Hastings Deering Colts Finals Week 2 preview

The Blackhawks are coming off a loss to Brisbane Tigers, 36-12. Townsville started well with a try to Cathane Hill in the ninth minute, but that was the only glimmer of hope and happiness for a while for the Blackhawks as the Tigers did what Townsville normally do in Colts and ran rampant.

The Blackhawks had 47 per cent of the ball, 27 less runs than the Tigers, only two line breaks and 42 missed tackles. The shining light was the form of fullback Ragarive Wavik, who was outstanding with 210 run metres and one line break.

The Blackhawks have to give themselves a chance by not making errors and putting their defence under so much pressure.

Blackhawks coach Roy Baira has reflected and is ready to face the Falcons.

“It was that period just after half-time, we were in a really good mindset at half-time and then they score within one minute," Baira said.

“We just weren’t relaxed... we started to chase points and then you just make mistakes. This week we need to not push it and just play the football we play.”

The Falcons are heading the other way and coming off a win over Wynnum Manly 34-16. The Falcons did everything nearly the opposite of the Blackhawks.

They dominated the ball with 55 per cent and just kept turning the screws until they got the result they wanted. That result ended up being six tries.

Elliot Smethills smashed it forward for the Falcons following up his 193 run metres last week with 231 run metres this week; next week he might break 300 metres if he keeps going. Mason Peut got his standard try and now has eight in the last month to go with his 22 this year.

The Falcons played a good all round team performance.

Coach Cameron Boaza is a typical coach - happy with one thing but looking to the next thing.

“I was happy with our defence, but I thought our attack was clunky and not too much flow,” Boaza said.

“Once we got them around at half time and pointed out this is a tough spot that we are in but we’ve done this before and they sort of said yeah we have.

“Townsville are a good team and Brisbane Tigers might not have helped us too much. Brothers will be pumping up there, stand alone game and here we go.”

Burleigh Bears didn’t get the result they wanted or needed but this week they will be looking to find some finals form against Redcliffe Dolphins.

The Bears never got any momentum against Tweed Seagulls and if you allow Tweed to just do Tweed things, you will lose. It was 46-10.

Forty-one per cent of the ball won’t win you anything and defiantly not a final against the Seagulls. The Bears couldn’t stop the Seagulls offloads which meant double efforts and tiring out defence.

Adam Christensen tried hard to move the needle over to the Bears side but it just couldn’t be done, even with his 111 run metres; Siua Fotu made 29 tackles and Cruz Laskike made one line break.

Bears coach Roy Leoni said there was room for improvement.

“We just let them offload, we let them just build and build and then you can’t hold them,” Leoni said.

“We were the opposite of the Bears’ Cup side. who were great.

“To beat a side like Tweed you can’t have 41 per cent of the ball. It needs to be over 50 per cent... that's what we have been focusing on this week, having the ball and giving it to them when we want and where we want.”

Redcliffe Dolphins were switched on against Souths Logan Magpies and won 42-36. The 42 will please them but the 36 against raises some concerns.

It took the Magpies until nearly half-time to crack the Dolphins wall but when they did, they were able to score six tries in 30 minutes.

In a strange twist, the Magpies finished with more ball than the Dolphins but the Dolphins were able to hang on because of the way they started the game.

Scoring five tries in the first 20 minutes of a final will win you finals no matter what you do from there.

Brenton Baira made 234 run metres for the Dolphins and with two line breaks and two tries, he had a finals day out.

Dolphins coach Scott Murray knows what he wants rectified this week.

“The Magpies had 65 per cent of the ball in the second half... that’s too much.” Murray said.

“We had a big win against Northern Pride and then played really well the first 20 minutes against Souths and thought 'here we go, this will just continue'. It doesn’t, and if not for that first 20 minutes, we may have lost.

“That’s our focus this week... just not getting too carried away in attack.”

The games can be watched at QPlus.tv.