IPSWICH JETS v EASTS TIGERS
Courtesy of QRL Media
North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday, September 13 – 1.35pm* (Live on Channel 9/WIN/NBN)
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: Easts 20 Ipswich 19 Drawn 1
Head-to-Head Finals: Ipswich 2 Easts 0
Finals Record: Easts P31 W15 L16; Ipswich P17 W7 L10
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSVTIGES
An enthralling contest is on the cards when the two Week 1 semi-final winners meet at the North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
At stake is a preliminary final berth against the loser of the Townsville Blackhawks v PNG Hunters clash. Both Ipswich and Easts have strong claims to be the team to advance, with two contrasting outfits impressing for long periods during their respective elimination final wins last weekend.
Ipswich opened with a bang and finished with a flurry in their 54-26 win over the Pride, while Easts sailed away to a commanding lead before shutting out Wynnum Manly 32-24. There is no love lost between the two sides, with the intense rivalry reflected by the head to head record where only one win splits them.
The two clubs last met in an elimination final at a raid-sodden North Ipswich Reserve in 2007, when Josh Lewis inspired the Jets to a thrilling 18-16 win over the Tigers. That game came down to the final few seconds and a similar tense finish could be just the tonic for Channel 9 viewers.
The Jets have made one change with Brandon McGrady coming onto the wing for the injured Daniel Vidot (hamstring). Easts have a few niggles of their own to contend with after the bruising Seagulls clash.
But the Tigers will be quick to shrug off any adversity. The Langlands Park club has stuck rock solid this season through some challenging times and are now only two wins away from a third consecutive grand final appearance under coach Craig Ingebrigtsen.
This weekend will see Ingebrigtsen move to 78 games, putting him into the top 20 of Cup games coached (47W, 3D, 27L). In other milestone news, promising Ipswich back-rower Kurt Capewell plays in 50th match for the Jets.
