Round 8 of the Hastings Deering Colts will bring the Townsville Blackhawks to the beach for a day with the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
The Falcons are coming off a tough win over the Mackay Cutters while the Blackhawks got win over Wynnum Manly Seagulls in Round 7.
The Falcons had to do it the hard way with less ball which made the scoring of points hard to come by in a low scoring 16-10 win over Mackay.
The last time the Falcons and Blackhawks played it was the Falcons winning 20-16. The Falcons have won their last two games and are building momentum nicely into the season.
At the centre of the wins has been hooker Blake Ginman who made 42 tackles against the Cutters.
Ginman is the Falcons’ minister for energy and defence and keeps moving the whole game. He’s topped the Falcons tackle count twice in 2023.
Fullback Taine Couper made 159 run metres against the Cutters and Jayden Smith made a line break.
The Falcons were behind at half-time and showed resilience to come back and win 16-10.
Falcons coach Cameron Boaza is expecting the same again this week but like every coach is looking for improvement.
“I am really happy with the grittiness of our win against Mackay,” Boaza said.
Match: Falcons v Blackhawks
Round 8 -
home Team
Falcons
away Team
Blackhawks
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
“Mackay are that sort of team and they just grind and grind.
“I wasn’t too happy with our competition rate or the way we held onto the ball.
“Townsville are a very good side, and to beat them you need to hold onto the ball for long periods of time and defend well.
“We think that at our best we can challenge any side but the key is reaching our best and playing there from game to game.
“That’s our goal and that’s what we are working towards.”
Boaza is looking to his big front rower again this week.
“Blake Woodford has been great for us, he’s played Cup now against the Dolphins and has come back and he’s got even better,” Boaza said.
Match: Seagulls v Capras
Round 8 -
home Team
Seagulls
away Team
Capras
Venue: Piggabeen Sports Complex, Tweed Heads
Tweed will be out to enter the top two when they host Central Queensland Capras.
Match: Bears v Devils
Round 8 -
home Team
Bears
away Team
Devils
Venue: UAA Park, Gold Coast
Burleigh Bears and Norths Devils face off in an important mid-table battle.
Match: Tigers v Dolphins
Round 8 -
home Team
Tigers
away Team
Dolphins
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Brisbane Tigers and Redcliffe Dolphins are expected to put on an epic top-of-the-table showdown.
Match: Cutters v WM Seagulls
Round 8 -
home Team
Cutters
away Team
WM Seagulls
Venue: BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Mackay Cutters will be looking to return to winning ways at home.
Match: Magpies v Jets
Round 8 -
home Team
Magpies
away Team
Jets
Venue: Davies Park, Brisbane
Last start winners Ipswich Jets travel to Souths Logan.
