Ipswich Jets v Easts Tigers at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, April 8 – 4pm
Ipswich Jets
1. Wes Conlon 2. Michael Purcell 3. Marion Seve 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Richard Pandia 6. Luke Capewell 7. Dane Phillips (c) 8. Billy McConnachie 9. Mikaere Beattie 10. Nat Neale 11. Sam Martin 22. Tyson Lofipo 17. Mitch Carpenter 14. Chris Ash 15. Lachlan Roe 16. Huskie Teatau 21. Nathan Gaulton 12. Seb Pandia
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
Easts Tigers
1. Gerard McCullum 2. Jarrod McInally 3. Shane Neumann 4. Curtis Scott 5. Linc Port 6. Billy Walters 7. Brodie Croft 8. Steven Thorpe 9. Tommy Butterfield 10. Matt Zgrajewski 11. Adam Crear 12. Dean Britt 13. Jack Svendsen 14. David Murphy 15. Charlie Galo 16. Anton Iaria 17. Chris Ostwald 18. Kevin Bell 19. Liufau Hala
Coach: Scott Sipple
LAST TIME THEY CLASHED:
EASTS TIGERS 52 (Matthew White, Leon Ellia-Niukore, Dean Britt, Brodie Croft, Dane Chang, Guy Hamilton, Mathew Pitman, Tommy Butterfield, Billy Walters tries; Billy Walters 8 goals) def IPSWICH JETS 20 (Carlin Anderson, Wesley Conlon, Nemani Valekapa, David Fa’alogo tries; Haydan Lipp 2 goals) at North Ipswich Oval.
Overall head to head: Easts 21 Ipswich 20 Drawn 1.
ROUND 6- 2017
Ipswich has won only four of the last 12 games between these two sides. In the past Easts have proven a hurdle for the Jets; last season it was one to the Tigers and nil to the Jets with Easts getting a huge win at the North Ipswich Reserve.
Easts hold the advantage at the North Ipswich Reserve having won 11 to Jets nine.
The over-all record is 21 to the Tigers and 20 to the Tigers. The Jets have a chance to draw level with their further up Ipswich Road rivals.
This season so far the Tigers have won three games, including the big scalps of Townsville and Redcliffe.
The Tigers have amassed 121 points this year compared to the Jets 74. That’s an advantage to the Tigers of 47 to the Tigers.
In defence the Tigers have let in 81 points compared to the Jets 111. That’s an advantage of 30 to the Tigers.
TIGERS
The Tigers are full of confidence and ready to go. Wins over Townsville and Redcliffe have the Tigers brimming with enthusiasm.
The Tigers will have Storm half and Cooper Cronk 2.0 Brodie Croft; Croft made his Intrust Super Cup debut last year against the Jets and scored a try.
Against the Blackhawks Croft got his team around the field touching the ball 42 times. He kicked 13 times and passed 26.
Croft is a target in defence and made 15 tackles against the huge Blackhawks but didn’t miss any of them.
Tigers’ winger Linc Port is no stranger to the Jets; in 2015 he scored a mammoth 24 tries for the Pride. He was the Pride’s leading scorer that year with 118 points including four tries against the Capras.
Port can pop up anywhere and being a fullback he can position himself to take advantage of quick play the balls or offloads.
Port made 107 meters from his 11 hit ups against the Blackhawks.
Easts’ half Billy Walters is pulling the strings at the Tigers; last week he had two try assists and two line break assists.
Tigers’ fullback Gerrard McCallum will be one for the Jets to watch. McCallum has been popping up all over the place he scored three tries against the Pride in four. While the Tigers’ leading try scorer this season is Connor Carey with five; the centre has been causing defence plenty of issues.
JETS
The Jets haven’t had a win since round one against the Tweed and more than that the Jets haven’t lost five in a row since 2010.
The Jets haven’t been ahead at the end of a half since the second half against the Tweed. The Jets need a win and it’d be great to have it against the Tigers.
Against the Dolphins the Jets had 57% of the ball compared to the Dolphins 43%.
The Jets kept getting back into the game but would then lose the momentum again.
Against the Dolphins the Jets were led by their forwards with Tyson Lofipo making 168 meters with the ball.
Mikeare led the tackle count with 29 tackles.
The Jets kicking game was very good against the Dolphins and it will need to be again to force the Tigers back.
The Tigers let in three tries off kicks against the Blackhawks. So Dane Phillips who kicked three times to space against the Dolphins will be called on again to lead the Jets kicking.
Nemani was back against the Dolphins and now leads the Jets for runs made with 64, meters made with 585m and post contact meters with 234 meters.
In summary Nem is a handful with the ball and makes an impact.
The Jets are still doing a lot more work than the other team; the Jets have made 114 more tackles than their opposition this season.
Over five games that’s 22 more tackles a game.
The Jets v Tigers is local rivalry at its best. They’re just up the road and we need a win. Doesn’t get much better than this.