Tigers are Minor Premiers for 2025

The Tigers hosted the Springwood Pumas yesterday at the Den in their third clash for the year during the Home and Away QFA Division 1 Competition.

The Tigers had beaten the Pumas by more than one hundred points on each of the previous occasions, each with very different team selections. The Pumas defeated the UQ Red Lions last week with yet another team selection. The UQ Red Lions had overrun the Tigers two weeks ago to further complicate any consideration of the Pumas performances this season.

Remarkably the Pumas rested thirteen players from the team that beat the UQ Red Lions last week so yesterday’s game was very much a dead rubber with little to be taken from the result. This notably included Jai Keneally, Nathan Murcott, Greg Friis, Rowan Page and Brandon Stewart.

Only fifteen of their best players have actually met the Tigers this season, and on different occasions, further making the finals series a very open competition.

The Pumas have finished second on the ladder and not without good reason as they have quietly played their way under the radar to get to the finals ready to go.

The Tigers also rested a few of their stars yesterday but were still very keen to go into the finals series with some momentum especially after the last few weeks where they had been well tested by Caloundra, UQ and the Hinterland Blues.

The Tigers started the game in dynamic fashion with Jamie Ivers and Tex Korewha in dominant form in the ruck with Louis Quin feasting on possession at ground level to have the Tigers racing away to a big first term total.

The Quin brothers usually have an invisible connection but it was very visible yesterday as Louis created numerous opportunities for big brother Zac to score and create havoc as he shared it around the forward line with impunity.

Zac McLean was at his creative best kicking three for the first term while setting up others to capitalise on. McLean went on to kick six for day.

The Tigers kicked seven goals while the Pumas were unable to make it past their half forward line at any stage in the term. Tex Korewha was strong while in the middle but excelled when down front as he kicked his first goal in the first term on his way to an impressive eight for the day. He has really hit his straps in recent weeks with some impressive marking and accurate kicking.

The Tigers increased intensity in the second term kicking another eight while the Pumas managed to kick their first for the game as they struggled for any momentum. It was clear that the mix of reserve grade players and the overall changes had left them with little cohesion to make an impact. They also lost Dylan Reid early in the game further impacting their ability to hit the scoreboard.

The Tigers midfielders in Duncan McCabe, Zac Puncken, Louis Quin and Casey Barber were dominant all day giving the Tigers plenty of their own momentum to have the game well and truly over by half time.

The Tigers backline was impenetrable with Aidan Williams, James Stolz and Kyle Henry in fine form.

The Tigers pulled back in the second half putting some of their best players on ice for the day while others were experimented in different positions to close out the game.

The Pumas were very well served by Harry King through the middle who got better as the day progressed.

The Tigers will play the Pumas again next week at the Den in the Qualifying Final.

Scores: Mayne 24.11.155 d Springwood 8.8.56

Goals:  Tex Korewha 8, Zac McLean 6, Zac Quin 4, Nick Galvin 3, Alex Craigie 2, Danny Athanasellis 1.

Best: Zac McLean, Tex Korewha, Zac Quin, Duncan McCabe, Hayden Fry, Aidan Williams.