Cup semi looms as Duffy and Blackhawks run rampant

IGNATIUS Park mastermind Thomas Duffy has steered the Blackhawks into the Mal Meninga Cup finals after a comprehensive shut-out of arch rival Northern Pride.

Duffy, along with halves partner Harley Taylor, pulled all the strings as the Blackhawks ran rampant with the ball in hand at Jack Manski Oval.

Duffy scored a hat-trick of tries and kicked eight from 10 off the tee to finish with a personal points haul of 20.

High-flying centre Dudley Dotoi also crossed for a double, his third of the season, to take his personal try-scoring tally to six from four games for the regular season.

While the Blackhawks crossed the stripe 10 times to bring up the half-century on the scoreboard, it was the doughnut that sat opposite it which pleased Townsville coach Steve Sheppard most.

“We have had three shut-outs in our last three games. I am very happy with how our boys are tracking defensively,” Sheppard said.

“It comes from the amount of pressure we apply to the opposition. The boys have certainly bought into what we are trying to achieve this season.

“I couldn’t care if we scored 10, 20 or 50 points, as long as we are keeping the opposition to as little as possible. We are a defensive-minded unit and we are trying to keep that good balance heading into the finals.”

It has been a mammoth effort from the players, with most of them opposing players throughout last year’s Aaron Payne Cup.

But the way they have come together under Sheppard’s direction this season has been impressive.

“To be honest, the good thing is 13 of the 17 players at the weekend were local boys, and the others have played together through the school system,” he said. “They put in the work in the pre-season and have played as a unit.”

As for Duffy, Sheppard said he would just keep trusting the young halfback to lead from the front, especially in a tough semifinal clash with Central Queensland on Saturday at BMD Kougari Oval in Brisbane.