Hastings Deering Colts Finals Week 1 preview

The Tigers are coming off the perfect preparation for finals with a 36-16 win over Wynnum Manly in the last round.

The Tigers had all the ball and made good use of it with 57 per cent coming their way and that led to six line breaks and 33 tackle breaks. The Tigers offloaded until their little stripey hearts were content.

The Tigers only missed 20 tackles and that right there is finals defence.

The result was seven tries and it took until just before half time for Wynnum Manly to crack the Tigers' wall.

Casey Morgan scored the first try for the Tigers and made 229 metres, with the big prop running hard.

Tigers coach Mark Gliddon is happy for the finals to be here.

“I am excited, it’s finals, we wanted to finish top four and we’ve done that,” Gliddon said. “Now the new season starts".

“We know that Townsville are a great side, they are flamboyant and throw lots at you so if you make the wrong call, they hurt you.”

The Blackhawks are the defending kings of Colts and will not be coming down to the Tigers to give that up.

Townsville won 36-22 last round and bring form into the finals having won five games in a row. Are the champs warming up nicely for another tilt at the trophy?

Jesse Yallop has 20 tries this year and Ragarive Wavik is coming off two tries as part of his 168 points.

The Blackhawks were just as dominant against the Bears with 52 per cent of the ball, 10 line breaks and just 29 missed tackles.

The Blackhawks will want to improve their discipline - 12 penalties isn’t ideal and gave the Bears chances.

Ragarive Wavik is a danger for the Tigers. If he isn’t kicking goals, he scores tries and if that doesn’t work, he just runs. Against the Bears he made 199 metres.

Dudley Dotoi made three line breaks and Joel Baldwin made 33 tackles.

Blackhawks coach Roy Baira is ready.

“Brisbane Tigers are up there for a reason, so we know what we have to do and they’re a great team.” Baira said.

“Lachlan West can cause you problems and we have to be better than last time we played them.

“Jamal Shibasaki is going to be important for us. He’s only young himself but he can really do an important job for us during the finals.”

Redcliffe Dolphins (5) v Souths Logan Magpies (8)

This is eighth against fifth. The Magpies snuck into the top eight with a win over the Capras 34-26. The Magpies’ form has been up and down during the season, but they will be there on Saturday to cause some damage.

Souths Logan are the finals miracle before it even starts; ninth-place finisher Mackay won and finished with a points differential of -89.

The Magpies were winning 30-26 with a points differential of -90 with two minutes to play, then earned a penalty to go downfield and score with seconds to go, getting to a -86 points difference and getting into the finals.

They will need to fix up a few things first, primarily their defence with Souths Logan missing 44 tackles against the Capras.

It will be their big winger Israel Leota who can make a difference and he was back to his best against the Capras with 225 metres and the first try.

Leota’s runs will determine how the Magpies sets start, and how they end when they get down to good ball area.

Souths Logan coach Lincoln McLeod isn’t under any illusions about the job ahead.

“We are well aware but for 40 seconds last week we aren’t playing finals,” McLeod said.

“We acknowledge how we got here.

“Redcliffe are a strong team, everyone knows that, and they are big and fast.

“Every final is won in the middle and your spine. so the Magpies middle and spine has a job to do.”

The Dolphins last round was a huge win against the Northern Pride 58-4. The Dolphins were close to perfect and that’s what the Magpies are going to need to stop this week.

With 59 percent of the ball, you will win nearly every game and can only result in positives, including 11 tries, 14 line breaks, 69 tackle breaks and 12 offloads.

Will Starling did plenty of running with 233 metres and Marcus Spence made 21 tackles.

The last time the Magpies and Dolphins clashed it was red-and-white all over with the Dolphins winning 54-12.

The Dolphins lost week one of the finals last season and came to the grand final the hard way, so they won’t want to repeat that again.

Redcliffe coach Scott Murray is looking for the Dolphins to step up.

“I feel like we have been waiting for finals, and now they’re here it’s time for everyone to step up and make sure you go up with the occasion,” Murray said.

“Souths have Leota bringing the ball back and he’s a handful, and their halves can be creative so we have plenty to think about that.

“I think our forwards can do a job for us. I am looking forward to seeing them play finals.”

The two teams battle at Logan Metro Sports Complex at midday on Saturday.

Tweed Seagulls (1) v Burleigh Bears (4)

The minor premiers Tweed Seagulls against their greatest foe and neighbour - that’s a great finals narrative.

Tweed this year become the first team that isn’t Townsville or Wynnum Manly to win the minor premiership.

In 2007, Tweed finished first in the old under 19 Colts and beat Norths in the final 18-4 over Norths.

To add another layer of spice to this game - being played at UAA Park on Saturday at 6pm - the Seagulls beat the Bears two weeks ago 38-22.

Tweed dealt a blow to the Falcons 50-32 last week, with attacking football fitting of the minor premiership.

Their dominance showed with 40 more runs than the Falcons and 50 tackle breaks.

Centre Logan Radzievic was effective with 148 metres, two tries and two line breaks.

The Bears got the wobbles a bit last round and lost to the Blackhawks 36-22.

They’ve now lost two games in a row, which isn’t ideal going into finals.

With 48 percent of the ball, the Bears were going to struggle. You can’t keep giving the ball to Jamal Shibasaki and think it’s not going to hurt you.

Kaden Sommerville was an all-round effort, with 26 tackles and 148 metres.

The Bears will be looking to rewind the clock and find their form from three weeks ago.

Bears coach Roy Leoni is excited and up for the challenge facing the Bears.

“It’s finals and we are playing the minor premiers - it’s pretty good.” Leoni said.

“Tweed are a fantastic team and we are up for the challenge.

“I am excited to see how our fullback and captain goes. Hunter Ploegsma has been great this year and Cruz Lasike too.

“We expect them to have Oscar Bryant and Jaylan De Groot and those Cup and Titans players, but that’s what makes them a great team.”

Sunshine Coast Falcons (6) v Wynnum Manly Seagulls (7)

Week one of the finals will end with the Falcons and Wynnum Manly on Sunday at midday.

The Falcons came unstuck against the Tweed Seagulls last round and lost 50-32.

In a very high-scoring game, the Falcons got in a shootout with the Seagulls and it didn’t come off.

Mason Peut had two of the Falcons first three tries and would have thought the attacking football was heaven.

With seven tries in the last three weeks, Peut will be a point of attack for the Falcons. Elliot Smethills made ground and 193 metres while Jett Elich made 28 tackles.

The Falcons have shown they can attack and score points, but it’s the small things that matter in finals. Men in the sin bin and errors a pathway to finals heartbreak.

“I think you have to be excited about finals, it’s why you play and we know Wynnum will be ready,” Falcons coach Cameron Boaza said.

“It is all about John Radel for them. He is the leader and if he plays well, they do.”

Wynnum Manly are in the same position as the Falcons and not bringing their best form into finals. The Seagulls lost last round to the Tigers 36-16.

It took a while for Wynnum Manly to get started and by the time they did, it was too late.

If they replicate the 43 percent possession and just two line breaks, they will find it hard to win finals and the Seagulls will know that.

The Seagulls just failed to build any pressure on the Tigers and they are going to have to do it this week against the Falcons.

Wynnum Manly put too much pressure on their defence and it led to 33 missed tackles and 11 errors.

John Radel will need to lead the Seagulls and if he repeats his 42 tackles that will go a long way to Wynnum Manly winning.

Seagulls coach Daryl Short is wary of Peut and his try scoring potential.

“Peut is just a try scoring machine, so we have to be wary of him, but also while you’re watching him they can spread the ball and someone else scores,” Short said.

“They pass the ball around very well and attack you from different spots.

“We are excited about finals and looking forward to some of our young blokes playing finals for the first time.”