Jets hat-trick hero shares why he's improved

IPSWICH Jet Pio Seci is an exciting player to watch. He has improved so much.

ARM WRESTLE: Ipswich Jets captain Nat Neale displays his strength controlling the ball against Redcliffe last weekend. Picture: Rob Williams

IPSWICH Jet Pio Seci is an exciting player to watch. He has improved so much.

One of his great skills is that he seems to be around the ball.

His three tries in last Saturday's win over the Redcliffe Dolphins highlighted his ability to follow the play.

Former Jet Sam Martin had the same ability, to just be there and know the ball would come that way.

During his first try, Seci stayed alert and behind Kerrian Moseley to take the quick offload and then push through the Dolphins to score.

His second try came after Dane Phillips received the ball. Seci started off down field then reacted and backpeddled when he realised the kick wasn't going too far. He stayed alive for a Nat Neale offload and fell on Julian Christian's kick.

To complete his hat-trick, he followed through on another Christian kick and grounded the ball just inside the dead ball line.

Pio spoke about the reason for his improvement.

"Just becoming more aware of what's required and I am learning every week,'' he said.

"It took me a while to figure it out. Redcliffe was our hardest game so far."

Pio's hat-trick was the first this season. The Jets scored three last year.

Michael Purcell scored two in round 12 and round 16 with Christian achieving the feat in round 25.

Pio is now on five tries, equal with Purcell as the Jets leading try scorer.

The Jets go into this weekend's bye having won two in a row.

The Jets started slowly against the Dolphins.

The Jets defence from there was outstanding only missing 28 tackles, forcing the Dolphins to drop out three times in the first half.

Phillips kept turning the Dolphins around forcing them back with smart kicks.

Neale topped the Jets tackle count with 26. Seb Pandia contributed 188 metres for the Jets.

The Jets made the Dolphins do a lot of work and they might be happy they have the week off.

The Dolphins made 63 more tackles than the Jets and had 32 more ineffective tackles than the Jets.

The most amazing fact of the Jets win is they only used four interchanges. That is a fit tough team.

The Jets tackle Tweed at Tweed Heads in their next Intrust Super Cup game after the weekend off.

Terrible football watcher

IT was a sad sight on Saturday seeing Michael Purcell with his arm in a sling.

The "Kangaroo Catcher'' shared a few thoughts on when he'll be back and how his life is with one arm.

"I am a terrible football watcher,'' Purcell said.

"It was really hard watching the Dolphins game. Before the game in the sheds I just wanted to play.

"It will be two weeks until the stitches come out and cast is off then four weeks still in the sling. Hopefully back in six weeks."

The break to Ipswich Jets footballer Michael Purcell's arm.

Purcell said it was a clean break.

"I knew straight away something wasn't right, it didn't hurt just didn't feel right,'' he said.

His planned return will be against Wynnum Manly at Wynnum in round 14.

Walker's perfect answer

THE question I am asked the most is why do the Jets do that?

The answer nearly all the time makes perfect sense.

Every week I will get Ben or Shane to explain a bit of football Walker logic.

Why at 10-4 down against Redcliffe would we take the two points in the 54th minute with so much time and attack?

Ben explained: "We were down by six but we had momentum if we score and miss the kick we still lose but take the two and we don't have to convert to win. Therefore, they kick off to us and we are always confident we can roll out better than other teams. Redcliffe kicking off gave us the whole field to work in."

For the record, the penalty goal was kicked, the Jets rolled out and scored two minutes later. Jets now in front by two.

Road to immortality

THE NRL has announced that six players will be chosen to join the Hall of Fame in July.

It began as a complete first grade list of 8729 players since 1908. Then it became 25. Of those 25, six will be admitted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame. Two of those 25 are from Ipswich.

Kevin Walters had a distinguished career for Ipswich, Raiders and Broncos winning grand finals, playing Origin and Tests for Australia as well as coaching the Jets and Origin.

"I am thrilled,'' Walters said of his nomination.

"I was very fortunate throughout my career to be involved with some wonderful players and coaches. They all made me look a lot better than I actually was."

Denis Flannery is the winger in the Queensland team of the century in 2008. He played for Brothers in Ipswich, first representing Queensland at 18 and playing for Australia on two Kangaroo tours.

That was as well as running the Ulster Hotel in town for 58 years.

Magic milestones

MARMIN Barba is on 348 points for the Jets. He needs two more for 350.

Richard Pandia is on 96 points for the Jets, requiring four more for 100 points.

Cooper's stat

NAT Neale has topped the Jets tackle count five out of eight games.

A cold beer with . . .

BRONCOS game development manager Paul Dyer will be the club's inaugural women's coach in September when the league kicks off. We sat down for a beer to talk all about it.

How are the Broncos shaping up for the new women's league? We are currently in the planning phase of what promises to be an exciting time for the club and the female players who get the opportunity to play in the inaugural NRLW competition. It is hoped that in the coming weeks the NRL and the RLPA will have finalised the contract process and we will be able to begin recruitment of the team.

Ipswich's Ali Brigginshaw has to be top of your wishlist for the Broncos? I have had the pleasure of coaching Ali previously and she is a very talented footballer who is certainly very passionate about the women's game. A couple of key things that I value in players is first and foremost that they want to play for our club and secondly that they are willing to work hard to achieve success, Ali has made no secrets that she has always dreamt of one day playing for the Broncos and also values hard work.

Will the Broncos' have any Jets tricks under your coaching? Short kick-offs? No, but the Walker boys have certainly created a style of play that is interesting to watch and exciting for the competition.

Favourite all-time Ipswich footballer? Allan Langer is probably one of my favourite all-time footballers and premier of Queensland, if he ever ran for politics. Alf did all his talking on the field and created a culture at the Broncos that would continue to define our history long into its future. Never giving up and enjoying success were two traits Alf led. I have never seen a player so adored by Rugby League supporters all over the world.