Coaches' call: Hostplus Cup Round 23 preview

PNG Hunters v Western Clydesdales

PNG Hunters coach Paul Aiton: We're feeling pretty good about where we're at and knowing we're playing finals. We still want to do well in our last performance but none of the boys have played finals before so it's a very good feeling going in. It's the first time we'll play finals since we won in 2017 and we have a few boys we know we're parting ways with next year. There's a buzz around. Obviously we don't want to get complacent though heading into this week. We've spoken about it early in the week and laid off a little bit now. We'll definitely take this game seriously against the Clydesdales and I'm sure we'll play some exciting footy.

Western Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin: This is our last game and I know we've got the wooden spoon but there's been a lot of work going on behind the scenes. We have good young men developing and women developing as well in our female game. We're working hard and away from the field we're doing well. On the field, we're learning who we are. This weekend for our last game, I just want to see young fellas getting the opportunity and really fulfilling what they want to do football-wise. It's a hard task. For PNG, it's their third game straight at home. I know they want to win because they can go to fourth. But from a team perspective, we're going with a really young side. We want to put up a good effort. It's a great experience for our young fellas. 

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

Tweed Seagulls v Central Queensland Capras

Tweed Seagulls coach Dave Penna: There’s a couple of mixed emotions going into this last game. It’s been a long year. We had one of those tough years with a lot of injuries, a lot of players out, so looking forward to resetting but also a bit disappointed about where we’re sitting but that’s rugby league. I’ve been very pleased as a coach for the last four weeks. We’ve probably played to our potential and we’ve got the majority of our squad back together which has been pleasing, which gives us a little bit of insight into what was possible but didn’t happen. It’ll be good to challenge ourselves against a really good quality side that will potentially be playing finals. It’s a good way to finish the year with good spirits at home, hopefully with a win, but obviously they’re a quality side. Well-coached with a lot of NRL experience, so it’s going to be a tough one for us. We have a little bit of a stronger squad than what we took to PNG (in Round 21) for a few different reasons - passports and things - but it’ll be a side that we put on the park that is capable of winning. It’s important the team enjoys themselves. I said to the players during the week, "the only game you remember and people remember is your last one," so if we can go out there and put a good performance together, regardless of the result, then we’ll be happy as a team, a club and as individuals. That’s the main thing. There’s some quality teams left and a lot of great rugby league happening over the next three or four weeks, which is great for the QRL.

Central Queensland Capras coach Lionel Harbin: We’re all pretty excited. Finals has come a week early for us. We’re in a situation where we need to win it to stay in it, so there’s a bit of excitement around the group. We just don’t want to beat ourselves. We didn’t give ourselves an opportunity at all last week against Norths, not to take anything away from them, but we were really poor, very ill-disciplined. So if we just give ourselves a chance, complete high and be disciplined, we can give ourselves the opportunity to make it a good game of footy. Tweed are a good attacking side no matter what the circumstances and being their final game, I’d say they’re going to play a bit of footy. They’ve got some real quality players in Lindon McGrady and (Tom) Steadman in the halves as well. We know it’s going to be a really tough ask going down there and performing down there but it’s something we’re really looking forward to. It’s a good opportunity for us. Like the players, I’m excited. It’s come a week early for us. Last week we were sitting sixth and now we’re sitting eighth and we need to win to stay in it. These are the types of games you want to play at this time of the year. We put ourselves in this situation and I’m pretty sure there’s other teams that would like to be where we are. We’ve just got to make the most of it. Obviously having Lachlan Hubner back from NRL duties is a big in for us; he brings a lot to our side. Anthony Milford and Jack Madden have been instrumental in the games that we’ve performed well, with their kicking games. Again, we need one through to 17 to play really well to get the job done against a side like Tweed.

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

Redcliffe Dolphins v Mackay Cutters

Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te'o: There’s so many byes during the season but I think we’ve finally nailed our preparation and what we do in that week off. Last round is important for us where we’re trying to get the best team we can on the park and really cement combinations as we head into the finals. That’s pretty much what has been important to us recently. Our attitude is a massive focus point. The Cutters had a great win last weekend and they’re in the finals but I know they’re going to travel down and want to finish off their season on a high. That’s going to bring out the best in us. I just want to make sure that we turn up with the right attitude because this week will lead into the following week. We’re happy. We wanted to be in the top four and if we were good enough, we knew we’d be rewarded. Obviously we’ve done enough to get there. We’re pretty happy with where we are, but there’s a fair bit more to go. One of our goals has been about playing good football all year, not just trying to turn it on at the back end, because I think that’s unrealistic. I think, for us, we’re trying to maintain the level we’ve been playing at. Come finals time, anything can happen on the day.

Mackay Cutters coach Adam Cuthbertson: This game is exciting because it's a good opportunity to see what we can do, finishing the year. The Dolphins are up the top of the table so it's a good challenge for us, to see where we're at. We have nothing to play for in terms of finals, but it would be good to go out with a bang. It's a good opportunity for boys to go out and really have a good performance prior to the break. I've had a short period of time with the boys since the changeover and there's some areas of the game I've been asked them to continue to work on and improve... consistency and the ability to execute, particularly at the back end of halves. Staying on point with our game plan and focusing on executing when fatigue sets in a bit, at the back end of the halves, is a focus. Really excited to see how Bayley Gill goes again this week; he hasn't had too many Cup games this year... I think this will be his fifth, and he has done a wonderful job since coming into the halves. Raydan Burns is someone I'm keen on in the halves moving forward; it's great to see him step up. And then there's the likes of Mutua Brown and Matty Watts, seeing these kids evolve into the senior grades is always good... this will be a good test for them in the top tier team.

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

Norths Devils v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Norths Devils coach Dave Elliott: It was important to get that win last week in the context of our season. After back-to-back losses, we needed to continue to work hard. It was pleasing in the sense that we made some changes to the team and predominantly our spine that brought about some calmness and positivity in the way we played. Julian Christian provided a lot of spark off the bench. That calmness has continued into training this week and it's helped us get on the same page. This week, we're expecting a pretty keen Falcons and a really tough contest. Over the previous few seasons we've fought out some pretty torrid battles, particularly at this time of year. Both teams will want to take momentum into finals. They've been a very consistent footy team all year so we're certainly expecting a high quality game on the weekend. 

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: Our defence wasn't good enough last week. We held the ball quite well but our discipline and defence let us down. We didn't work as hard as what I expected we would. We've had a soul search since then and I can't question their commitment. We've been good enough to put ourselves in the top four for most of this year and we have a chance this week to turn it around. If we want to win the competition, we have to beat a team like Norths. We know they'll be challenging for the flag so it's a real acid test. I know our guys are capable and up for it and excited abut it. I have all the confidence in the world in them. It's not easy wining at Bishop Park but we've had a good success rate there of late.

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

Souths Logan Magpies v Ipswich Jets

Souths Logan Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt: We're obviously disappointed to play our last game this weekend but there’s also a reason to be excited about it with our captain Rory Ferguson playing his 100th Cup game. The boys are really excited to go out there and perform for him, in the last game at home as well, this year. The win against the Falcons was a pleasing result but also showed what our year has been. Plenty of good results against quality teams with too many poor performances mixed in between. Nevertheless, we’ll take the win as we head towards the off-season. We’re excited because we haven’t played Ippy this year… we’ve seen a bit of footage on their performance against Burleigh and they’ve improved so much this year. It’ll make for a good contest before the off-season. Our season has been chalk and cheese if we compare our year to last year but plenty more lessons learned this year compared to last year, so excited for what we can do over the break and heading into pre-season. This year I was excited we were able to blood eight debutants, so to be able to build and continue to develop them. Having a strong squad put together is at the top of my list for next year.

Ipswich Jets coach Tye Ingebrigtsen: Comments to come.

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Brisbane Tigers

Wynnum Manly Seagulls coach Mat Head: We've had two wins the past two weeks and played really well in both games. On game day watching the game play, it resembles training. The last two months didn't go the way we wanted but the dedication and commitment from training, we've seen that in the last two games. We'll keep preparing as if that's the way we're going to play. Heading into this game, we know the Tigers haven't had the season they wanted to but will want to finish on a good note. We also know the last six or seven weeks has put us in the position we are in now and that's our own fault and doing. What will be will be. All the other games that impact our standing for finals are played Saturday and we're Sunday. There's no concern on what may or may not happen. We just have to win this game of footy. It's up to us to have a really good month of footy after that. We know what will be will be. We'll see what's dealt to us on Sunday night after our game.

Brisbane Tigers coach Matt Church: The takeaways from our year is that we got a little bit comfortable that we'd be right once we got to September. But the problem is you have to get to September first. We've also had an injury toll which fast-tracked some players into Cup and it's given us a good understanding of where they sit. I'm pleased to say they've shown they're Cup players which puts us in good stead for next year. For this weekend, we want to finish strong. I'm a process person rather than outcomes-focused. We want to give ourselves every opportunity to win it. That's all we can ask for. It's been a challenging last 10 weeks with our injury toll but we've gone toe-to-toe with nearly everyone we've come up against. 

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

Bye: Townsville Blackhawks

Townsville Blackhawks coach Terry Campese: It's the unknown for us whether or not we're playing finals. It's been tough preparing when you're relying on other results. On Sunday last week, everyone was looking at the results and the ladder once the round was done and we worked out we need Tweed to win for us to advance to the finals. If we are to advance, we could be in PNG or Sunshine Coast in week one. We've been doing things like preparing passports and small things like that. On Saturday when Tweed and Capras play, I'll probably spend the day at Maggie Island to get away from it. I don't if I can watch it. I'm a bit nervous. But we'll wait for the results. It's a 5pm game so it's dragged out for us. We've been training all week because we want to get through. We will train Sunday if the odds go our way. 

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