BMD Premiership Round 3 preview

It's going to be a case of newcomer versus newcomer in the XXXX Rivalry Round clash between the Western Clydesdales and Sunshine Coast Falcons on Sunday.

While some of the usual derbies will play out this weekend - including Tweed Seagulls versus Burleigh Bears and Mackay Cutters versus Central Queensland Capras - the first chapter of a new rivalry is expected to be written in the highly-anticipated showdown between the Clydesdales and Falcons in Toowoomba.

Both teams have recorded one win and one loss to start season 2024 and now both will be chasing the upper hand come Sunday.

For Sunshine Coast coach Danny Gray, it's a match that could give the Falcons an idea of where they sit within the competition.

After overcoming the Brisbane Tigers in Round 1, they were unable to get a result last week against last year's semi-finalists in the Mackay Cutters.

But Gray said it might have given the Falcons some understanding of what they have to do to beat the top teams in 2024.

"I’m feeling pretty good about where we’re at as a group," Gray said.

"It was a great start against the Tigers and then back to reality against the Cutters.

"But I’m really happy that we played really well in patches against the Cutters, which proves we can match it against a quality side. We were in a position where had we done a few things a bit better we could have won it.

"We know what we’re capable of.

"This weekend, it’s going to be another really tough game. They have a really quality squad.

"They have really experienced players and really good local players. I’m expecting a tough game of footy but I’m looking forward to it.

"I also just love going to Toowoomba to play footy. It’s a real heartland area for me and I get a really good vibe when there, especially for rugby league."

Gray has been forced this week to make a number of changes to his side.

Both the Falcons and Clydesdales have lost several players to the Harvey Norman Women's National Championships, with the Sunshine Coast also coming to terms with Holli Wheeler's early departure, after the Australian forward broke her collarbone.

For the Falcons, Jordan Jackson, Makayla Henry and Remi Hinckesmann are representing the Queensland Sapphires and Gray said while it meant they would not have their young up-and-comers this weekend, the club could not be prouder.

"We’re super proud of those girls as a club," he said.

"All the squad members are really stoked for them. Anytime someone gets an opportunity to represent a region, everyone is stoked for those guys.

"It brings a few little changes this week and we will have a couple of girls make their debut this weekend.

"We’ll know who they are after captain’s run (Saturday morning).

"We also have a couple girls with niggles and Holli Wheeler who broke her collarbone, so that's a forced change, which is horrible for Holli. We’ll keep supporting her.

"The challenges are that a few combinations will potentially change and one of our girls will play a back up dummy half role which she’s probably not used to.

"But the opportunity is to give some other girls their debut. I don’t look at it as a negative."

While the Clydesdales also have a few faces out for the Harvey Norman Women's National Championships, including Georgia Sharam, Natalia Webb, Taylor Fenton, Montana Mook, Zoe Cook, Rease Casey and Ash Makim, they are buoyed by the return of Shenae Ciesiolka from injury plus Kezie Apps from a week off.

Gray knows that only do those players present a challenge come Sunday, but he hopes a lot of the younger members of his own squad can look at them and see what it takes to reach the top level.

"We’ve been speaking about being consistent in what we do," Gray said.

"When you look at ladies like Kezie, Ali (Brigginshaw), Steph Hancock, the reason they are where they are, it’s because they’re so consistent in what they do.

"Consistency is what sets those players apart from most others so just being consistent and working hard, competing hard, those things are really important."

Elsewhere in XXXX Rivalry Round, the weekend will kick off with the Tweed Seagulls hosting the Burleigh Bears out at Piggabeen for the first time this season.