Mozer one to watch for the Magpies in Round 2
Author : Michael Nunn & Colleen Edwards QRL Media
Mozer one to watch for the Magpies in Round 2
The Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup season was scheduled to kick off with three games last weekend.
By the time Sunday was over, only one game was played with Tweed Seagulls and Souths Logan Magpies fighting it out in the rain at Tugun on Saturday.
The Magpies kicked off their season with a 30-18 win over the defending premiers and it is that kind of form coach Karmichael Hunt will be looking to take into this week’s match against Burleigh Bears.
Action from the Round 1 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup game between Tweed Seagulls and Souths Logan Magpies. Photo: Max Ellis / Tweed Seagulls Media
However, the former Queensland Origin representative said he wasn’t sure if playing a game would be an advantage heading into the Round 2 game, which switched venues to Pizzey Park.
“It depends on your perspective… the Bears are probably saying ‘we get an extra week off’ and we are saying ‘great, we are playing footy’,” Hunt said.
“We haven’t been able to train because of the weather in Brisbane, so any football we get to play is a positive.
“We are happy to move it to Burleigh and just keep playing football.”
Match: Magpies v Bears
ROUND 2 – SATURDAY 5TH MARCH
Venue:Pizzey Park, Gold Coast
Match broadcasters : Qplus
The Magpies would be satisfied to have come away with the win last week, given they had 47 per cent of the ball and only completed at 60 per cent.
“That was pleasing, we didn’t have a lot of ball, but we defended well and I thought we did the little things right,” Hunt said.
“We pushed up, we created one-on-ones for players. We really committed to those things and in horrible conditions, they can be the hard things to do.
“We had a few players that game was their first (Auswide Bank) Mal Meninga Cup game, so they have started their careers at this level now and will have a clearer picture what is required.”
Hunt wasn’t in any doubt on who won his stamp of approval in Round 1, with a number of players catching his eye.
“Chris Faagutu was outstanding… scored two tries and was still going at the end in heavy conditions,” Hunt said.
“We had him in the middle and he score two tries and works hard all game.”
The team’s two key spine players also impressed in the victory.
Number six Jye Gray was outstanding, going through the Tweed defence twice to score two tries and also finished his afternoon out with an impressive 118 metres, three line breaks and two tries.
What allowed Gray to play with such width was the new hooker Blake Mozer (main photo playing for Queensland Under 17 City Boys last year), who was playing against his former team.
Mozer, who has been training with the Brisbane Broncos during pre-season.
He controlled where the Magpies gave the ball over with his kicking game and wrapped up the big Seagulls forwards with his defence.
He showed footy smarts across the park and the Bears will be on Mozer watch during their match.
“We defended our line a lot in the first 15 minutes and then we went down the other end and scored, so that’s a real positive sign,” Mozer said.
“I thought Jye Gray was excellent, when you have a player like that on the left, you get the ball to them.
“If the Bears load up in defence on our left it might open some options on the right and we have to be able to react to that when it comes up.
“It was a bit strange playing against Tweed, but once it kicked off it was another game and I just wanted to win and play as well as I could for Souths.”
This weekend, 12 more teams will be in action with what is expected to be a massive weekend of football.
Match: Seagulls v Dolphins
ROUND 2 – SATURDAY 5TH MARCH
Venue : Tugun RLFC, Tugun
Match broadcasters : Qplus
The Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup round of matches will kick off on Saturday morning with Tweed Seagulls hosting Redcliffe Dolphins, with both teams chasing their first win.
Match: Pride v Blackhawks
ROUND 2 – SATURDAY 5TH MARCH
Venue : Barlow Park, Cairns
Match broadcasters : Qplus
Later in the afternoon, it will be a northern derby with Northern Pride at home to Townsville Blackhawks. Last year’s beaten grand finalists the Blackhawks have a new-look line-up, but still feature plenty of talent and it is sure to be a good display of junior football.
Match: Bulls v Falcons
ROUND 2 – SATURDAY 5TH MARCH
Venue : T.J. O’Neill Oval, Kingaroy
Match broadcasters : Qplus
In a late change to the draw, Kingaroy will host the match between Wide Bay Bulls and Sunshine Coast Falcons with the venue moved due to the lingering effects of the extreme weather.
Match: Cutters v Capras
ROUND 2 – SATURDAY 5TH MARCH
Venue:BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Match broadcasters : Qplus
Up in Mackay, the home side Mackay Cutters will be aiming to put their best foot forward against the Central Queensland Capras who also featured in the finals of the competition last year.
The Capras also feature some representative talent, including prop Tomas Powell who featured in the Queensland Under 17 Country Boys team last year.
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