Tweed facing uphill battle

TWEED Heads’ Intrust Super Cup finals hopes are on the brink after slumping to a 36-14 home loss to Souths Logan.

Victory yesterday afternoon would have kept the Seagulls in a share of sixth place; instead they will head into Round 19 in 11th and desperate to regain form.

Tweed trailed by only four points at the break but could not keep pace with the Magpies in the second half.

Their one big positive was a happy return for Ali Grant.

The 24-year-old was back for Ben Woolf’s team for the first time since Round 4 – replacing Talor Walters at fullback – and did not disappoint, scoring a try and winning players’ player.

Grant put his improved form down to a productive stint playing for his junior club Ballina, for whom he had scored 13 tries in 12 games.

“Back there it’s a bit more relaxed and I could work on the things that I need to improve,” he said.

“It’s a good place to go back to because it’s my junior club and I have still got five of my best mates that play there so it’s just enjoyable and takes a bit of pressure off me. When you are having fun it brings out the best in your footy and it transferred into Cup.

“I just want to come out and play like I do every week for Ballina.”

Grant added the side were disappointed to “let one slip” yesterday but believe finals are still within their grasp.

“It is pretty much semi-final footy for us from here on in.”

Meanwhile, Burleigh have dropped to third on the ladder as a result of their 40-28 loss to Redcliffe on Saturday.

The Bears roared early with Kurtis Rowe and Matt White both finding the line inside seven minutes. The 2016 premiers had stretched their lead to 22-6 by the 23-minute mark before the Dolphins clicked.

Recruit Dylan Phythian was forced from the field in the final minute for a head injury assessment.