Easts test quality in series

Easts co-captain Daniel Mantell (left) is tackled by Wests stalwart Darren Manson during the recent Ipswich A-grade grand final. Easts confront a new challenge in Brisbane over the next three weeks.

Sarah Harvey

EASTS player/coach Nathan Hooper is proud of what his A-grade men’s team has achieved in recent seasons, winning everything in the Ipswich competition and intercity series against Toowoomba.

However, Easts face a new challenge in the inaugural Tigerturf Cup starting at Carina this weekend.

As Ipswich champions, Easts have been invited to tackle host club Brisbane Easts, a QAS combination and the top club sides from the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

The post-season tournament is being played over the next three weekends.

Ipswich Easts meet powerful Brisbane club Easts at 6.30pm on Sunday in the first of their four games.

Hooper said his team was treating the tournament seriously, having trained since beating Wests in last month’s Ipswich A-grade grand final.

“It’s going to be a good test for everyone,” Hooper said.

“The last two years, we’ve won eight trophies. It would be nice to get the ninth, especially if we could get up over Brisbane. That would be something special.

“Everyone is pretty keyed up to see how good we are compared to other centres.”

Although having all his grand final players available at different times, Hooper has invited some Wests players to help out when needed.

“(Wests duo) Jaden (Ekert) and Greg (Walker) get on exceptionally well with the guys in our team,” Hooper said.

“Hopefully the Easts team that we play on Sunday is full-strength because I know the guys are pretty keen to see how they match up against one of the best teams in Brisbane.”

Former Ipswich Easts players Tim and Michael Bates and Todd Watson have played for Brisbane Easts in recent seasons.

Hooper supports the intercity format, where matches are played over 17-minute quarters.

“It’s an excellent concept,” he said.

“It probably just needs to be run a bit closer to the season or even as a pre-season, like the AFL run with their NAB Cup.”

The Tigerturf Cup tournament starting tomorrow is at the Clem Jones Sports Centre (corner of Stanley Road and Creek Road, Carina).

Ipswich Easts squad: Daniel Mantell (co-captain), Mark Llewelyn (co-captain), Andrew Woodford, Stu Darby, Chris Mantell, Luke Woodford, Paul Malcolm, David Llewelyn, Lachlan Brown, Dean Boughen, Chris Melvin, Tim Woodford, Thom Millar, Daniel Chandler, Jaden Ekert, Greg Walker, Kyle Sippel, Steven Bayliss, Lindsay Marsh. Coach: Nathan Hooper. Assistant: Stu Darby. Manager: Peter Llewelyn.