14. Kane Zalewski 15. Simona Vavega 16. Riley Leota 17. Dominic Biondi
Coach: Wayne Weekes
*John Devine is the BRL A Grade correspondent for the QRL
