Queensland Premier Rugby - Round 13 preview

July 09, 2010 - 12:20pm
Story by: QRU

Sunnybank and Reds backrower Leroy Houston has been in top form his new club
Round 13 of Queensland Premier Rugby tomorrow (Saturday) could be unlucky for some if the tail enders in a bunched field of teams are unable to win and stay within striking distance of the top four.

GPS, Norths and Gold Coast all face top four teams this weekend and a loss could spell the end of their semi-final hopes with just five rounds remaining after tomorrow.

University are clear leaders on 50 competition points and host GPS (26 points) at St Lucia. GPS have strung together consecutive wins against Brothers and Norths but University have lost only once this season and have the ability to give opponents a decent head start in games but still end up as winners.

Norths (24) seem to have lost their mojo since strike weapon Blair Connor left to take up a contract in France and will be battling to contain a Reds-laced Sunnybank (45) bent on making this their premiership year.

Reds and former Norths No 8 Leroy Houston is in top form for Sunnybank and will take a power of stopping by his former club-mates in his first game back at Hugh Courtney Oval since joining the Dragons.

The Gold Coast (23) are running second last and will be up against 2009 grand finalists Souths, who were unlucky to lose in the final seconds of last week’s game against Sunnybank.

Defending premiers Brothers (35) are struggling for consistency in third place and will host the equally unpredictable Easts (33) at Crosby Park, while last placed Wests (16) head to the Sunshine Coast hoping the return from injury of QR Reds backrower and new Qantas Wallaby squad member Scott Higginbotham will help them repeat their first round defeat of the Toutai Kefu-coached Stingrays (31).

Round 13 games (all on Saturday, July 10):

3:00PM Brothers v Easts @ Crosby Park

3:00PM Norths v Sunnybank @ Hugh Courtney Oval

3:00PM Sunshine Coast v Wests @ Stockland Park

3:00PM University v GPS @ St Lucia

3:15PM Souths v Gold Coast @ Chipsy Wood Oval

University

1. Kevin Davies
2. James Hanson (c)
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Tim Buchanan
5. Adam Preocanin
6. Tim Aistrope
7. Mitchell Wade
8. Mitchell Chapman
9. Ian Prior
10. Phil Williams
11. Tevita Kuridrani
12. Jono Lance
13. Ryan Gilliman
14. David Burns
15. Will Tuffley

GPS

1. Josh Pszczonka
2. Joao Caldeira-Santos
3. Sio Kite
4. Pat Rynders
5. Geoff Ingram
6. Jono Ellis
7. Ray Stowers
8. Steve Miller (c)
9. Curtis Franks
19. Sione Kite
11. Chris Nasiganiyavi
12. Donovan Slade
13. Toby Chalmers
14. Mathew Garland
15. Sam Satui

Sunshine Coast

1. Haydn Hirsimaki
2. Ryan Freney
3. Shon Siemonek
4. Denham Wicks
5. Gareth Clouston (c)
6. Kingsley Lang
7. Matthew Blain
8. Mitchell King
9. James Rodley
10. Maurice Stone
11. Thomas Cox
12. Toese Lealamanua
13. Caleb Ralph
14. Adam Gavegan
15. Thomas Bird

Wests

1. Reuben Leilua
2. Mick Lee
3. Lance Po-Ching
4. Dugald Struss
5. Alex Campbell
6. Kirk Hawkins
7. Andrew Punch
8. James Su’a
9. Nigel Genia
10. Shane Imo
11. Devyn Smith
12. Sean Bell
13. Richard Smith
14. Ken Robertson
15. Ian Aokuso

Norths

1. Alexander Cousner
2. Ryan Schultz
3. Matt Quilty
4. Utu Maninoa
5. Tristan Hill
6. Matt Peel
7. Evan La Motta
8. Ilaitia Gavidi
9. Siasosi Taufa
10. Tom Howard
11. Sam Purvis
12. Sione Faumuina
13. Ewen Campbell
14. Shalom Sunila
15. Mel Kainge

Sunnybank

1. Albert Anae
2. Benjamin Fox
3. Greg Holmes
4. James Kriukelis (c)
5. Robert Simmons
6. Nigel Ah Wong
7. Mathew Swann
8. Leroy Houston
9. Richard Kingi
10. Matt Lucas
11. Matthew Feaunati
12. Robert Lee
13. Ben Tapuai
14. Semiti Tela
15. Danny Routledge

Brothers

1. Adam Bennie
2. Andrew Coady (vc)
3. Adrian Dixon
4. Matt Dews
5. Trent Jones
6. Ted Postal
7. Charlie Freney
8. Simon Price
9. Sam Grasso
10. Dallan Murphy (c)
11. Paul Doneley
12. Blair Hart
13. James Harvey
14. Mitchell Felsman
15. Angus McLean

Easts

1. Sam Cummins
2. James Charalambous
3. Mafoe Seuala
4. Greg Riley
5. Tim Baumann
6. Luke Bertini (c)
7. Josh Parry
8. Mitchell Sincock
9. Dominic Fuller
10. Matt Brandon (vc)
11. Jonathan Wilder
12. David Skelton
13. Jordan Tuapou
14. Matthew Flett
15. Benjamin Spearritt

Souths

1. Peni Toia
2. Anthony Ongolea
3. Sam Denny
4. James Turner
5. Tim Cree
6. Paula Kaho
7. Chris Johnson (c)
8. Felipe ‘Flipper’ Manu
9. Brent Hamlin
10. Michael Zovko
11. Pama Fou
12. Anthony Faingaa
13. Fred Tuua
14. Wilisoni Tilagucaguca
15. John Tabrett

Gold Coast

1. Cole Mooney
2. Dale Salmon
3. James Slipper
4. Rubin Fuimaono
5. Brendon Holgate
6. Jay Halevu
7. Jarrad Butler
8. Mitch Francis
9. Vitori Tomu-Buatava
10. Ryan Roberts
11. Phil Dumelow
12. Leigh Holtsbaum (c)
13. Matthew Langmack
14. Joel Sykes
15. Karl Manning