(Thanks to Jay Buchan, Peter Holt and the QT)
DON’T call it a roll just yet but the Ipswich Jets are starting to make more highly-rated opponents take notice.
Ipswich returned from Mackay yesterday well satisfied with a 32-10 Queensland Cup win over the Cutters on Saturday evening.
The Jets dominated from the start and only two late tries to the home team made the scoreline look something less than a comprehensive hiding.
“It was a pretty professional effort,” Jets co-coach Ben Walker said.
“We got through our sets really well and defended better than we have.
“There were a lot of pleasing aspects.
“We didn’t really give them a chance to win at all.”
The Jets sit seventh on the ladder, a win behind Mackay and Northern Pride, but have a game in hand on both.
Walker feels his team has played as well this season as they did on Saturday, but haven’t been rewarded with the win on previous occasions.
“The boys are getting the reward for the work they’ve done,” he said.
“From the first kick-off, we dominated the game.
“Which is not to say they weren’t there to play.
“They’re a good side.
“They’d won four in a row so their tails were up.”
The absence for the Jets of halfback Todd Riggs went virtually unnoticed, with hooker Ian Lacey filling the number seven role expertly.
“Ian Lacey was very good,” Walker said.
“As a result of his passes, Donald Malone scored a couple of tries. It was good to see him (Malone) back beating players easily.
“For his second try, I don’t think anyone touched him.
“Lorenzo Maafu and Ramon Filipine were outstanding.
“Ramon broke a finger in the first half but kept playing on.
“He’s a big key to how we perform.”
The Jets lost centre Brendon Marshall (hamstring) and forward Nat Neale (ribs) to injury in the first half but it didn’t slow them down.
Luke Walker slotted into Marshall’s right-hand-sided role, where he lined up against NRL experienced Moses Pangai and Jason Taumololo, and did an outstanding job keeping them quiet.
Walker spoke briefly about his team’s tactical advantage over Mackay, and feels they have a similar edge over next rivals, ladder leaders Wynnum.
“(Mackay) play a style we enjoy playing against,” he said.
“For us to dominate right form the kick-off shows we’re on track.”
The coach wouldn’t agree his team was on a roll yet, despite winning three on the trot, knowing Wynnum will make or break any such notion.
In FOGS Cup at Mitchelton on Saturday, Wests beat Ipswich 24-12 while in Colts, Ipswich beat Wests 22-18.