Devils out to break seven year hoodoo against Tigers with unpredictability at Bishop Park
It’s a huge clash between the Devils and Tigers in Sunday’s elimination final in the Intrust Super Cup, and Norths will be desperate to bury a hoodoo that has haunted them for seven years.
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The Devils are out to break a seven-year hoodoo against the Tigers in the second of this weekend’s Intrust Super Cup elimination finals.
The two Brisbane sides will battle it out in a fifth versus eighth do-or-die blockbuster clash at Bishop Park on Sunday, with both teams desperate to advance one step closer to this year’s grand final.
Despite the home ground advantage, the Devils are yet to defeat their cross-town rivals at Bishop Park since 2012 – a fact not lost on any of the players.
However, with last year’s beaten grand finalists only just scraping into the top eight this year, the Devils are hoping to use their attacking strike power to claim a “Bashup Park” victory.
Norths captain Jack Ahearn was well aware of the Tigers dominance in the Devils’ own backyard and said they weren’t planning to let their local fans down this weekend.
“It’s been a while since we’ve beaten them here,” Ahearn said.
“Easts tend to have the ascendancy over us at Bishop Park, so we know they’re going to come out strong.
“It’s do-or-die so we’ll be leaving nothing in the tank. We’re hoping to progress our season towards that grand final.”
Not since the 2012 season has Norths found themselves playing finals footy, which Ahearn credited to the mentorship of head coach Rohan Smith.
Smith, now in his second year at the club, has added unpredictability to the Devils’ attack, boosted by the NRL experience of Broncos players Sean O’Sullivan and Herbie Farnworth.
Former Devil, now Easts Tigers rival captain Brett Greinke, said he was wary of his opposition’s tactics.
“They play a real unique style of football,” Greinke said.
“I really like it as a fan of rugby league because they throw it around a lot more and they use their outside backs to play to their strengths.
“(But) it’s a different competition now that we’re in the finals.
“Everything that’s happened in the last 20-odd rounds is out the window.
“It’s do-or-die. Mistakes cost you. You can’t afford to be off for any period of time.
“We know the style of footy they play, where they’re very unpredictable, so we’ve got to be on our game in defence.”
Ahearn said their unpredictable attack could either be a help or a hindrance.
“Rohan (Smith) trusts us to play with our eyes up and play what we see,” he said.
“We don’t play too structured. We just fall into a bit of shape and away we go.
“There’s pros and cons obviously.
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“We can drop the ball more often by throwing it around a bit too much.
“All the big boys have a pass in them, so it opens up a lot of opportunities around the field.”
The Devils take on Easts at Bishop Park at 1.05pm, while Tweed Seagulls play Redcliffe at Piggabeen Sports Complex at 11.40am.
The two qualifying finals will also be played on Sunday, when Wynnum-Manly host Burleigh at BMD Kougari Oval at 2pm, and the Falcons battle it out with Townsville on the Sunshine Coast.
INTRUST SUPER CUP FINALS SCHEDULE
Sunday, September 8
● Tweed Seagulls v Redcliffe Dolphins at Piggabeen Sports Complex, 11.40am
● Norths Devils v Easts Tigers at Bishop Park, 1.05pm
● Sunshine Coast Falcons v Townsville Blackhawks at Sunshine Coast Stadium, 2pm
● Wynnym Manly Seagulls v Burleigh Bears at Kougari Oval, 2pm
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