Brisbane City were smashed by the UC Vikings in the re-match of last year’s NRC Final, ultimately coming away the losers by 32 points.
Final score
Brisbane City 20
UC Vikings 52
Brisbane City will be looking for their second win of the 2016 NRC season when they take on the University of Canberra Vikings in a replay of last year’s Grand Final match.
After being stunned on opening week in a 10-point loss to the New South Wales Country Eagles, defending champions Brisbane City got their season back on track with a win over the Western Sydney Rams.
Mitchell Felsman’s try turned out to the be the determining factor in City’s win over the Rams in a thrilling high-scoring affair.
Felsman, who scored a stunning try against the Rams, has earned his first start for Brisbane City against the Vikings. Joining him will be Brad Lacey, who will be playing fullback in his first start for the club.
After being dominated at home by the Country Eagles, the University of Canberra Vikings will be travelling to Queensland looking to put a tough loss behind them.
The Vikings were down 60-nil after 62 minutes, before Andrew Smith put the first points on the board for the Canberra side.
The Vikings ended up fighting back, scoring 28 points in the last 20 minutes, but it was too little, too late as they suffered their first loss of the season.
UC Vikings coach Wayne Southwell was forced to make several changes, including sending Robbie Coleman to flyhalf from fullback, and moving Jarrad Butler to the bench.
The last time Brisbane and UC Vikings played was in the 2015 Grand Final, which saw Brisbane City take the crown in a 21-10 win.
Prediction
With both sides inconsistent, it’s hard to predict which way this going to go. However, so far it’s set to be a high-scoring affair.
Brisbane City by 5
Kick-off: 1pm AEST
Venue: Ballymore Oval
Table position: Brisbane City fifth, UC Vikings fourth
Last meeting: Brisbane City 21 – 10 UC VikingsBrisbane City
Pettowa Paraka, Andrew Ready, Sam Talakai (c), Luke Beauchamp, Lukhan Tui, Isi Naisarani, Michael Gunn, Leroy Houston, Nick Frisby, Jake McIntyre, Alex Gibbon, Patrick James, Chris Kuridrani, Mitch Felsman, Brad Lacey.
Bench: Matt Mafi, Markus Vanzati, Feao Fotuaika, Jeremiah Lynch, Criff Tupou, Moses Sorovi, Jayden Ngamanu, Jake de Guingand.UC Vikings
Sione Taula, Robbie Abel, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Blake Enever, Sam Carter, Tom Staniforth, Dean Oakman-Hunt, OJ Noa, Brent Hamlin, Robbie Coleman (c), Lausii Taliauli, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Andrew Smith, Andrew Robinson, Isaac Thompson.
Bench: Connal McInerney, Faalelei Sione, Ray Dobson, TBC, Jarrad Butler, Joe Powell, Nick Jooste, Henry Speight.
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