MUSTANGS FALL
RUGBY LEAGUE: As the Souths Logan Magpies comfortably fell to the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday evening, its Hastings Deering Colts team was able to extract some revenge on the Downs at the weekend.
The Western Mustangs welcomed the Brisbane club into town on Sunday for a trial match at Gold Park.
Despite a strong showing in their first hit-out of the year, the Mustangs went down to the Magpies 24-16.
While not taking much from the scoreline, coach Eugene Seddon said it was an impressive first showing for the U20s side, as they prepared for the start of the season.
“I was very happy with the result,” Seddon said.
“It wasn’t about winning or losing yet, more so about giving everyone a run. We heavily rotated the team around, which impacted our combinations at times.
“But as I said it wasn’t about winning but testing a few players in certain positions and putting them in positions they’re not familiar with.
“Against Wynnum (this weekend) we will probably go in with a bit more of a stable game plan leading into our first game.”
One of the key focuses throughout the pre-season has been the fitness of the squad, and Seddon said it held up well throughout the outing.
“Their fitness is massively up from where it was last year,” he said.
“Obviously match fitness will come into play when continually getting up off the ground and getting tackled, but their pre-season training has put them in a good position to compete physically.”
Gatton Hawks outside back Austin Jennings showed his class throughout the afternoon, finishing with a hat-trick, while Jackson Mladenovic also crossed during the afternoon.
Seddon praised the efforts of the halves to get quality ball to the team’s outside backs.
“Tyson White, Austin Jennings and Sam Thompson worked pretty well, but it will take time,” he said.
“That’s just experience. They get another opportunity to work on these combinations against Wynnum and at training. “Austin made a good first-up impression (in scoring three tries).
“I thought Blake Cullen was exceptionally good for his first game of the year in the middle.
“He was with the Titans in their system for a while. He has been with The Fit Lab for the last few years, and he’s in a position where he started so well.”
The side was missing Valleys young-gun Richard Murray through injury among others, and Seddon was pleased with how they were able to perform in their absence.
“We were missing a few players that should be there in the mix,” he said.
“Cody McNeice, Richard Murray and Laurie Jocumsen all didn’t play.
“Another that did well was Liam Short who has had some senior experience out at Pittsworth.”
The Mustangs will have another chance to fine-tune their preparations when they take on Wynnum-Manly prior to the Brisbane Broncos trial on Saturday.
Their attention will then turn to their round one fixture against Tweed Heads on March 10.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Mustangs claimed first blood over the Magpies, recording a 24-16 win in the U18s Mal Meninga Cup.
‘‘ OBVIOUSLY MATCH FITNESS WILL COME INTO PLAY WHEN CONTINUALLY GETTING UP OFF THE GROUND AND GETTING TACKLED, BUT THEIR PRE-SEASON TRAINING HAS PUT THEM IN A GOOD POSITION.
EUGENE SEDDON
OAKEY DOMINATE ROSEWOOD
THE Oakey Bears have started their pre-season in the strongest possible fashion, demolishing the Rosewood Roosters 62-6 at Trevor Mickleborough Oval on Saturday night.
Earlier in the evening in the U18s match, Oakey defeated Rosewood 32-0.
LEISHA’S ALL STARS FALL SHORT
On Friday, Samartha Leisha and the women’s Indigenous All Stars couldn’t overcome the New Zealand Maori Ferns at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
The Valleys Fillies player played a leading role in the pregame war cry, before making her presence felt both on the charge and in defence.
The second rower was forced from the field for a HIA test, before making her way back later in the game. It wasn’t enough however, as the Maoris secured an 8-4 win.