Thanks to the QT, Jay Buchan and Sarah Harvey
For read more go to – http://www.qt.com.au/news/jets-cup-hopes-back-on-track/1935501/
THE Ipswich Jets arrested their recent slide down the Queensland Cup ladder in resounding fashion on Saturday.
Taking on a Souths-Logan team level with them in the annual rivalry round, the Jets found what has been missing in the past three matches to win 44-10 at the North Ipswich Reserve.
“It was a good way to bounce back,” Jets centre Brendon Marshall said.
“We started strongly.”
The match was also the Jets’ annual Indigenous Appreciation round and Marshall was just one of Ipswich’s large indigenous contingent to shine.
Marshall insisted there was no indication before the game that things were any better than they had been before the previous week’s narrow loss to Mackay.
“It was fairly good the last two weeks,” he said of the team’s preparation.
“Before the 20-18 loss to Mackay it felt great. We just let that one slip. Our warm-up (on Saturday) was good and training all week had been perfect. We were ready to play some footy.”
Marshall said it was clear from the first set of tackles that the Jets were on song, though it took until the 19th minute to open the scoring when hooker Matt Parcell made a break to put Tasi Tasi over in the right corner.
Soon after it was 10 -0 when Marshall crossed for a try.
The Jets then brought on Tasi’s big brother, Lama to make his debut and the big prop delivered with a try in 27th minute.
Further tries to Jets fullback Javarn White and second rower Rod Griffin gave them a dominant 26-0 half-time lead.
“We didn’t expect to start that well,” Marshall said.
“At half-time Ben and Shane (coaches Ben and Shane Walker) said, ‘Don’t take you foot off their throat.'”
While the Jets backs enjoyed the space they’d found, Marshall paid credit to the forwards who earned it for them.
“The middle men got it going forward for us,” he said.
“With the work they did, their defence and carries.”
Ipswich appreciated the power of former Sydney Roosters and soon to be Brisbane Bronco Lama Tasi.
Tasi has been dual signed by the Broncos and their recent form means a call up sooner, rather than later, would not surprise.
“He went well,” Marshall said.
“With all of his touches he was pretty daunting, carrying about four or five blokes with him.
“That opens the line up for the other forwards to follow.”
The visitors took the field after half-time fired by desperation and had the Jets on the back foot, scoring twice.
“They came out n the second half and stuck it to us in the first 15 minutes,” Marshall said.
“It was a bit of a wake-up call.
“Being 24- nil down at half time they knew they had to do something.”
The Jets weathered the storm and managed to close the match out in the manner of a top three team.
White and Griffin crossed for their second try each while centre Donald Malone closed out the rout; in the process become the Jets all-time leading try-scorer with 65.
The Jets jumped from fifth to third temporarily; pending the results of yesterday’s other games.
“It was a very important win,” Marshall said.
“We wanted that one last week so bad. We didn’t want to drop out of the top five and I hope we can continue to build on it.”
The Jets will miss the chance to build on it this weekend as the Queensland Cup has a competition-wide bye.
It is disappointing for Marshall.
Partly because the Jets had found winning form.
Partly because he is fit and keen to play.
“It’s going well for this time of year,” the veteran centre said of his form.
“The body is holding up well.”
And partly because it means the coaches are likely to use it as a chance to do some hard physical conditioning at training.
State of Play
Queensland Cup: Ipswich Jets 44 (Javarn White 2, Rod Griffin 2, Tautalatasi Tasi, Lama Tasi, Brendon Marshall, Donald Malone tries) def Souths Logan 10 at North Ipswich Reserve.
FOGS Cup: Ipswich 26 (Josh Veivers, Tu’u Maori, Khan Ahwang, Mahe Paseka, Michael Garvey tries; Khan Ahwang 3 goals) def Souths Logan 12.
FOGS Colts: Souths Logan 16 def Ipswich Jets 14 (Geoffrey Broome, Matthew Fairhurst, Jordan Upkett tries; Wilson Bennett goal).