Souths Logan Magpies v Ipswich Jets at Davies Park on Sunday, May 27th – 3.00pm
Souths Logan Magpies
1. Corey Allan 2. Benaiah Bowie 3. Marion Seve 4. Dan Russell 5. Paul Rokolati 6. Guy Hamilton 7. Sam Scarlett 8. Rhys Melville 9. Travis Waddell 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Brendon Gibb 12. David Fifita 13. Phil Dennis (c) 14. Jordan Scott 15. Sam Elliott 16. Simi Fatafehi 17. Patrick Mago
Coach: Jon Buchanan
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 9. Jayden Connors 16. Huskie Teutau 17. Rory Humphreys 21. Rowan Winterfield 19. Mitch Carpenter
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
OVERALL RECORD:
Ipswich Jets 25 Souths-Logan Magpies 17 Drawn 1
Last time they played: Round 17 2017
IPSWICH JETS 30 (Michael Purcell 2, Tyson Lofipo, Chris Ash, Sam Martin tries; Wes Conlon 5 goals) def SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 22 (Herman Ese’ese, Travis Waddell, George Fai, Sam Scarlett tries; Jamayne Isaako 3 goals) at Davies Park.
ROUND 12
The Jets’ record at Davies Park is an impressive one having won 13 of 14 games there with their only loss in 2010, 34-12. Overall, the Jets lead the Magpies 25 to 17 with one draw. The Magpies are coming off a win over the Cutters while the Jets put the Devils away at home.
The Magpies are in third place in front of the Jets in 6th spot. Souths have the attacking advantage scoring 278 points to the Jets 205. In defence, Souths are marginally ahead 203 to 211. Games against the Jets have recently been high scoring so I do not see this being any different. The last five results have been:
Jets 30-22
Jets 36-30
Jets 28-20
Jets 50-20
Jets 52-34
The Jets have won the last five games with 322 points scored in those five games. The Jets have averaged 39 and the Magpies 25.
The Magpies have not beaten the Jets since 2014 when Jordan Rapana kicked the goal from the ‘end of the earth’ to sink the Jets. The Magpies were up 40-12 with 20 minutes left after being up 24-0 after 15 and it looking like pain for the Jets. Then Wes Conlon set about fixing the mess. At 40 all with one minute to go a draw looked like a miracle then a penalty to Souths and Rapana kicks the 40 metre penalty to win the game 42-40.
MAGPIES TO WATCH
The Magpies are a great attacking unit, leading the competition with 278 points. They attack through a ruthless combination of Phil Dennis scheming, and big-bodied forwards taking the time Travis Waddell creates for them.
COREY ALLAN
One Magpie the Jets will be watching and hoping he does not swoop will be Corey Allan. Allan is the Magpies fullback. Last week he scored three tries in the first 20 minutes and the impressive part was they were all different thirds of the field. He is a great support player. The Broncos contracted fullback will be on his way to the Rabbits in 2019. But before that he can be a problem for the Jets.
DAVID FIFITA
David is only playing his second ISC game after being promoted from Mal Meninga Cup where he was the leading try scorer with 11 tries. He made his debut last week and played 43 minutes. This week he is starting for the first time. Fifita is in the Broncos NRL squad and trains full time at Brisbane while playing for Souths. He has been named the last two weeks on an extended Broncos bench, which is a huge wrap for the young forward.
MARION SEVE
Former Jet Marion Seve has been in terrific form this season. Seve is 3rd for metres gained in the whole Intrust Super Cup with 1546 metres. He’s made 43 tackle breaks this season after 10 games and scored six tries. In the Magpies win against the Cutters he contributed a massive 208 metres of running for his team.
JETS TO WATCH
The Jets started slowly against the Devils and as the Magpies did against the Cutters were down 12-0. Both sides came back and both had wins. The Jets settled and then were away but you do not want too many starts like last week.
SAM CASLICK
Sam has started the last three games for the Jets in the centres after spending seven as an interchange. Caslick has great skills, he goes across field like a lizard sticking his tongue out looking for an insect, nothing there keeps moving to another gap. He reacts well to situations the short kick off last week, ball back and then across field throws a spiral pass to an unmarked person to score. Sam has an understanding of big moments and what is needed. He is a game breaker Renouf style. His field goal and even the game against Tweed show this; he was a metre off running the 50m and scoring.
WES CONLON
Wes always seems to play a part against the Magpies, I think he has something to prove to them. He will be in everything again on Sunday at Davies Park. Against the Devils Wes touched the ball 25 times and made five tackle breaks. Conlon does not try and over involve himself just makes sure he touches it when he wants to and when a chance is there. Wes has 35 tackle breaks this year from 10 games.
TYSON LOFIPO
I thought Tyson was pivotal in getting the Jets going again after a bad start on Saturday. He dug in and spread the Devils line with is footwork and charges forward. He played 46 minutes that was his most since round one and his impact was there to see. Tyson didn’t miss a tackle and got the Jets moving again.
Souths v Jets always have tries and moments, this will not be any different. Two great teams that just seem to play footy and bring that out in each other.