Two proud clubs in the Burleigh Bears and the Easts Tigers face off this Saturday for the chance to meet the Redcliffe Dolphins in next Sunday’s Intrust Super Cup grand final.
Burleigh Bears v Easts Tigers
Pizzey Park on Saturday, September 15 at 1.05pm*
Live on Channel 9 from 1pm
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 25 Easts 20 Drawn 2
Finals: Burleigh (played 22, won 12, lost 10); Easts (played 37, won 18, lost 19)
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvTIGES
- The Tigers come into this match off the back of an imposing 50-20 win over the Jets; while the Bears came off second best against the Phins in a gritty major semi final last weekend.
- Despite that loss, the Bears have been in good form and have won five of their past seven games; while Easts have also been firing and have won six of their past seven and 10 of their past 12 matches.
- The Bears have a strong record at home this year and have won seven of their 10 games there.
- Easts however have been strong away from home and have claimed seven wins from their 12 games on the road; including their past five.
- After crossing twice for the Tigers last weekend, centre Shane Neumann now has 10 tries in Cup finals, the most of any player. He also has 95 Cup tries in total; equal ninth for all time alongside Shane Perry.
- Marion Seve became only the 20th player to have scored a hat-trick in Cup finals following his three-try haul against Ipswich. Three of these players have been named in the Easts squad for this game with Neumann (in 2009 in the grand final for the Sunshine Coast), Josh Ralph (two weeks ago against Pride) and Seve last week.
- The Tigers will be looking to defy history against the Bears on Saturday, with only one team having made a Cup grand final from outside the top four (Easts finished in fifth spot). Wynnum Manly were the only side to have done it ad they went all the way, winning the title in 2011 from sixth position.
- This will be Easts hooker Tom Butterfield's 205th Cup game, moving him to 13th all time. Number 12 on the list with 210 is Shane Flanagan who scored the extra time try to win the 2004 grand final for Burleigh, the last time these two teams met in a final.
- The Bears will be attempting to make their sixth grand final; while Easts will be aiming for their fifth. Whichever team wins will face Redcliffe, who will feature in their 12th decider.
- In player milestone news; this is the 100th Cup game for Tigers back Linc Port (pictured below - previously with Norths and the Pride) and the 50th game for Burleigh for half Jamal Fogarty (pictured above - including the 2016 Intrust Super Championship game.)
See the Finals Week 3 Referees Appointments here
Head to Head Finals History Burleigh v Easts:
1997 3 v 4: Easts 14 def Burleigh 8 at Langlands Park
2000 Knock Out: Easts 36 def Burleigh 10 at Langlands Park
2001 Knock Out: Burleigh 30 def Easts 23 at Langlands Park
2004 Major Semi Final: Burleigh 17 def Easts 16 at Pizzey Park
2004 Grand Final: Burleigh 22 def Easts 18 (in extra time) at Suncorp Stadium
>> See the Finals Week 2 Judiciary Results (uploaded September 14)
*Statistics by Brad Tallon
