Queensland Country pulled off a major upset to win their first match of the year in a thriller against the table-topping NSW Country Eagles.
Final score
Queensland Country 40
NSW Country Eagles 38
Queensland Country will be searching for their first win of the 2016 NRC season when they host top-of-the-table New South Wales Country Eagles.
Risking going the entire season without a win, Queensland Country have absolutely nothing to lose anymore.
Despite their poor form, Country came agonisingly close to their first win last week, only to lose 50-46 in a thrilling encounter against the Western Sydney Rams.
Country will be without the injured Phil Potgeiter, however welcome former All Blacks lock Brad Thorn into their starting line-up.
Joining Thorn in the starting side will be prop Ben Daley, who is soon to be a part of the Western Force.
Unbeaten in 2015, the New South Wales Country Eagles have gone from unlikely finalists to a side that looks almost unstoppable.
Coming off a 24-point win over the Perth Spirit, and with wins over Melbourne Rising, University of Canberra Vikings and Brisbane City in previous weeks, the Country Eagles seem like the obvious favourites to take the title.
Sam Figg, Rowan Perry and Mitch Short will all start for the Country Eagles, who have made a few changes from last week.
The last time these two sides was last season, where Queensland Country took the eight-point win in New South Wales.
Prediction
The Country Eagles are on fire, and don’t look like they are slowing down anytime soon. The addition of Daley and Thorn may not be enough to get Queensland over the line.
NSW Country Eagles by 10
Kick-off: 1pm AEST
Venue: Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Table position: Country eighth, Country Eagles first
Last meeting: Country Eagles 16 – 24 CountryQUEENSLAND COUNTRY (1-15): Ben Daley, Alex Casey, Taniela Tupou, Izack Rodda, Brad Thorn, Ted Postal, Maclean Jones, Angus Scott-Young, James Tuttle, Mack Mason, Liam McNamara, Duncan Paia’aua, Tyrone Lefau, Liam Jurd, Tom Banks.
Bench: Feleti Kaitu’u, Richie Asiata, Sef Fa’agase, Tyrell Barker, Liam Wright, Scott Malolua, Mitch Third, Matthew Gordon.NSW COUNTRY: Sonny Satuala, Clarrie Moore, Paddy Ryan (c), Tim Buchanan, Ryan McCauley, Sam Figg, Rowan Perry, Mark Baldwin, Mitch Short, Andrew Deegan, Christian Kagiassis, Kyle Godwin, David Horwitz, Charlie Clifton, Reece Robinson.
Bench: Luke Holmes, Jed Gillespie, Cameron Betham, Rohan O’Regan, Tom Cusack, Sam Ward, Tayler Adams, Tom Hill.
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