Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership Round 2 action by chance pits first-round winners against first-up losers.
Decimated 2022 champions Hervey Bay Seagulls, who were put to the sword by Past Brothers 62-4 in their grand final return clash, host Wests Panthers, who stamped themselves as contenders in toughing out an 18-14 victory over Waves Tigers, at Stafford Park at 5pm.
At Salter Oval, Brothers will face a sterner test against Wallaroos at 4.15pm, with the back-to-back wooden-spooners giving promise of a better season in a very competitive 32-22 defeat at the hands of a beefed-up Easts Magpies.
But the 6pm showdown between the Magpies and the Tigers will undoubtedly be the match of the round.
Easts started their campaign to end an 18-year premiership drought under new coach Jacob Blanke - who guided Hervey Bay to the title in 2022 - in style.
The club boasts four former Seagulls premiership stars in Will and Scott Walthall, Ben Hudson and Tyson Miller, and a strong Fijian presence and look strong despite being without their reigning BRL A Grade Player of the Year Andreas Nona.
Captain and electrifying centre Delroy Tanner led from the front with a double, while four of their also flashy Fijian flyers got one try each, Aisake Masiwala, Ratu Nawerecaqa, Josateki Masibalavu, and Netava Naruma.
As a new side, they will be even better for the run, but they will be up against a hungry Tigers side, which will be still smarting after being ambushed in the Battle of the Big Cats.
Both sides had three try scorers in that blockbuster, with exciting 18-year-old winger Tumeli Naco bagging a four-pointer on club debut for the Tigers, but Waves landed just one conversion to Wests’ two conversions and a penalty.
Waves coach Antonio Kaufusi was not perturbed by the loss, although it was an early setback in their quest for back-to-back minor premierships, and they have a few forced changes to their team tomorrow.
Prolific try scorer Bruce Ikamanu chalked up another double for the Panthers, while veteran front rower Dan Tanner also crossed, and their coach and Tanner’s brother Corey was delighted with the performance, although he is wary that they have also started well in past seasons, but failed to achieve to their potential as a team, falling away at the end of the season.
Electrifying back Sam Robinson will be missing due to a hamstring strain, but they will lose nothing with vintage veteran journeyman and former dual BRL A Grade Player of the Year Clinton Horne, who led the Seagulls to the 2016 crown before stints at Waves, Easts, and now Wests, to come into the side.
Hervey Bay were the first to score last week with Ethan West notching the first try of the BRL A Grade season early on, but it was just an aberration, as the Brethren replied promptly through new captain and fullback Tyrell Priestley and went on to rack up an unanswered 62 points.
After being able to only muster 15 players for that match, hopefully the Seagulls will be able to field a full team this time, but the Panthers will take a power of beating.
Centre Corey Findlay was the only multiple-try getter for Brothers last week with a double, but nine other joining in the party, including prodigal son and another former dual BRL A Grade Player of the Year Matt Craven, who returned “home” for the first time in 11 years and chalked up 20 points with one try and eight conversions.
They will be favourites again tomorrow, but coach Andrew Hamilton is seeking consistency week-in-week-out after being hot and cold in recent seasons, and he has warned against complacency against the Roos.
Main image: Hervey Bay five-eighth Chase Sutton passes the ball in their first-up loss to Past Brothers
