Norths Devils
1. Javarn White 2. Michael Lucas 3. Delouise Hoeter 4. Luke Pollock 5. Dane Chang 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Todd Murphy 8. Francis Molo 9. Billy Brittain (c) 10. James Taylor 11. David Faamita 12. Matiu Love-Henry 13. Dalton Phillips 14. Gary Riccardi 15. Mattais Heimuli 16. Michael Molo 17. Stephen Coombe 18. Tama Koopu 19. Troyden Watene 20. Michael Pearsall
Coach: Mark Gliddon
Ipswich Jets
1. Wesley Conlon 2. Michael Purcell 3. Marion Seve 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Richard Pandia 6. Luke Capewell 7. Dane Phillips (c) 8. Billy McConnachie 9. Christopher Ash 10. Nathaniel Neale 11. Samuel Martin 21. Jesse Roberts 22. Tyson Lofipo 14. Mikaere Beattie 15. Sebastian Pandia 16. Fakahoko Teutau 17. Mitchell Carpenter
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
Last time they played: ROUND 14, 2016.
IPSWICH JETS 16 (Richard Pandia, Fakahoko Teutau tries; Haydan Lipp 3, Carlin Anderson goals) def NORTHS DEVILS 14 (Todd Murphy, Luke Pollock tries; Todd Murphy 3 goals) at Bishop Park.
Overall Record:
Head to Head: Norths 23 Ipswich 16 Drawn 2
ROUND 3, 2017.
The Jets and Devils stare off against each other for this round three Intrust Super Cup game at Bishop Park.
The Jets’ record against Norths isn’t great- 16 of 41. The Jets have won sevenlost 11 and drawn one at Bishop Park. As well as three wins and a draw in last four games.
The Jets are coming off a loss over the Blackhawks while the Devils had a win over the premiers the Bears.
The Devils will have the benefit of several Broncos’ players: Kodi Nikorima, Todd Murphy, Francis Molo and Matiu Love-Henry.
Devils coach Mark Gliddon “When you play Ipswich you expect the unexpected. They play a style of footy that they’re very good at and it’s very hard to defend against,” Gliddon said.
“We’re looking forward to challenge and we’ll need to be at our best to beat them because they’re a good footy team.”
NORTHS DEVILS
Plenty of Devils to keep a close eye on in this game: Kodi Nikorima, Francis Molo, Todd Murphy and Captain Billy Brittian.
Norths played better round one but came up with a loss, then round two beat the premiers so they’re in good form at the moment.
Todd Murphy is pivotal to that form, he is the focal point of kicking and attack. Murphy kicked the ball eight times against the Bears for 224 meters he found open space twice.
Murphy received the ball 42 times, kicking 8, passing 25, he is a very busy player.
Devils’ winger Michael Lucus was outstanding against the Bears. Two tries, 16 runs, 194 meters.
Hooker Billy Brittan has taken over from Freeman and is a great hooker. He topped the Devils’ tackle count with 40 and made six runs from dummy half.
Against the Bears the Devils made good use of the ball they had, they had an even 50% with the Bears but made seven line breaks compared to four and scored five tries to three.
The Bears missed nine tackles in the ruck of their 32 missed. A possible area for the Jets’ to expose with short sharp movement.
The Devils are building nicely, a close loss and a win against the Premiers can’t be ignored, and at home they will be hard for the Jets to beat.
IPSWICH JETS
I asked Norths’ coach Mark Gliddon who he has pin pointed as the Jets to watch “Two good front rowers in Nat Neale and Billy McConnachie and two clever halves. Dane Phillips has a great short kicking game and Luke Capewell makes a strong impact.”
The Jets had 54% of the ball against the Blackhawks but somehow came away behind- that’s a bit of an abnormally I would have normally expected the Jets to win with that much ball.
The Jets made 110 more meters, and four line breaks to three so they were always attacking and asking plenty of questions of the Blackhawks.
The Jets’ two front rowers in Nat Neale and Billy McConnachie got through a huge quantity of work.
Neale: led the tackles with 24 and the runs with 17 while Billy made 123 meters with the ball.
Neale and Billy also had five off-loads between them.
Mitchell Carpenter is complementing the starting forwards nicely and the Jets aren’t losing anything in defence with Carpenter making 19 tackles in his 37 minutes and having no miss-tackles.
Carpenter has made 44 tackles I n his two games with only one miss.
The Jets are getting hammered in the penalties. The Jets gave up momentum to the Blackhawks by getting penalties against them that helped the Blackhawks down field. The end count was 9-5 against the Jets. The week before it was 10-4 against.
That’s 19 penalties to 9.
The Jets had six play the ball penalties in defence against Tweed and seven against the Blackhawks. That’s 15 of the 19.
Norths have a few Broncos, and are hard to beat at home. Jets are coming off a loss and will be looking to make sure they’re not one from 3.
Injuries to Jesse Roberts, Richard Pandia and captain Dane Phillips will leave questions marks for later in the week.
Jets’ upcoming records:
Sam Martin needs 12 points to get 100 points for Jets.
Dane Phillips needs 2 points for 100 points for Jets.
Wes Conlon needs 9 games for 50 games for Jets
Tyson Lofipo needs 12 games for 150 games for Jets.
Dane Phillips needs 7 games for 100 games for Jets.