The Savige Pest Control Ipswich Jets Intrust Super Cup Round One Preview
INTRUST SUPER CUP PREVIEW
ROUND ONE – NORTH IPSWICH RESERVE
IPSWICH JETS V TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
OVERALL RECORD– Ipswich 6 Townsville 7
LAST FIVE GAMES
2020 – Townsville 16 Ipswich 10 (Ipswich)
2019 – Townsville 14 Ipswich 6 (Townsville)
2019 – Townsville 34 Ipswich 6 (Ipswich)
2018 – Jets 32 Townsville 12 (Townsville)
2018 – Townsville 22 Ipswich 14 (Townsville)
JETS V BLACKHAWKS ROUND ONE
Round one is here and football is back for 2021 in Ipswich. After one game last year, it is time for hot chips and football.
The Jets and Blackhawks have clashed six times at the North Ipswich Reserve. Our northern foes are ahead four wins to two.
The Jets have not beaten the Townsville Blackhawks in Ipswich since round two in 2018. Overall the Blackhawks have edged in front seven wins to six.
These two teams have had some high scoring games over the years in their 13 clashes the Jets having scored 274 points and the Blackhawks 297.
The games have worked out close to even over six years. The Jets average 21 and the Blackhawks 22.
The Jets have scored 45 tries in their 13 games while the Blackhawks have jagged 51. The Jets have had 21 try scorers while the Blackhawks have had 34.
The Jets have only won one of their last five games stretching back to August 2019 but it’s a disrupted form line with 2020 being a write off.
The Blackhawks have won four of their last five games.
The Jets have played two trial games against the Sunshine Coast and Souths while the Blackhawks came up against Mackay and the Pride.
WHO TO WATCH OUT FOR – BLACKHAWKS
Daejarn Asi came to Ipswich last year in round one and scored a great try down the right-hand side. Since then the Cowboys outside back has played NRL and scored a cracking try against Penrith again showing plenty of speed and skill.
Asi made a line break and made 127m for the Blackhawks against the Jets in 2020, if the Jets give him room he will be a danger again this week.
Josh Chudleigh the Blackhawks hooker is vital to how their play starts, he gives great service and the space he provides let the Blackhawks play very flat. He will be one half of a very dangerous hooker rotation with Cam King.
Chudleigh was massive last year for the Blackhawks making 37 tackles against the Jets and playing 80 minutes.
Jaeleen Feeney The Blackhawks half will pull the strings for Townsville, last season against the Jets Feeney kicked for 161 meters, driving the Jets and making them turn around the trudge back. Feeney kept the pressure on the Jets with a repeated set. With the new energy sapping rules, a good kicking game is worth gold.
WHO TO WATCH OUT FOR – JETS
Nat Neale loves a right hand carry and if he gets his arm free, he can cause problems. Neale is a captain and minutes machine, he played the full 80 minutes 16 times in 2019 and once last season in a mammoth effort. It was against Townsville last year that Neale monstered 182 meters for the Jets.
Neale can come from anywhere on the field and the Blackhawks will know he is the Jets Allan Border- he has to be stopped.
Tyson Lofipo-The old bull is entering season number 15 in the ISC, with that comes nearly 200 games of footwork and power through the line.
Tyson is stronger than he has ever been before and is ready to meet this round one Townsville pack head on.
I will be looking for that big step back and through in the first five minutes- so will the Blackhawks.
Jayden Connors scored the Jets only try last season from a Josh Cleeland kick and that’s Connors strength, running around the middle of the field sniffing out opportunities that may or may not come up but if they do Connors is there.
In round one last year he forced a drop out, scored a try and had an off-load, that’s a classic Connors game.
This will be Connors 51st game for the Jets and he has a great try strike rate of 16 tries.
SUMMARY
Two great packs, a late afternoon start at Ipswich, it does not get too much better in March than football being back.
The Jets will need to start well, in the past starting well has upset the Blackhawks rhythm. They are a side like the Storm that like to settle in and just roll.
In the Jets v Townville first ever clash the Jets scored four first half tries and were up 26-0 after 40 minutes. Game number two- Jets up 24-10 at half time.
In round two 2018, Jets led 12-0 and 69% of the ball at half time, round 18 2018 Jets were up 14-4 at half time and in the finals 2018 the Jets had 65% of the ball and won 32-12.
Last season was a Jets v Blackhawks anomaly with it taking until nearly half time for any points to be scored and it reaming a low scoring game.
Start hard, start fast, and watch these two packs sort it all out on Saturday.
MILESTONES
Jayden Connors needs six points for 100 points for Jets- 16 tries and 15 goals.
Tyson Lopfipo needs four points for 100 points for Jets- 24 tries.