We name the star players who hold the keys to Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership hopes
From dynamic duos to premiership stat leaders – we look at the star players that hold the keys to Western Clydesdales grand final hopes this weekend. Find out who made our list here.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Western Clydesdales head north this Saturday – ready to tackle their first BMD Premiership semi-final.
The club have enjoyed a stellar debut season booking their place in the finals with a thrilling 22-22 draw with Souths Logan Magpies thanks to a Natalia Webb try in the last 90 seconds of the match that tied the scores.
Minor premiers Mackay Cutters now stand in the way of the Clydesdales and a place in the grand final against either Norths Devils or Burleigh Bears.
Ahead of the big match which kicks off in Mackay at 4.05pm here’s our look at the players who hold the key to the Clydesdales’ hopes.
Breakout star
You’d be hard pressed to find a player more worthy of the ‘Breakout Star’ title than Leianne Tufuga.
The 22-year-old, who made her Clydesdales debut in round 1 and has played all nine games, leads the BMD Premiership in three categories and is top 10 in two others.
Lining up at centre Tufuga is a devastating ball runner and leads the competition in post contact metres (701), run metres (1366) and tackle breaks (74).
Tufuga is also fourth in linebreaks (8) and seventh in offloads (10).
The Kiwi star tests team’s defensively every time she runs the ball and the Clydesdales need to capitalise on that with good support runners and quick play the balls.
Tufuga could be the X-factor that helps steer the Clydesdales to victory if she and the Clydesdales capitalise on her exciting play.
Winged wonders
Rugby union converts Georgia Sim and Kayla Jackson have almost seamlessly adapted life with the Clydesdales.
Jackson is the Clydesdales leading try scorer this year and ranks fifth in the competition after crossing the line seven times so far – Sim has scored four tries this season.
A huge part of Jackson’s play this year has been her ability to break tackles with the winger ‘busting free’ 42 times this season.
The pair have been exciting on their respective thanks to their dynamic running and passion for the game.
Both have also been more than solid defensively as well.
Capitalising on stellar play from forward Steph Hancock, Jackson’s mazey run through the Souths Logan Magpies set up Natalia Webb for a try in the last 90 seconds of the game that ultimately sealed the Clydesdales spot in the finals.
If they Clydesdales can get clean ball to their dynamic wing duo they can be confident their stars will convert.
Forward punch
Tufuga leads the team in run and post contact metres but the Clydesdales forward pack are no slouches.
Captain Tara Reinke is the BMD Premiership’s third best ‘runner’ with 1162m and ranks fourth for post contact metres with 473.
The Clydesdales also have a dynamic duo in their forward pack – Steph Hancock and Jessikah Reeves.
Veteran Hancock and young gun Reeves are relentless with the ball in hand.
Hancock hits the line hard and Reeves footwork at the line trouble defences.
Against the Cutters, the Clydesdales pack will need to win the forward battle to give their playmakers room to move.
Huge addition
Marquee signing Shenae Ciesiolka could return to the Clydesdales line-up after sitting out round nine due to State of Origin commitments.
If the Oakey Bears junior passes a medical on Friday morning after State of Origin Game 1 she will make the trip north to Mackay.
Ciesiolka would wear the No. 6 jersey if she plays with current five-eighth unfortunately moved into a reserves spot.
Last game
The Cutters beat the Clydesdales 34-6 in April.
Errors proved costly in the match with the Cutters scoring four tries off Clydesdales knock-ons.
In a positive sign for the Clydesdales the scoreline didn’t truly reflect their efforts.
The Clydesdales defended gallantly throughout the clash before the Cutters scored three tries in the final 11 minutes to blow out the scoreline.
U12 girls, boys Queensland netball squads revealed
The talent pool of netball in Queensland is ever growing, and if the recent Under-12s School Sport Nationals are anything to go by, there’s no slowing down. Meet the squads and hear how they brought home gold and bronze:
REVEALED: The 20 stars of the 2024 TRL grand final day
The best rugby league players in the Darling Downs faced off on Saturday in a remarkable day of TRL grand finals. We have run the rule over the action to reveal the 20 star performers. See who made the list from your club here.
GALLERY: 70 pics from action-packed TRL grand final day
Did we catch you in action at the Toowoomba Rugby League grand finals? Check out our massive grand final gallery featuring tries, tackles and celebrations from Saturday’s games here.
Gallery: Ecstatic crowd explodes with historic TRL win
The Toowoomba Sports Ground came to life as thousands of fans gathered to watch the TRL grand finals. See our gallery here.
HISTORY MAKERS: Captains’ joy after TRL premiership wins
It was a day which will live long in the memory of Toowoomba Rugby League fans as the Highfields Eagles claimed a breakthrough women’s title, Valleys went back-to-back in reserve grade and the Dalby under-19s were crowned 2024 premiers. Hear from the winning captains here.
‘Unbelievable’: Gatton secures TRL premiership for the ages
The Gatton Hawks are the kings of the TRL after a thrilling 24-20 golden-point win over Valleys in the A-grade grand final on Saturday night. Hear from the man who wrote his name into TRL history with the premiership-winning try here.