LUXURY PAINTS IPSWICH JETS PRESS RELEASE
Mackay Cutters v Ipswich Jets at Stadium Mackay on Saturday, May 16 – 6pm
Mackay Cutters: 1. Sam Clune 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Tyson Martin 4. Justin Tavae 5. Zack Walker 6. Cameron Cullen 7. Liam Taylor 8. Brad Lupi 9. Michael Sio 10. Sam Hoare 11. Josh Osborne 12. Kelvin Nielsen 13. Chris Gesch (c) 14. Josh Chudleigh 15. Aleki Falepaini 16. Brenden Treston 17. Joss Boyton 18. Blake Atherton 19. Ryan Kinlyside
Coach: Kim Williams
Ipswich Jets: 1. Carlin Anderson 2. Marmin Barba 3. Chris Walker 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Brandon McGrady 6. Josh Cleeland 7. Dane Phillips 8. Josh Seage 9. Matt Parcell 10. Rod Griffin 11. Sam Martin 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Keiron Lander (c) 14. Troy O’Sullivan 15. Kurtis Lingwoodock 16. Billy McConnachie 17. Liam Capewell 21. Daniel Vidot
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 10 Mackay 5
Last time they played:
The Ipswich Jets put on a display last year in both games against the Cutters, beating them in Mackay 36 – 12 with Marmin Barba scoring two tries. Then in the return game at the North Ipswich Reserve it was 10 – 10 after 41 minutes, but over the next 39 minutes the Jets scored 52 points and won 62-10 with Marmin Barba scoring 24 points from 8 goals and two tries.
If the Cutters aren’t worried by Barba’s 11 tries from 8 games in 2015, they might want to cast their mind back to 2014.
The Jets’ win over Mackay equalled the Jets biggest ever win of 62-10 against Tweed in 2008 at Briggs Road, it was also the Cutters biggest ever loss and the most points ever scored against Mackay in their history.
Round 10 – 2015.
The Jets have won the last two meetings between these two sides, but the Cutters won the two before that. In Mackay the Jets hold the advantage having won 6 of their 8 meetings in the North.
The Jets and Mackay are currently on 14 points each. The Jets have had seven wins and the Cutters 6 but the Cutters have had their bye.
The Jets have scored 258 points through 45 tries. While the Cutters are 209 points through 38 tries.
In defence the Jets have allowed 198 points through 38 tries, while the Cutters 132 points against have come about through 25 tries.
What this means is that while the Jets have scored 7 more tries than the Cutters they’ve failed to defend 13 more than the Cutters.
The Cutters are coming off a huge win over the Sunshine Coast where they dominated the game with 56% of the ball and an 85% completion rate that lead to a 50 – 16 win. It was only the second time in their history the Cutters have cracked the half century.
The Cutters allowed three late tries which disappointed Coach Williams after publically stating their defensive goal is two or less tries a week.
The Cutters hooker Josh Chudleigh was outstanding against the Falcons and it has earned him a promotion from the Cowboys’ Under 20’s last year where he won their player of the year. He was especially dangerous close to the line and made a mammoth 195 metres.
The Cutters’ half Cameron Cullen is pivotal to everything the Cutters do. He sits mostly on the left hand side of the field and is a very good defender. His form has been so good that he was 18th man for the Queensland Residents. Cullen does nearly all the Cutters’ kicking in general play and loves to place himself on a short side and release the big Cutters’ backs.
The Jets win over the Tigers last round showed plenty of positives. The side got off to a great start leading 10 – 0 but when the Tigers came back and the game was 24 all the Jets closed it out and won the game.
The Jets are starting games well but letting teams back into games in the second half.
The Jets Billy McConnachie was outstanding by taking the runs that no one wanted to take. McConnachie made 14 hit ups and 138 metres of well-earned ground and added 17 tackles. McConnachie was coming back from a week off last week due to suspension and against the Tigers he really stood up in the absence of Rod Griffin.
It was also great to see Jets number 6 Josh Cleeland for the second week in a row run the ball at the end of the game. Josh is learning when to pick his time and expose the tired defenders. His fade across field showing the ball and then running puts defenders in two minds if he’s going to pass or run.
The Jets second row is one of the most underrated in the Intrust Super Cup. Between them Kurt Capewell and Sam Martin have scored five tries in 2015 as well as 147 runs and 1298 meters, that’s 8.8 metres per hit up. While neither is a big metre gainer what they do very well is pass and run and both are excellent back up players while being great links to the Jets middle third Both boys are very mobile with great ball skills and they have four line breaks and 19 offloads as well this season.
The Jets have 122 offloads from 9 games and average 13 a game. It will be a major task this week for the Cutters to stop the Jets momentum from off-loads. Cutters’ Brendan Treston said on the assignment this week.
“We’ll need to limit their offloads they have good line speed and if we match their intensity, we’ll be alright.”
The Broncos have not named Joe Ofahengaue or Daniel Vidot so both of the Broncos’ players could turn out for the Jets this weekend in Mackay.