The Chronicle

Werth knows win will see Hawks fly into final

- KICK ALONG: Gatton’s Aaron Werth sends the ball up field in a game against Souths earlier this season. RUGBY LEAGUE

ben.drewe@thechronic­le.com.au GATTON captain Aaron Werth thinks the scenario to make the Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy final is easy – just win.

The Hawks sit in the box seat to secure the remaining spot in the mid-season final on June 8 as they hold down second place on the Hutchinson Builders TRL Premiershi­p ladder after seven rounds.

Undefeated Wattles are confirmed as one of the two starters, with their opponent to be one of three other clubs still with a mathematic­al chance of booking the other spot.

Gatton sits second on the ladder one win clear of Souths in third and requires only a win over fourth-placed Highfields to progress to the Madsen-Rasmussen, where the Hawks will look to add the time-honoured mid-season trophy to the Hutchies-Chronicle Cup they won in last year’s grand final.

A Highfields win over Gatton will then open the door for the Eagles.

Highfields would need to beat Gatton by 31 points or more, though, to move ahead of the Hawks on the ladder due to points differenti­al.

And even if Highfields does that, Souths could still beat them to second spot with a win over resurgent Pittsworth.

Third-placed Souths will be out to beat the Danes to give themselves a chance at a third-straight Madsen-Rasmussen.

The Tigers need Highfields to beat Gatton to have a chance of climbing into second spot.

But with all of the possibilit­ies heading into round eight this weekend, Gatton captain Aaron Werth just wants a win to give the Hawks a chance to win another trophy. “We need to win,” he said. “We’re pretty keen for it if we make it.

“That would be huge for the club if we made it. We wouldn’t have held the Madsen-Rasmussen and the premiershi­p for a long time.”

 ?? PHOTO: KEVIN FARMER ??
PHOTO: KEVIN FARMER

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