Qld coach backs versatile Jet

"He can play big minutes and strong carries and that's all I want.''

QUEENSLAND Residents coach Jon Buchanan was keen to have Ipswich Jets captain Nat Neale in his side for Sunday's representative game against NSW Residents.

"Nat was tremendous last year for us and his role won't change,'' Buchanan said.

"He can play big minutes and strong carries and that's all I want.

"I haven't worked out my interchange yet but hopefully plan will be to just let Nat go and rotate guys around him."

This will be the 28th Residents game and Queensland are looking to go ahead 14 to 12, with two draws.

Queensland won last season with a thumping 36-6 win.

WELCOME BACK: Ipswich Jets strongman Billy McConnachie. Picture: Rob Williams

Queensland have won six of the past 10 Residents games.

Neale played in 2013 off the bench and started in 2017.

"I can't wait,'' Neale said.

"I am looking forward to getting involved and back playing before Origin is exciting too.

"This will be my third Residents jumper and I know a lot of the NSW guys from my time in Sydney."

Welcome returns

IT was not pretty but it had plenty of grit about it.

Missing their captain Nat Neale and their half Julian Christian, the Jets defended their way to a 8-6 win over the premiers, PNG Hunters, last Friday night.

The most pleasing aspect was Michael Purcell and Billy McConnachie were back on board.

"I couldn't wait any longer. I'm really happy to be back and be on the field with the boys,'' Purcell said.

"The feeling of not playing and being in the shed before the game isn't the same feeling as being in the shed knowing you're playing.

"My arm pulled up really well and while I was playing, I did not think about it too much just focused on the game and getting my job done.

"There was a fair few times in the game where I cramped. All I kept thinking about was when Ben and Shane told us at training weeks before, if there's something up just do your job. So that's what I was worried about, was catching the ball and directing the team in defence."

McConnachie took the kick off and he was away.

"It was important I took that early carry and then I felt great,'' he said.

"It's just good to be back."

Stand-in captain Ben Shea was quick to stamp his authority on the position.

"I said to Keiron Lander when he ran out with instructions that good number 13 captains are hard to come by,'' Shea said.

Sebastian Pandia was players' player with a mammoth 15 tackle breaks.

Origin crunch time

ONE nil down and facing the Blues in game two in Sydney on Sunday night.

The Queensland team have made some changes and are ready to go.

I caught up with two Jets in Kevin Walters and Trevor Gillmeister to see how this week was going to be handled.

Queensland assistant coach Gillmeister gave his insights.

"It's all about playing together; they need time together and time with each other,'' Gillmeister said.

"We were blessed for a long while with no change to key players and they just knew each other so well."

Walters said game two gave his team a much clearer picture of what they're going to and what is needed.

"I do not think we need to change anything; just get better,'' Walters said.

"So we will review the game, have a chat and sometimes players have some good ideas or things you haven't thought of yourself."

What needs to change?

JETS coaching team Ben Walker and Shane Walker helped me understand where Queensland went wrong in game one and what has to happen for them to win the second clash.

What do Queensland need to change to win game two?

Ben Walker: "One error that needs fixing is if McCullough comes off the field they need to get the utility to hooker and keep Ben Hunt at seven. Queensland lacked any strike or threat through the middle once they switched Hunt.

"Milford or even Ponga should fill that nine or 13 role for Queensland and he can just bob around and turn up as a real threat."

Shane Walker: "I'd get Kaylan Ponga in the team. That's the only change. He's just so hard to tackle and get hold of.''

Wrestler training

JET number 554 Daniel Vidot used to make his name running the ball back into the defence.

Next month, Vidot will be heading off to the United States for wrestler training at the WWE performance centre in Orlando Florida.

I caught up with Daniel to find out what was next and how you become a WWE wrestler.

"I go over in July and then it's just a matter of how quickly I pick it up and get ready to go,'' he said.

"I am very excited. I just wanted a challenge and this is a pretty big challenge.

"The training is hard it's like off-season with league but they have no off-season it's all year."

"I'll go over there and work hard and I really want this, and they're happy with my image and physical ability."

Cooper's stat

THE Jets have been ahead at half time in five games this year winning four.

The Jets defeated the Hunters, Townsville, Tigers and Sunshine Coast when leading at halftime.

The Jets are still losing their first halves this season 118 to 176.

A cold beer with . . .

For 26 Origin games, FOG number 43 Dale Shearer was a try-scoring machine for Queensland. He contributed a record 12 tries until Greg Inglis came along and took the record. I sat down with Rowdy to reflect on his time in Ipswich.

Not many people would know about your connection to Ipswich? Dad was a principal so we moved around a bit but spent 1978-80 in Ipswich where I played for the Norths Tigers. We were very successful, winning premierships each year including the Brisbane premiership, which we entered in 1980.

Do you have fond memories of living in the area? I still have plenty of good mates from Ipswich and visit to catch up.

Favourite Jet or Ipswich player? Brett Kaatz.

What is your league involvement now? Not much at all. Happy to help Coolum on the Sunny Coast where my sons Jess and Jakson play. I'm also coaching the Queensland Wheelchair Rugby League team this year in an Origin game.

Originally published as Qld coach backs versatile Jet