By Matt Findlay

Although they’re making the tough trip to Sunnybank on Saturday, Jeeps flanker Matt Gicquel admitted his side – and no doubt the rest, too – are already working to address the elephant in the competition’s room.

How do you stop this year’s rampant, unbeaten, juggernaut-like University of Queensland side?

Only Souths and Brothers have come within a try of the Red Heavies this year, the latter losing by just one point, and even the second-placed Jeeps were bested by 21 at UQ’s hands.

That was Jeeps’ only defeat of 2021 though, so from the outside many are already suggesting the Gallopers may be the only side capable of spoiling the Red Heavie’s premiership party this season

“They’re just a really strong side and they can hurt you from anywhere,” Gicquel said.

“They’ve got the big guys up front who do plenty of damage but if you focus too much on them, they’ll sting you out wide. There’s plenty of firepower out there too, you have to be switched on across the park.

“We’re not focused on them too much yet, Sunnybank are a tough side and especially when you play there, but there’s definitely some thought of what we need to do to beat UQ.”

Gicquel has returned to his best this season after a shoulder reconstruction following a pre-season stint with the Melbourne Rebels last year, he missed six weeks of the 2019 season with illness too.

The 24-year-old takes heads into Saturday’s round 13 showdown against Sunnybank after a two-try performance in Jeeps’ 15-5 victory over reigning premiers Easts last weekend too.

“It’s unreal to be back, fully fit,” he said.

“I’ve definitely come back from my time with the Rebels a better player, I didn’t even think about that when I came down to Brisbane so I just wanted to soak it all up and go along for the ride.

“The biggest thing I took away from it was just how important the little things, the fundamentals and one-percenters really are – line speed, tackle technique, that kind of thing.

“My lineout work developed a lot too, if the opportunity comes up I’d love to go back to that level but for now I’m just enjoying playing with Jeeps again.”

Winning with Jeeps, too, the Gallopers trail UQ by eight points but they’re also a full 12 points clear of third-placed Bond University through the opening 12 rounds.

“We are looking to build into the finals now,” he said.

“We’re going along really well but we can still improve, particularly with the ball in hand.“Defensively we’re pretty good, our patterns have been really good all year. There are still things to improve on in that aspect too though.”