(Thanks to the QT and Sasha Beeston)
IPSWICH Jets FOGS Cup captain Kevin Bell rates himself every chance of playing in Sunday’s grand final at the North Ipswich Reserve.
After watching last weekend’s preliminary final from the bench, he’s desperate to join his teammates in the 1.50pm showdown against Easts.
“I’ll be very close,” Bell said, having only missed that one game this season.
“I got through training last night.”
Bell has led the side all season at five-eighth, having to withdraw from last weekend’s game after hurting his lower back in the semi-final against Redcliffe.
“I had a disc slip on me,” he said.
The former Easts colts player has been receiving physio and rest in his race to be fit.
He said Queensland Cup players like Ian Lacey and Donald Malone had helped him become a more competitive footballer in his first season as skipper.
“I’ve loved it, just the culture of the club and everything,” he said, in his third year with the Jets.
“We’ve been very happy how we put it together towards the end and made a run for the final.
“Everyone’s been very strong. We’ve come together as a group.
“We’re very tight at the right time of the year and we’re all willing to go that extra mile for one another and it’s starting to show.”
Bell, nicknamed Bellringer, was impressed how his side performed in beating the Devils for the first time.
“We were very physical. I thought we were very dominant in the middle,” he said.
“Everyone is excited but you’re never really remembered for making the grand final. You get good memories from winning them.”
Meanwhile, former Ipswich Jets Queensland Cup prop Lama Tasi is heading to English club Salford.
The Brisbane Broncos have released him just 74 days after he joined the club.
Tasi played just seven games for Brisbane after switching from the Roosters mid-season.
He recently rejoined the Jets for their Queensland Cup finals.
The Red Hill club offloaded the Goodna-based 23-year-old in preparation to make big-money plays for Melbourne’s Cameron Smith and Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans.
Brisbane has already shown halves Scott Prince and Peter Wallace the door.
“At 23, we have got an emerging talent and he will do really well for us. I’m excited,” Salford coach Brian Noble said.
Tasi will play for Samoa at the coming World Cup.
for more go to http://www.qt.com.au/news/bell-hopes-to-chime-in-to-boost-jets-final-effort/2032261/