Round 6 Sunday wrap: Tigers close in on top four
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The Brisbane Tigers have shown their BMD Premiership finals credentials, breaking a recent run of draws to overcome the Central Queensland Capras in Round 6.
On home turf at Totally Workwear Stadium, the Tigers pos]ted a 16-8 victory to close out Licensed Clubs Round and to keep themselves within striking distance of the top four.
The Tigers now sit in sixth on the ladder but are on the same points as the fourth-placed Norths Devils. The Burleigh Bears are in fifth and Wynnum Manly Seagulls in seventh, with all four teams on six points.
For co-captain Shannon Mato, the win was essential today to keep her side's finals hopes alive after recording draws in Rounds 4 and 5.
Match: Tigers v Capras
Round 6 -
home Team
Tigers
6th Position
away Team
Capras
10th Position
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
"We’re in a crucial spot on the ladder at the moment so it’s good to get the two points," she said.
"The last time we won was against Wynnum Manly (in Round 3). We just keep getting draws so I’m glad we’re improving each week.
"I’m really proud of all the girls."
The clash between the Tigers and the Capras was a tight battle in wet conditions, with the two sides going tit for tat in the opening stanza.
The Tigers took a 10-8 lead into the sheds at halftime, scoring just two minutes out from the break through young hooker Isabella Satui, who has impressed Mato since making her debut last week.
Five-eighth Akira Kelly then scored the only try in what was an arm wrestle of a second half, to lock away the victory for the home team.
The Tigers are going from strength to strength each week, showing definite improvement on their 2023 form.
And Mato said the belief in the squad of their finals potential is also growing each round.
"It was hard to see it at first but I said we had to trust the process," she said.
"Our big thing week in and week out is checking in and making sure we’re sticking to our culture and our team and what we do in prep.
"The girls just need to have a lot of confidence. Now that the Under 19s are finished, we’re bringing them through too so we’re in a good place as a club."
The Tigers and Capras clash was the only match played on Sunday.
Central Queensland will now turn their attention to a Round 7 meeting with the Sunshine Coast Falcons while the Tigers will head to Logan Metro Sports Complex to take on the resurgent Souths Logan Magpies next week.
For all of Saturday's results, click here.
