There are only three weeks left until finals footy begin – and each round of the Hastings Deering Colts in the lead-up is proving vital for the teams still in top six contention.
With Round 22 kicking off this Saturday; at this stage every team ranked between the Redcliffe Dolphins (4th) and the Tweed Heads Seagulls (9th) on the ladder are still in with a chance to place footy beyond this month.
Tweed Heads, who are unbeaten since Round 16, find themselves with the toughest hill to climb in the top six race.
Sitting four points behind this week’s opposition the Victoria Thunderbolts (who are currently in sixth spot); the Seagulls are in must-win mode for the rest of the season – as just one loss will end their finals hopes.
As well as needing to continue their recent winning ways, they’ll need a lot of luck from other results around the competition to go their way from here on out.
It won’t come easy for the Gulls though, with the Thunderbolts looking to cement their spot in the top six with a big win away from home.
A loss for the Victoria side could put a massive dent in their finals push as they would fall to seventh place if Souths Logan Magpies were to defeat Western Mustangs in their game at Gold Park in Toowoomba.
Round 21 Highlights: U20 Hastings Deering Colts
Elsewhere in Round 22 Hastings Deering Colts action this weekend; two games to keep a close eye on with regards to top six positioning are the Wynnum Manly Seagulls (5th) hosting the Norths Devils (3rd) and the Townsville Blackhawks (1st) hosting the Redcliffe Dolphins (4th).
Wynnum Manly are hoping to crack the top four for the first time since Round 10, while Norths are eyeing the second spot on the ladder which would earn them a first-round bye in the finals.
>> Find out more - Finals structure 2018
In the other game, Townsville will be well rested after the bye last weekend and will hope to consolidate their minor premiership aspirations against a Dolphins side who managed to hold off a determined Mackay Cutters outfit with one-point win last weekend.
Both games could be preludes to potential finals match-ups come September and fans will surely see finals atmospheres between both sets of teams.
>> Follow the scores for this weekend’s Round 22 Hastings Deering Colts matches at QRL Live
