The injury-depleted Romano Group Seagulls were simply outclassed by a strong fourth-placed Easts Tigers at Suzuki Stadium yesterday and desperately need a victory in their final three games to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Seagulls were beaten 44-4 after being behind 26-0 at half-time.
The Gulls have shown they can match it with the top sides, evidenced by victories over ladder leaders PNG Hunters in Port Moresby and second-placed Redcliffe Dolphins at Piggabeen Sports Complex.
Yet they don’t have the depth of the top Intrust Super Cup clubs, or shown the consistency at this level.
There were 13 players from the senior squad missing yesterday including Michael Burgess, James Wood, James Toole, Talor Walters, Dane and Jackson Clarke, Shem Vaoa, Shane Gillham, Mackenzie Reid and Tevia Folau. And co-captain Damian Sironen has moved to the English championship competition.
The Gulls competed physically and willingly for much of yesterday’s game but were outgunned by the slick Tigers who were controlled well by halves Billy Walters and Brodie Croft, heir-apparent to Cooper Cronk’s No. 7 jersey at Melbourne Storm, and a pack that included NRL veterans Nate Myles and Robert Rochow.
It took just four minutes for the Tigers to start the scoreboard attendant working when winger Jarrod McInally scored the first of his three tries. When centre Shane Neumann was over eight minutes later to make it 10-0, the Gulls had seen little possession and had little opportunity to mount any pressure.
Halfback Croft, centre Bradyen Torpy – the former Titans under-20s player, and second-rower Jake Foster also crossed before half-time and despite Seagulls five-eighth Lindon McGrady being the first to score in the second session, the Gulls were never in the match.
An equally difficult task is at hand this weekend when the Seagulls take on Redcliffe Dolphins on Saturday night (7pm).
EASTS TIGERS 44 (Jarrod McInally 3, Shane Neumann, Brodie Croft, Brayden Torpy, Jake Foster, Young Tonumaipe’a, Billy Walters tries; Brayden Torpy 4 goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 4 (Lindon McGrady try) at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park.
Full match details: http://live.qrl.com.au/match/a0e2bf7daa672f2c8/db9fc9634143d5fa4
LADDER:
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | Bye | For | Agnst | Total |
| PNG Hunters | 20 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 480 | 314 | 35 |
| Redcliffe Dolphins | 21 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 534 | 312 | 32 |
| Sunshine Coast Falcons | 21 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 595 | 382 | 31 |
| Easts Tigers | 21 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 518 | 400 | 31 |
| Souths Logan Magpies | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 486 | 410 | 30 |
| Townsville Blackhawks | 21 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 541 | 407 | 28 |
| Mackay Cutters | 20 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 467 | 486 | 24 |
| Ipswich Jets | 21 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 472 | 505 | 24 |
| Wynnum Manly Seagulls | 21 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 395 | 407 | 20 |
| Burleigh Bears | 21 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 406 | 462 | 20 |
| Norths Devils | 21 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 454 | 546 | 16 |
| Northern Pride | 21 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 366 | 499 | 12 |
| Tweed Heads Seagulls | 20 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 291 | 644 | 12 |
| CQ Capras | 21 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 402 | 633 | 11 |
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