The sky could be the limit when Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership co-leaders Waves Tigers meet Easts Magpies on Saturday.
The title favourites have been below their best in their past two games and want to show their improvement in a battle with the struggling Easts Magpies in the sixth round at Salter Oval at 6pm Saturday.
The Tigers suffered their first defeat of 2024 two games back, going down to Wallaroos 24-22, and while they were victorious last week against Wests Panthers 32-24 with classy hooker Sam Tobin a match winner with a double in a Players’ Player masterclass, they were forced to come from behind twice, trailing 10-0 after 20 minutes and also coming back from an eight-point deficit.
Coach Antonio Kaufusi (pictured above, left) said they “keep making it hard for ourselves”.
“I saw a bit of fight in us against 'Roos, and last week, we kept finding ways to get back, but we can’t keep giving up leads,” Kaufusi said.
Apart from a five-star performance by Tobin, Kaufusi said inspirational captain and powerhouse lock Reece Maughan also played “really well”.
“Our halves (Brendan Grills and Zeke Munckton) were also good, and our centres Leyton (Chamber) and (Jensen) Deamer were also fantastic, and (under 18 second rower) Noah Law is also coming along really well,” he said.
The Tigers plucked the Magpies 64-4 when they last met on April 27, and Easts have only one win so far this campaign, and they are coming off a 30-6 mauling by 'Roos last Saturday, but Kaufusi is wary of the wounded warriors.
However he is confident of again doing the job despite have a “few missing”.
“Alusa Nasio is suspended, Mitch Clayton and Harry Kuorikoski have training days, James Brosnan is out after failing a HIA last week, and Daniel Cavanagh has a family event, but we welcome back (stalwart rugged forward) Ross Larsen, who has been playing reggies for the last month, to A grade, and Otto Tuima, our under 18 coach, who has also been playing reggies, will debut for us,” he said.
“And I expect us to play well, and we will get the win if we do that.”
Earlier at 4.15pm, the Panthers should again be too good for the winless Hervey Bay Seagulls, who were again thrashed by Past Brothers 42-6 last Saturday, after Wests got the points against them in the Bay 34-18 five weeks ago.
Seventeen-year-old winger Joseph Doyle was a star for Brothers against the Seagulls, continuing his superb form with a four-try haul after grabbing a double in their under 18 triumph earlier in the afternoon.
But Doyle will miss their showdown with joint-leaders Wallaroos at Eskdale Park at 5pm as he has his year 12 formal.
Reigning champions Brothers, who are now in equal-third place with Wests, will need to be at their best against the pride of Maryborough after getting out of jail to beat them 26-18 in the first round at Salter Oval.
'Roos keep going from strength to strength and they are always an even greater force in front of their boisterous home crowd.
