Meninga Cup grand final: Tweed Seagulls versus Townsville Blackhawks in Townsville

Meninga Cup grand final: Could this Brisbane Broncos signed schoolboy be the difference on Saturday?

Tom Weaver may pull the trigger, but Brisbane Broncos signed centre Deine Mariner is the silver bullet who looms as a huge threat to the Townsville Blackhawks beating Tweed Seagulls in Saturday’s Meninga Cup grand final.

The Blackhawks will host the decider after narrowly toppling Central Capras (28-24) in a knife-edge semi-final encounter last weekend.

Tweed won its way into the grand final after taking Wynnum Manly (40-18) to the sword.

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Tweed halfback Weaver and his dummy halves Oskar Bryant and Blake Mozer are lethal off an up-tempo style of play, but wide of the ruck right edge backrower John-Thomas Manuofetoa and right centre Mariner were big dangers.

Tweed Heads Deine Mariner in action during the Mal Meninga Cup clash. Picture: Scott Powick Newscorp

At times against Wynnum, Seagulls backrower Manuofetoa looked like a man playing with boys, while Palm Beach Currumbin SHS student Mariner scored three tries and was a constant threat for Tweed.

“Diene is a class act. He is really working hard on his game and responds well to our feedback. He had a great game,’’ said Tweed Heads Seagulls coach Tim Maccan said.

And it is not just Mariner’s attack which shone.

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In the final minute against Wynnum Manly, Mariner’s second effort to push an opponent over the sideline instead of just tackling him when the match was won spoke volumes about Mariner’s work ethic and attitude.

Tom Weaver in action. Picture: Scott Powick Newscorp

“Defensively he has been really on song last couple of weeks and he will be looking for another big game next week.’’

CQ Capras coach Kane Hardy said it would be a close call, but “Tweed looked very sharp. They looked very good.’’

Tweed’s defence was outstanding against Wynnum Manly in last week’s semi-final. Picture, John Gass

Townsville has its own potent attack to offer Tweed, with Ragarive Wavik, Xavier Chatfield-Mooka and Dudley Dotoi threats against back peddling defensive lines.

And wide of the ruck Will Latu will pose problems for Tweed.

But for all Townsville’s strike, and the Blackhawks have plenty of it, defence will win it.

The Blackhawks are into the Meninga Cup grand final.

“We pride ourselves on defence all carnival,’’ said Blackhawks coach Steve Sheppard.

“We were a little bit off against Capras. We probably didn’t pressure them enough from the inside.

“We have some work to do but we needed a good hit out like that (against Capras).

Sheppard said it was also a bonus having the match at home on Saturday afternoon.

“It is good for Townsville, good for the boys so hopefully we can get a big crowd.’’