By Michael Nunn (QRL correspondent)
When the last round of Hasting Deering Colts comes around, you have eight teams thinking about next week and what could be in the next month and you have six teams thinking about what could have been in 2022.
The Seagulls against the Tigers will see fifth and seventh come together.
The Seagulls got the win last season with a 30-18 result and the Seagulls will be looking to repeat that performance, more so than the 40-16 loss to Townsville Blackhawks last round.
Seagulls coach Aaron Zimmerle was excited by what this time of year can bring.
“I get excited, the middle of the year can be a grind it is all about measuring yourself against yourself but now there is a prize,” Zimmerle said.
“We want to win this last round because we are playing a good team, we are playing a team higher on the ladder than us and we want to go into finals knowing we have done all those things and with confidence.”
The Seagulls had some strong performers like winger Jotham Russell, who took plenty of pressure off his forwards with 171 run metres and Jordan Stewart-Lewis made 38 tackles.
“I think Tom Weaver has been great for us in his six games, he’s a genuine half and he makes our team better,” Zimmerle said.
“We have only lost two games with him in the side, so he’s a bit of good luck for us.”
Tweed’s start was a concern. They scored in the first eight minutes through Solomon Torrens, but the problem was the Blackhawks scored three times in the first 12 minutes.
The Seagulls did well to keep the damage to 12-10 at halftime, but in the second half it blew out with five second half tries.
The Tigers are coming off a 38-18 win which was built on the first half domination of the Central Queensland Capras.
The Tigers found themselves up 20-6 at halftime.
Sione Finau was a more than solid contributor with 177 run metres and Casey Morgan made 36 tackles for the Tigers.
The Tigers did more with the ball when they had it. With a 50 per cent split of possession, the Tigers were able to conjure up 30 tackle breaks and seven line breaks.
Tigers coach Mark Gliddon saw this last round as an opportunity to start finals now.
“You can’t be thinking about next week or leaving things for next week it’s finals now as far as we are concerned,” Gliddon said
“We had a really good preparation last week and we trained against Cup 13-on-13 three times, I think that really helped us be ready for our game.
“Maddison Beckett is really important to us our lock forward that just works hard and does everything you ask he really cares about his team. Every team needs one.
“I was at a lunch listening to Craig Bellamy last week and he said you need to care about the result, your players need to care about the result.”
Read the whole round preview here
You can watch all Hastings Deering Colts games via QPlus.tv
