By Tim Mosey

Round 6 Scores: UQ 21-18 Norths; Souths 63-36 Bond; Wests 36-29 GPS; Sunnybank 24-21 Brothers.

Doggies have plenty of heart

Wests overcame a 15 point deficit at half time and scored 36 second half points. They scored three tries in the opening five minutes and looked as though they would overcome GPS without any trouble.

But it wasn’t to be, as the Gallopers jumped back into the lead after a sublime angled run from elite fullback Albert Nikoro.

In the corresponding fixture last year referee Shane Barr whistled a scrum infringement penalty try, gifting GPS a win on the siren. This year, young referee Brett Cronan resisted the temptation to blow a scrum penalty that would have given GPS a draw.

Wests were down a front rower but their scrum held strong and the Doggies exacted revenge from a heart breaking loss in 2017.

Elia Tuqiri has Some Pulling Power

Souths coach Elia Tuqiri, cousin of dual international Lote certainly has some sway in the rugby community.

Cooper. Kingi. Nabuli.

Now Souths have added an additional scrumhalf sniper to their smorgasbord of backline talent – Genia.

Nigel, brother of Wallaby veteran Will is at his third Premier Grade club having pulled on the green and gold of Wests and blue and green of GPS in previous years. Genia returns to Australia after an overseas stint and has landed in the Magpies nest. Their second grade stocks now look elite too.

University Are Back With the Pack

Norths had a tight tussle with a University side chock full of talent including bench weapon Sef Fa’agase.

Both sides played a tight style of footy. Norths identified that Uni seldom committed to the tackle all day and made ample meters up the middle. They’d be disappointed with their execution though and had opportunities to upset the heavyweights.

Mother Nature Holds Off

The paint is still visible on the grounds. Autumn mud has this year been replaced by thick and luscious couch.

Minimal rain in Brisbane for a month has left club grounds across the city in perfect condition. With high traffic on training grounds, particularly at Bond, Souths and Sunnybank, the lack of rain has pleased volunteer grounds staff, though its meant full training weeks for all clubs.

Injury tolls may creep up with the continuity in training week to week.

Injuries, S&C Coaches

A scan across team lists suggest something – many sides are dealing with apparent injury worries.

Week to week it is noticeable the number of new names in most team lists. As previously stated, the lack of wet weather means teams haven’t missed much training.

Six rounds in and the knocks and bumps of Tuesday and Thursday nights coupled with Saturday fixtures start to take a toll. Astute Head Coaches will converse with their S&C coach and make subtle changes to the training program. Perhaps those sides with consistent team lists week in week out are doing this?

Maybe they are swapping a full hour contact session on Tuesday night with half an hour instead?

Are the physical performance staff thinking about the accumulated upper body impact their side is under – particularly those side that play a forward dominant game?

Are they thinking about the accumulated running fatigue their outside backs are under?

Or maybe those teams who are consistent with their roster are just lucky…