Ipswich Jets v Burleigh Bears at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, June 2 – 3pm
Ipswich Jets
1. Wes Conlon 2. Marmin Barba 3. Pio Seci 4. Sam Caslick 5. Richie Pandia 6. Julian Christian 7. Dane Phillips 8. Tyson Lofipo 15. Kierran Moseley 10. Nat Neale (c) 11. Ben White 12. Seb Pandia 13. Ben Shea 14. Jayden Connors 16. Huskie Teutau 17. Rory Humphreys 20. Rowan Winterfield 19. Timote Paseka
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
Burleigh Bears
1. Toby McIntosh 2. Troy Leo 3. Sami Sauiluma 4. Henare Wells 5. Tyrone Roberts-Davis 6. Dallas Wells 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Luke Page (c) 9. Pat Politoni 10. Matt White 11. Jamie Dowling 12. Hayden Schwass 13. Sam Coster 14. Jai Whitbread 16. Josh Ailaomai 17. Matthew Robinson 18. Joe Greenwood
Coach: Jim Lenihan
Head to Head: Burleigh 23 Ipswich 15 Drawn 2
Last time they played:
BURLEIGH BEARS 44 (Jake Carl 3, Daniel Vidot 2, Harrison Siejka, Christopher Law, Dylan Kelly tries Connor Broadhurst 6 goals) def IPSWICH JETS 0
ROUND 13
Jets v Bears in round 13 will see the Jets return home after a loss to the Magpies and the Bears return to the North Ipswich Reserve where they lost last year. The Jets have beaten the Bears once since 2013 that was last year 18-12 in Ipswich. The Bears then returned serve at the Coast with a 44-0 hammering and the first time the Jets had been held scoreless since 1997. The Jets have lost five out of the last six games against the Bears and last three out of four at the North Ipswich Reserve.
The Bears have come to Ipswich before and handed out some punishment to the Jets. In 2014 the Jets found themselves 36-0 down at half time and in the second half it didn’t get a whole lot better. Losing 50-12 in what was the Jets biggest loss for 2014. If that isn’t enough it was also their biggest ever loss to the Bears beating the previous 42-8 loss in 2001, and the Jets worst home loss since a 58-4 loss to Townsville in 1998.
BEARS
The Bears are top of the table and have nine wins from 11 games. Their only two losses this season have been away from home to Norths and Townsville. The Bears have scored 277 points and had 189 put against them. The Bears away from home this year are four wins and two loses. The Bears are coming off a win over the Cutters. The Bears had less than half of the ball but still came away with a success story. The Bears did more with the ball when they did have it breaking 27 tackles to the Cutters nine.
BEARS TO WATCH
Tyronne Roberts-Davis
The Bears finisher has eight tries this year making him the leading try scorer for the Bears and fifth most in the ISC. He contributed a massive 231 metres and two tries against the Cutters. Roberts-Davis has 27 tackle breaks from his eight games this season.
Pat Politoni
What doesn’t Politoni do for the Bears? Kick field goals- yep one this year, make tackles- yep 410 most in the ISC, try assists- can do that too nine for the year and the most in the ISC. Pat Politoni has touched the ball more than any other player in the ISC this season and is a constant threat to the Jets.
Jamal Fogerty
Hard to not talk about Fogerty, the Bears premiership-winning half is back pulling the strings at the Bears and the Bears look a lot better for it. Fogerty has a great kicking game and will move around the field with his forwards lapping up his service while his outside backs wait for kicks and passes.
JETS
The Jets are in 7th spot with 223 points in attack and 245 in defence. The Jets did not have a great day out against the Magpies and let the Magpies score in clumps, which then makes it hard to come back. The Jets will be looking to move the big Bears’ forwards around the create momentum for the Jets little men. This is the Jets 500th ISC game and the Jets will be hoping to add to their wins of 227 wins but not the 16 draws or 256 losses.
JETS TO WATCH
Ben White
White was strong against the Magpies, in a side that wasn’t going too well he made 24 tackles to lead the Jets in defence, scrambling across to cover in several threatening situations. White has made 274 tackles this season at 86% efficiency.
Kierran Moseley
Moseley was posing plenty of questions early last week and scored the Jets first try when he caught the Magpies out on their own line. Kierran looks so dangerous and the Jets are better for him running the ball. Last week every play the ball you could hear the Magpies yelling out to stop him running.
Wes Conlon
Wes has 39 tackle breaks this season from 11 games, he is also on 447 points for the Jets so two penalties or a try will see him crack 450 points. Wes was close to the Jets best on Sunday; he made a break and set up a try while scoring one himself right at the end, which shows he is never out of games.
The Bears are top the table and going well while the Jets are coming off a loss. This is the exact game the Jets find form in and look good again. The Jets need to find their mojo and smile this week and then good football will follow.
Jets Milestones.
This week will be the Jets 500th game in the Intrust Super Cup. The Jets have won 227 Intrust Super Cup games.
Nat Neale will play game 115 for the Jets, putting him equal with Keiron Lander. Nat will be equal ninth most game for Jets with Lander.
Wes Conlon is on 447 points for the Jets and would be the fifth Jet to crack 450 points.