The Easts Tigers will be hoping to claim their first finals win over the Jets when they face off this weekend; while Redcliffe and Burleigh will battle it out to see who will be the first team into the 2018 grand final.
Easts Tigers v Ipswich Jets
Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Saturday, September 8 - 1.05pm*
Live on Channel 9 from 1pm
Head-to-Head: Easts 24 Ipswich 21 drawn 1
Head-to-Head - finals: Ipswich 3 Easts 0
Finals: Easts (played 35 – won 16, lost 19); Ipswich (played 21, won 11, lost 10)
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvJETS
- Both prior meetings of these two sides this season have been close affairs – the Jets claiming a 32-26 win in Round 3 at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park, while the Tigers held on 26-24 at North Ipswich Reserve in Round 16.
- The Jets suffered a blow at the Judiciary this week, with zippy hooker Jayden Connors guilty of a Careless High Tackle, meaning he will miss this game. Kierran Moseley will instead start.
- While head-to-head results are close; the Tigers have won 10 of the past 16 games between these two sides with one drawn game.
- Overall, Easts have been strong at home this year winning seven of their 11 games at their Coorparoo base; while the Jets have won six of their 13 away games.
- Ipswich have won their last six games; and will be looking to equal their Cup record of seven which was set in 2013 and repeated during their run to win the grand final in 2015 into 2016. Easts have won five of their past six games.
- From the 2015 knock-out final won at Suzuki Stadium by Ipswich; Easts have three players named for this game; Ipswich have five.
- Last week’s 32-0 win by the Tigers over Pride was only the third time a Cup team has been held scoreless in a final. The other two occasions were in the 1996 preliminary final (Redcliffe 6 def Toowoomba 0) and the 2011 grand final qualifier (Wynnum 36 def Redcliffe 0). On all three occasions, it has been the home side held scoreless.
- Big Tigers centre Shane Neumann is now equal with Ryan Cullen and Liam Georgetown with the most Cup finals tries with eight. Jets winger Marmin Barba is equal seventh with six.
- Barba also requires two points to become the 12th player to score 50 points in Cup finals, and two goals to bring up 100 for the Jets.
>> See the Finals Week 2 AReferees ppointments here
Redcliffe Dolphins v Burleigh Bears
Dolphin Stadium on Saturday, September 8 - 6pm
Livestream: QRL.com.au
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 27 Burleigh 22 Drawn 1
Head-to-Head finals: Burleigh 6 Redcliffe 2
Finals: Redcliffe (played 47 – won 28, lost 19); Burleigh (played 21 – won 12, lost 9)
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvBEARS
- After two recent grand final opponents faced off last week; it’s the turn of 2016 rivals the Redcliffe Dolphins and Burleigh Bears.
- This year, both teams have claimed a game each with Burleigh winning 25—12 at Pizzey Park in Round 2 and Redcliffe proving too strong at Dolphin Stadium 40-28 in Round 18.
- When it comes to finals games; Redcliffe have lost their past three and five of their past six finals games; while Burleigh have won their past two and three for their past four Cup finals games.
- Redcliffe have won 10 of the past 13 games between these two sides when played at Dolphin Stadium with one drawn result.
- The Dolphins have seven wins from their 11 home games this year with one drawn and have also have eight wins and a draw from their past 10 games.
- Burleigh have seven wins from their 11 away games this year.
- The Bears have won their past four and five of their past six games.
- Burleigh have named eight players who played in the 2016 grand final between these two teams; while Redcliffe has only named two.
- In player milestone news; Bears half Jamal Fogarty requires two more points to bring up 100 for the season.
- Aaron Whitchurch requires one more try to bring up 50 Cup tries (all for Redcliffe).
See the Finals Week 1 Judiciary Results here
*Statistics by Brad Tallon
