The BHP Premiership comes to Cbus Super Stadium tomorrow as the undefeated Burleigh Bears take on the Valleys Diehards before the Titans verse Bulldogs NRL game.
Kick off for the BHP Premiership match is 12:35pm (Gates open 12:30pm) and features a number of NRLW stars.
TICKETS: Titans v Bulldogs, Bears v Diehards
Both teams will be ducking and weaving looking for the knockout.
The Bears have the advantage in attack, having scored 232 points compared to the Diehards with 182, while in defence, the blue wall of Valleys has let in 36 points in six games while the Bears have let in 64.
Valleys come into this minor premiership decider off the back of a decisive win against the Tigers where they had 65 per cent of the ball which allowed them to overpower the young Tigers with 61 tackle breaks and 10 line breaks.
It took two minutes before Lavinia Gould set the tone and smashed the ball down over the line to start the scoring to put the Tigers under the pump.
With strong performers across the board, it is hard to narrow down standouts for in the Diehards in the win.
Lauretta Leao-Seve impressed after making 214 metres from 20 hit ups, as well as making six tackle breaks and a casual 17 tackles too.
Skipper Ali Brigginshaw was unstoppable; she had seven tackle breaks, two line breaks, one line break assist and two try assists in a normal Brigginshaw game.
Valleys second row Kody House also played well and has been a juggernaut this season for the Diehards, scoring four tries in five games.
With four line breaks and 25 tackle breaks, House has been one of her team’s best with only four missed tackles this season.
The former Queensland representative was looking forward to the game and seeing the forwards for off and was especially looking forward to the battle against Bears Millie Boyle and Tazmin Gray.
“We are looking forward to the challenge against the Bears and especially their forwards, the top of the table clash will be a big tough game,” House said.
“We have nothing to lose, we are a new team who are enjoying our footy and playing under good coaching staff.
“We are excited to play at Cbus Super Stadium in front of a decent crowd for our last regular season game before the finals.
“We are hoping to leave with a win to build some confidence heading into the last two weeks.”
Valleys coach Scott Prince was excited for what his players could experience against the Bears.
“What a great experience to get to play on that surface at Cbus, the girls will love it,” Prince said.
“Come Saturday afternoon, this will be a great game to watch and a top-of-the-table clash before the finals.
“The Bears are a great team and I think should be favourites.
“A great story is our centre Helen McRae is playing her third game of league, at Cbus against the Bears; how good is that.”
The Bears have been equally strong this season, but come into this game following a close 22-20 win over North Queensland Gold Stars at Pizzey Park last weekend.
It was a tense one, but those close games are keeping the Bears, who led 10-4 at halftime, match hard and ready.
The Bears made the Stars do more tackling and would have no doubt liked to have taken advantage of the extra work the Stars were doing, but 12 penalties kept the Stars in the game and that will be something the Bears won’t be able to do this week against Valleys.
Chelsea Lenarduzzi was a key performer in the win and in an unbelievable effort, registered 226 metres from the interchange bench.
Bears coach Tahnee Norris said she was keen to get to the stadium on Saturday for the match.
“Absolutely looking forward to this match up, they have so many quality players and we’re keen to see where we are in relation to this team,” Norris said.
“It shows the quality of football that being played at the BHP Premiership level.
“Ali Brigginshaw and Grace Griffin have been setting the team up nicely.
“Natassja Purontakanen has been strong in the forwards for them.
“We just need to focus on what we do best, play no-mistake footy and take it to them through the middle and see what can open up out wide.”
Photos supplied by Queensland Rugby League.
