Mackay Cutters are proving a force to be reckoned with in the 2023 Queensland Rugby League BMD Womens premiership.
Last Saturday at Brisbane’s Totally Workwear Stadium, Marco Peters’ talented charges again demonstrated their championship credentials by trouncing the Brisbane Tigers 48-4.
It was the Cutters’ fourth win of the season and after five rounds the team shares top spot on the ladder with the undefeated Souths Logan Magpies and Burleigh Bears on eight points.
Outstanding fullback Jasmine Peters and centre China Polata capped superb games for the Cutters by each grabbing doubles in the ten try rout.
There was no stopping the Mackay girls from the moment classy hooker and captain Emma Manzelmann fooled the Tigers defence to score the opening try after three minutes with Alisha Foord converting.
The Cutters jumped to a massive 26-0 lead at the break following further tries to centre Libby Surha, the elusive Peters and Polata, Tillett and winger Katie Green in a dominant first stanza.
Mackay had too many big guns for their Brisbane rivals and posted another four tries after the interval when Polata, Peters, Mato and prop Makenzie Weale all crossed during a 15 minute blitz.
Meanwhile, barnstorming Brisbane Tigers centre Solomona Faataape was best on ground in his side’s 24-16 triumph over the Cutters in the Hostplus Cup.
Faataape crashed over for his first try in the 6th minute after Mackay winger Kyle Krisanski-Kennedy had earlier stunned the hosts with a neat four pointer within 60 seconds from kick off.
The Tigers regained the lead when centre Marion Seve dashed over to score his team’s second try before Mackay hit back when rugged back rower Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano burst through tackles to score and bridge the deficit to four points.
But two blockbusting tries by Faataape in the space of three minutes turned the match for Brisbane as they skipped to a 24-10 lead with 12 minutes left on the clock.
The Cutters gave their supporters hope when hard working lock and skipper Sean Mullany registered the Cutters’ third try after 73 minutes, but all to no avail.
Mackay are still winless after five rounds and face a moment of truth this Saturday afternoon at BB Print Stadium when they host the Norths Devils.
Both clubs are languishing near the bottom of the table with the Devils now under the guidance of former Cutters coach Dave Elliott.
