Woolf sees danger in wounded Tigers
THE Socceroos’ hopes of direct entry to the 2018 World Cup will come down to the final round after a 2- 0 loss in their penultimate qualifying match against Japan in Saitama.
Japan dominated Australia for large periods of the match and scored in the 41st minute through Takuma Asano and in the 82nd thanks to Yosuke Ideguchi, locking in their ticket to Russia in the process.
The Socceroos, who are locked on points with Saudi Arabia, will play Thailand in Melbourne on Tuesday and are eyeing off a big win, while Saudi Arabia host Japan. IT has been almost 12 months to the day when the Townsville Blackhawks smashed the Easts Tigers 46- 4 in last year’s opening week of the Queensland Cup finals.
They did it before their home fans at Jack Manski Oval and ran in nine tries to the Tigers’ one.
Now it’s the Blackhawks turn to play their finals opener on the Tigers’ home turf, and Blackhawks coach Kris- tian Woolf knows the Tigers will have payback on their minds.
“We were able to come out on top up here at home, and they’ll certainly reflect on that,” Woolf said.
“They’ll try and find a little bit more motivation out of it.
“Our motivation needs to be completely intrinsic about us wanting to make sure we make the most of being in finals a third time in a row.”
The Blackhawks are holding out hope of fielding lock Daniel Beasley on Sunday after the former Q Cup prop of the year injured his groin just minutes before the Blackhawks’ recent home game against PNG. While question marks still surround Beasley, halfback Michael Parker Walshe is a certainty after emerging from last weekend’s heavy loss to the Sunshine Coast with a clean bill of health despite clutching at his shoulder in the second minute.
Davin Crampton is right to play after suffering a shoulder concern, and Cowboys allocation Sam Hoare is set to play after missing the second half of last weekend’s game with a chest injury.
The more experienced troops for the Blackhawks the better, given the major loss of fullback and leading Q Cup points scorer Carlin Anderson to a broken arm.
“Outside of Carlin we should be the same 17,” Woolf said.
“It was a pretty ordinary game for us on Sunday with the way we performed and the injuries we had, so it’s not ideal coming into finals in terms of preparations.
“The only thing I can give us an out for I suppose is that it was a game that probably didn’t mean too much for us, and that’s probably the way we played.
“I’d like to think the embarrassment of that combined with the fact we’re coming into finals gives us a real boost and some real energy about how we want to perform.”
Woolf said Anderson’s NRL career would be unaffected by his season- ending injury.
The former Broncos contracted player signed a twoyear deal with the North Queensland Cowboys earlier in the season.
“The good news for him is it shouldn’t interfere with him getting a full pre- season under his belt when he goes full- time,” Woolf said.
“So, while it’s a negative for him finishing his year and a real negative for us, there’s a positive side to it.”
Kick- off on Sunday is 2pm.