Bears happy with young combination
BURLEIGH coach Jimmy Lenihan has no concerns about partnering inexperienced duo Josh Berkers and Reece Tapine on the right flank for their Intrust Super Cup blockbuster against Townsville tomorrow.
Berkers, 23, has played 20 ISC games for the Bears since the start of 2016, while 20year-old Tapine will be making his debut on the wing.
“Josh Berkers is a really good player for us, he just sometimes gets the raw end of the deal because of the Titans that come back,” Lenihan said.
“But in saying that, Berkers and Tapine have played a little bit together in A-grade as well so there’s a bit of a combination and the team has got a lot of faith in those two guys doing a really good job for us this weekend.”
As for Tapine, Lenihan says a maiden call-up is richly deserved.
“He has done really well,” he said.
“He has been with us for a while, he fills in at training a lot when we don’t have the Titans boys training with us like Brenko (Lee) and Jesse Arthars and those sorts of guys.
“He’s probably not overly heavy but he’s a tall kid, runs hard, talks well on the football field and he trains with a lot of effort and we value a lot of effort at Burleigh so he has really stood out and I’m really happy that he gets his opportunity this week.
“He’s a really good kid, tries hard and gives you everything he’s got, which is certainly what we are after.”
Tapine and Berkers come in for Tyronne Roberts-Davis and Jesse Arthars, respectively, the latter having limped off at Titans training on Thursday.
A third change to their team list will see Tanah Boyd wear the No.6 jersey in place of Josh Rogers (sternum).
The Round 18 showdown will be played in Ingham as part of the ISC’s Country Round initiative.
Townsville (fourth) and Burleigh (second) have both won their past five games.
Lenihan said the form of hooker Josh Chudleigh, who won the 2016 ISC player of the year award while at Mackay, had been at the centre of the Blackhawks’ surge.
“He has come off a few knee reconstructions so I think he is just now really starting to find a bit of form and I think he’s a big reason why they are going so well,” he said.
Ash Taylor makes his return to footy for Tweed when they take on Central Queensland at Ilfracombe tonight.
HE TRIES HARD AND GIVES YOU EVERYTHING HE’S GOT, WHICH IS CERTAINLY WHAT WE ARE AFTER
JIMMY LENIHAN ON REECE TAPINE