After just over 160 games in 30 locations from Kokopo to Piggabeen, the 2015 Queensland Cup season reaches its conclusion at Suncorp Stadium this Sunday.
It is hard to argue on the balance of the season and finals series that the two teams who deserve it the most are playing for the trophy.
Other teams will argue – with some justification – that they would have been worthy grand finalists, but at the end of the day the Townsville Blackhawks have been the stand-out team of the regular season, and the Ipswich Jets have been the best team in the finals.
There are quite a few similarities between the two. They both play in green and white, and both teams are from cities with a strong military background, highlighted in nicknames based on the aircraft used at local bases.
Both teams also failed to beat the Papua New Guinea Hunters during the regular season, but took revenge when it mattered most – in the finals. Finally, both teams are yet to win a Queensland Cup title.
That’s where the similarities end.
Townsville are a modern-day, structured rugby league team. They also have loads of NRL experience with many Cowboys fringe players, an NRL grand final winner in ex-Manly player Glenn Hall, and an Origin representative in Neville Costigan. They also dominated their inaugural season in the Queensland Cup, and at one stage it looked like awarding the trophy was a mere formality.
They may not have the attacking reputation of their opponents, but ask some of the sides that Townsville put 50 past this season of their attacking capabilities. Burleigh, especially, who were handed a 78-6 hiding.
While Townsville have one of the most experienced Queensland Cup sides of recent seasons, this is still their first season, and to harness all that experience into a well-oiled machine in such a short timeframe, with the occasional raid form the Cowboys during the season, is some achievement.
Ipswich meanwhile are the free spirits of the Queensland Cup, rivalling the Hunters for most people’s second team to watch throughout the season. Many will be aware of coaches Shane and Ben Walker, who have been a fresh breath of air to not only the Queensland Cup, but rugby league in general with their tactics, allowing their players to back themselves if the situation warrants.
Like a Justin Hodges run from dummy half, the Jets’ short kick-offs are expected but somehow still very effective, and their conversion rate against the Hunters last weekend makes one ponder why it hasn’t caught on elsewhere. That is just one of the more peculiar plays Ipswich are likely to produce on Sunday.
Their attacking freedom is helped by a team full of speed and skill, as highlighted by Manly-bound hooker Matt Parcell scoring five tries against the Tigers two weeks ago, Marmin Barba’s many runs down the left this finals series, or Carlin Anderson’s 90-metre intercept try last weekend.
Ipswich may concede a few more points on average than the Blackhawks, but they can be guaranteed to score plenty too.
So who will win?
Townsville deserve their favouritism based on a very strong 2015 season, but a question does hang over them, with their two visits to Brisbane against top-six sides this year ending in one loss and one draw – the loss coming against the Jets in Round 2.
The Jets also pushed them all the way in the return leg in Charters Towers in Round 23, leading convincingly at halftime before a strong Townsville fightback in the second half secured a Blackhawks win. Another question is whether one game in three weeks is a good thing or bad thing.
There’s no question however that the passionate supporter base in Townsville will be willing them to win.
Ipswich are in great form from their three big finals wins, and that knockout threat hanging over their head over the past three weeks will have them ready for the big showdown. They have seen off both last year’s grand finalists, and arguably the second-best team of the season in three weeks.
One question was whether the Jets’ style of football would translate to winning finals football, and the answer to that question is an emphatic yes – so far.
Either way, the game will be a great showpiece for the Queensland Cup, and either side will be very competitive on NRL grand final day against the NSW Cup winner.
A win for Ipswich may just showcase that a different style of rugby league can still win, which may see it catch on if given a chance to shine on NRL grand final day. Then we can thank the Walker brothers when more teams concentrate on the attacking side of the sport instead of the ruck.
On that basis alone, my fearless prediction gives Ipswich their first Queensland Cup on Sunday.
Fearless prediction
Ipswich 32-26 Townsville
TV
Queensland: Channel Nine, WIN Queensland, NBN from 3:30pm (AEST)
Other: visit the QRL website for a live stream
Betting
Townsville $1.60, Ipswich $2.35. Line: Ipswich +3.5
Head-to-head form
Round 2 (15/3) Ipswich 36-24 Townsville at North Ipswich Reserve
Round 23 (16/8) Townsville 36-28 Ipswich at Charters Towers
Finals form
Townsville
Week 1: bye
Week 2: Townsville 26-12 Papua New Guinea
Week 3: rest weekend
Ipswich
Week 1: Ipswich 54-26 Northern Pride
Week 2: Ipswich 44-18 Easts Tigers
Week 3: Ipswich 28-12 Papua New Guinea
Townsville and District Blackhawks
1. Jahrome Hughes 2. Zac Santo 3. Tom Humble 4. Mosese Pangai 5. Samsen O’Neill 6. Robert Lui 7. Michael Parker-Walshe 8. Glenn Hall 9. Anthony Mitchell 10. Daniel Beasley (c) 11. Rhyse Martin 12. Kelepi Tanginoa 13. Neville Costigan
15. Lorenzo Ma’afu 16. Chris McLean 17. Corey Jensen 18. Rhys Matsen 19. Ricky Thorby
Coach: Kristian Woolf
Player to watch: Mosese Pangai
Ipswich Jets
1. Carlin Anderson 2. Marmin Barba 3. Liam Capewell 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Richard Pandia 6. Josh Cleeland 7. Dane Phillips 8. Josh Seage 9. Matt Parcell 10. Rod Griffin 11. Sam Martin 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Keiron Lander (c)
14. Landon Hayes 15. Kurtis Lingwoodock 16. Billy McConnachie 22. Fakahoko Teutau
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
Player to watch: Marmin Barba
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