Back-rower Sam Saville and hooker Sam Meskell have been brought back into the Romano Group Seagulls’ Intrust Super Cup side to take on fourth-placed Easts Tigers at Langlands Park on Sunday.
The Seagulls are off the bottom of the ladder, courtesy of their second bye last weekend, and are keen to stay there in coach Aaron Zimmerle’s last month in charge.
However, they will need at least one victory in their last four games with the round 23 showdown against the CQ Capras at Piggabeen (August 20) the crucial clash.
The Capras are one point behind on the ladder and Northern Pride equal with a superior for-and-against tally, but both teams pick up two points from a bye in round 23.
Saville made an impressive comeback in A grade last weekend after being sidelined for seven weeks with a sternum injury and has been chosen on the bench.
Meskell was relegated to A-grade as Jack Cook was given his first opportunity in the ISC a fortnight ago, but is back as the starting hooker, while Dane Clarke is also on the bench.
The interesting selection is Pheonix Hunapo in the halves alongside Lindon McGrady after firing there for A-grade last weekend. Fullback Jayden Baker has retained his position at fullback after an impressive debut against Souths Logan when he shared players’ player honours, as had centre Kurtis McDonald.
The provisional squad to take on the Tigers is:
Easts Tigers v Tweed Heads Seagulls at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Sunday, August 6 – 3pm
Tweed Heads Seagulls
1. Jayden Baker 2. Regan Muir-Ogle 3. James Wood 4. Kurtis McDonald 5. Peter Lee 6. Lindon McGrady 7. Phoenix Hunapo 8. Carne Doyle-Manga 9. Samuel Meskell 10. Ben Nakubuwai 11. Lamar Manuel-Liolevave 12. Tristan Lumley 13. Keegan Hipgrave 14. Sam Saville 15. Dane Clarke 16. Eddy Pettybourne 17. William Johnstone 20. Jenan Parrish
Coach: Aaron Zimmerle
Easts Tigers
1. Leon Ellia-Niukore 2. Jarrod McInally 3. Shane Neumann 4. Conor Carey 5. Young Tonumaipe’a 6. Billy Walters 7. Brodie Croft 8. Steven Thorpe 9. Luke Lavelle 10. Mark Nicholls11. Jake Foster (c) 12. Robert Rochow 13. Jack Svendsen 14. Matt Zgrajewski 15. Charlie Galo 16. Mat Pitman 17. Brayden Torpy 18. Maeli Seve 19. Tekina Vailea
Coach: Scott Sipple
POINTS TABLE AFTER ROUND 21
Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | Bye | For | Agnst | Total |
PNG Hunters | 19 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 460 | 310 | 33 |
Sunshine Coast Falcons | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 569 | 352 | 31 |
Redcliffe Dolphins | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 490 | 288 | 30 |
Easts Tigers | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 474 | 396 | 29 |
Souths Logan Magpies | 19 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 458 | 386 | 28 |
Townsville Blackhawks | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 515 | 393 | 26 |
Ipswich Jets | 20 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 468 | 485 | 24 |
Mackay Cutters | 19 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 437 | 460 | 22 |
Wynnum Manly Seagulls | 20 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 373 | 369 | 20 |
Burleigh Bears | 20 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 368 | 440 | 18 |
Norths Devils | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 430 | 502 | 16 |
Northern Pride | 20 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 342 | 471 | 12 |
Tweed Heads Seagulls | 19 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 287 | 600 | 12 |
CQ Capras | 20 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 388 | 607 | 11 |