Pressure mounts as injuries hit breaking point
TOWNSVILLE are facing an uphill battle in this year’s finals series after star fullback Carlin Anderson broke his arm in yesterday’s 42-16 loss to the Sunshine Coast.
The gun No.1, who has been Townsville’s best all season, was assisted from the field midway through the first half after a massive collision with Falcons forward Jye Ballinger.
Anderson was then taken to hospital for X-rays, but coach Kristian Woolf confirmed the future Cowboy had broken his arm. It is a huge blow for the Blackhawks, who will next week take on Easts Tigers in a knockout semi-final.
The Tigers are in hot form while Woolf’s Blackhawks are not only without their star player, but are also coming off the back of a heavy loss.
The Falcons were simply too good for the Blackhawks yesterday, running in eight tries to three to secure themselves an elimination home final next week against Souths Logan Magpies. Five-eighth Scott Drinkwater said after a slump over the past month, the win was exactly what Sunshine Coast needed.
“We’ve been in a pretty bad slump and losing games we’d like to win,” Drinkwater said. “We really needed this win. “It’s all about momentum going into the finals and (yesterday) was crucial for us. We started to gel together as a team.”
The Falcons will host the Magpies in the TV match at 1.30pm on Sunday while Easts face Townsville at Langlands Park also on Sunday, with the time still to be confirmed.
PNG (first) and Redcliffe (second) will enjoy a bye.