BMD Premiership Round 6 preview
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Meg Ward doesn’t believe her Norths Devils have had an easy outing yet in this year’s BMD Premiership.
And she definitely doesn’t believe there are any coming her way from here on out.
In her first season in charge as head coach of a BMD Premiership team, Ward’s Devils are sitting in third with three wins and two losses so far.
They jumped from fifth into the top four following a solid 18-4 victory over Central Queensland Capras last week and will look to back it up this week when they head north to the Sunshine Coast to take on the Falcons.
With finals now just four weeks away – and only the top four going through – Ward knows the competition is about to go to another level.
“The whole competition is so close and I feel like with every team every week, the results aren’t what you expect,” Ward said.
“You need to get the two points with how the comp is. I know that’s how we’re taking it.
“There’s so many teams in that middle part of the ladder, you can’t show up to any game thinking you have it in the bag.
“If you think it’s going to be an easy game, you’ll just get rolled over. You still have Brisbane Tigers, Souths Logan and Falcons down there too but still producing really good games and tough footy, even when they lose.
“It’s really exciting for Queensland Rugby League and shows the pathways are working.”
This is the exact mentality Ward is taking into Saturday’s clash with the Falcons.
Match: Falcons v Devils
Round 6 -
home Team
Falcons
9th Position
away Team
Devils
4th Position
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
The injury-hit Sunshine Coast are sitting at the bottom of the ladder at the moment with just one win to their name. But Ward will not take them lightly.
“You just have to expect they’re going to bring it,” she said.
“I don’t care where they are on the ladder… it doesn’t reflect the footy they can produce.
“I know they have an extremely talented squad and even if they are missing a few players, everyone that steps in wants to do a job.”
Within Ward’s own squad, she has been impressed with her entire team, but particularly halfback Jocelyn Kelleher and the way her forward pack has been going.
She also believes her skipper, Jada Ferguson, is playing the best football of her career so far.
Ward said together, the Devils had shown a lot of guts during the first five weeks of competition.
“The girls have come a long way from where we started in pre-season,” she said.
“They’ve learnt a lot. We still have a lot to work on but from where we started, I’m really proud of the girls.
“The biggest thing is the resilience in the team. A couple of games we’ve won and a couple we’ve lost but the resilience in the whole group, week in, week out, putting their bodies on the line and fighting to the end of every game… they have really good heart.
“When we do lose, you can see the passion to want to learn from it and grow from it. They constantly want to get better.”
Elsewhere in Round 6, Tweed Seagulls will open Licensed Clubs Round by playing host to Western Clydesdales.
Match: Seagulls v Clydesdales
Round 6 -
home Team
Seagulls
3rd Position
away Team
Clydesdales
2nd Position
Venue: Piggabeen Sports Complex, Tweed Heads
Reigning premiers Burleigh Bears will take on Souths Logan Magpies.
Match: Bears v Magpies
Round 6 -
home Team
Bears
5th Position
away Team
Magpies
8th Position
Venue: UAA Park, Gold Coast
The competition-leading Mackay Cutters meet Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
Match: Cutters v WM Seagulls
Round 6 -
home Team
Cutters
1st Position
away Team
WM Seagulls
7th Position
Venue: BB Print Stadium, Mackay
And in the only game on Sunday, the Brisbane Tigers will look to continue their recent form when they take on Central Queensland Capras in the broadcast match.
Match: Tigers v Capras
Round 6 -
home Team
Tigers
6th Position
away Team
Capras
10th Position
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
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