Coaches' call: Hostplus Cup Finals Week 2 preview

Author: Rikki-Lee Arnold Statewide content producer
Timestamp: Fri 6 Sep 2024, 08:08 AM

The battle is on for a place in this year's preliminary finals, as four teams fight it out this weekend for the chance to progress.

Northern Pride and Norths Devils are already locked in for Finals Week 3, with two spots left up for grabs.

On Saturday, Redcliffe Dolphins will play host to Central Queensland Capras - two Dolphins NRL affiliate teams - in what is expected to be an intense and gritty showdown at Kayo Stadium.

The winner will advance to take on Northern Pride.

Then on Sunday, the 2017 premiership rivals in the Sunshine Coast Falcons and PNG Hunters will clash in a blockbuster meeting at Sunshine Coast Stadium, with the winner heading to Bishop Park in week three.

Here are what the coaches had to say ahead of Finals Week 2.

Hostplus Cup Finals Week 2

Redcliffe Dolphins v Central Queensland Capras

Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te'o: The focus this week has been on assessing the health of our squad. We might have some changes this week and they're not all positive. Latrell Siegwalt has been suspended and we're waiting on the fitness of a few players. But, regardless, we'll put together the best squad we can and be ready for the challenge against the Capras. Heading in, it's about focusing on ourselves and identifying what wrong last Sunday against Norths. We went into that game with a good attitude and put up a really good fight but they were too dominant and they proved that with the way their pack came through the middle of us. The Capras have also been dominant against us this year and beat us convincingly twice. They're a great side. Lionel always has them ready to play footy and he does that very well. They have a really good, balanced team so it's going to be a real challenge.

Central Queensland Capras coach Lionel Harbin: It was a very pleasing to get the win last week and to do it against a really quality opposition. But we were still poor in a few areas, especially our kick chase at times. Although we came up with a couple of tries, I thought sometimes we let Burleigh roll down the field way too easily. We have to tighten that up against Redcliffe. Our previous games against Redcliffe this year count for nothing now and we know they'll come out very physical after the loss they had on the weekend. We have to be ready for that. They have Val (Te Whare) in the centres and he adds a bit of strike. They have a really good forward pack with guys with experience of playing at this time of year who know what it takes to win. It's going to be a tough ask but we're going down there to give it our best shot.

Broadcast: Qplus.tv, Kayo Freebies

Finals Week 2 - Finals Week 2 - Saturday 7 Sep

Full Time

Dolphins

Capras

Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe

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Sunshine Coast Falcons v PNG Hunters

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: We're trying to put last week's loss behind us and that's really important as we move forward. I'm sure the boys have learnt from it but we got completely outplayed against the Pride. There's no complaints other than our performance - they were just too good for us. The only plus side about playing them again would be that it would be in the grand final and it wouldn't be in Cairns. But we've moved on now and we're fully focused on what's ahead us. We have the Hunters this weekend and I'm not expecting anything like the last time we played them, when we beat them pretty soundly. I know they won't be like that again and even ourselves, we've been guilty of having off weeks to so we fully expect them to be at their best. They have good form at the moment and a lot of belief and are defending particularly well. The most important thing this weekend is a good 80 minute performance. That's the key - and playing with intensity and belief. I want them to be in the fight.

PNG Hunters coach Paul Aiton: I was pretty happy with the boys last week against Wynnum Manly. They put a lot of effort into the game and to keep a good side scoreless for 60 minutes, it was a real achievement by the players. It showed they really wanted to win. A few times this year, our biggest enemy has been ourselves. But last weekend, we showed up to win and we did. Now we head to the Sunshine Coast to meet the Falcons. The last time we played them, it was leading into a bye and we may have already been focused on that. I watched the game back weeks later and there were certain things we don't really do normally that we did into that match. Leading into this game, we've definitely acknowledged that and we have to make sure our preparation is on point. They're a good quality side. The key this weekend is to give ourselves a chance and most of the times, that's all we need. We need to give ourselves the chance to be in the game. That's all we ask.

Broadcast: Qplus.tv, Kayo Freebies and 9Now

Finals Week 2 - Finals Week 2 - Sunday 8 Sep

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