Seagulls end curse as Burleigh surge
THE curse has been broken.
Tweed Seagulls have finally turned the tables on their bogey team Townsville with a 24-16 win to stay unbeaten after two rounds in the Intrust Super Cup.
The Blackhawks had completely dominated the headto-head stakes prior to yesterday, winning their first seven meetings all by 28 points or more – including a 62-12 flogging of Tweed on their most recent visit to Piggabeen Sports Complex last July.
But this Seagulls team mean business and they are proving it. Tweed scored first through Kalani Going and then twice more via boom centre Treymain Spry, before four Lindon McGrady penalties ensured they kept their noses in front.
“Our defence has probably been the biggest key for us these last years that we have lacked and we really showed that we could ‘D’,” said Lamar Liolevave.
“It is a good feeling, a bit of a confidence booster for the boys. They are starting to believe now that we are a dangerous team in the comp and we are not going to be pushovers like we have been in the past.”
Liolevave actually led the side out, with skipper Cheyne Whitelaw still on the recovery trail. Stand-in co-captains John Palavi is suspended and Jack Cook was benched to accommodate Titans hooker Mitch Rein, who played the full 80 minutes.
Liolevave was full of praise for fellow centre Spry, who almost bagged a hat-trick with a clutch late match intercept.
“He is explosive and he has footwork. You don’t know if he is going to bounce out or bounce in and he has got pace behind him as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Burleigh have responded from a Round 1 wake-up call to post a commanding first win.
Bears forward Jacob Hind, who moved from his usual prop role to left second-row, said the team acknowledged they must be better than what they showed in their 28-22 loss to Norths last weekend.
Hind missed that clash through suspension but was back to enjoy a 42-8 drubbing of Ipswich at Pizzey Park on Saturday.
“It’s a strong competition and it doesn’t really matter who you put out on the field – if you don’t turn up to play, it’s not just going to happen for you,” he said.
“Obviously no one was happy with last week’s performance. We realised there wasn’t sweeping changes that we needed to make, just little things to tinker with.”
Titans backs Jesse Arthars and Anthony Don each scored two tries.
Burleigh will host Tweed next Sunday.