Tim Mosey takes a look back at round 15 and a look ahead at a big few weeks of Premier Rugby leading into the finals.

The Equation

It’s as simple as this.

Bond University need to win both their respective matches to give themselves the best chance of making the four.

Their draw with Souths on Saturday has made their finals run all that more challenging.

Unfortunately they are playing for a maximum of ten points from three rounds (two games, one bye).

Easts (two points clear of Bond) are playing for fifteen points. If they win all three they are ensured of finals footy.

GPS, Souths and University of QLD are all playing for fifteen total points as well.

Bond’s finals chances are in the hands of the Gods.

They will need to rely on others to stumble at the final hurdle if they are to play finals footy in 2018.

Souths Poised

The Magpies are poised to make a serious run at this years finals.

They have tough assignments over the next three weeks against GPS, Sunnybank and UQ and things really could go either way.

They could steamroll all and sundry and finish minor premiers.

Or they could lose all three matches and miss finals all together.

With a swathe or representative players adorning Chipsy Wood Oval this season – Cooper, Hunt, Nabuli, Feauai-Sautia, Kerevi, Kingi and Genia – it would seem the former of these possibilities is far more likely.

Eagles Blown Away by a Gale

UQ halfback Scott Gale made a two try return to Premier Rugby on Saturday.

There was some fair work from hooker Sean Farrell in the lead up to Gale’s first try, handling twice, throwing two well timed, accurate passes and showing blistering pace down the touchline.

His brother Jack plays openside for Souths first grade and the pair grew up on the Sunshine Coast before moving to board at BBC for their final school years.

We said it two weeks ago that halves combinations would be critical come finals.

UQ have got the Dalgleish/Gale combination back just in time to cement themselves in the four and shoot for the minor premiership.

GPS Move Forward, Work to Do

GPS were unconvincing in their victory over the Doggies at Sci-Fleet Stadium.

Wests were up and down in both attack and defence, though were never quite out of the match.

There were some nice touches in contact from young backrower Tom Kibble, another Brisbane Boys’ College product.

The 18 year old grabbed a meat pie from the back of a lineout, charging over with determination, where other players may have opted to go into contact and recycle for the ensuing phase.

GPS will know what they are made of in a month. They play Souths, UQ and Easts in their final rounds.

Even being on top of the competition, the Gallopers can still miss the finals if they go 0-3 and Bond go bang, bang.

What a finish we have in QPR!

More QPR Backing

Triple M has secured naming rights for the match of the round – currently shown on Fox Sports Wednesday 5pm.

The match of the round will now be known as ‘Triple M’s Hospital Challenge Cup Match of the Round.’

This is more outstanding news for QLD Premier Rugby fans and ensures sponsorship support for the competition into the future.