ROOSTERS’ FINALS PUSH GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE

After a weekend without rugby league in the Townsville area due to the contingency weekend, club games will resume this Saturday.

The Burdekin Roosters will meet Brothers at Jack Manski Oval, while Western Lions will host Centrals. Norths travel to Ingham and Souths head to Charters Towers.

The A-grade and reserves Roosters have two games remaining in the regular season, while the under-19s have one game left.

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Souths lead the A-grade competition on 25 points, followed by Centrals on 20, Western Lions on 16, with Burdekin and Brothers level on 14.

Charters Towers, Herbert River and Norths are out of the running.

The final two games of the regular season are among the most important of the year for the Roosters, with both matches set to play a major role in determining third and fourth place on the ladder.

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Coach Steve Lansley says his team is ready for the final push.

With just two games remaining, the Roosters have put themselves firmly into semi-final contention, but the job is far from finished.

The Roosters now face two enormous challenges against fellow finals contenders Brothers and Western Lions, with both matches carrying plenty of importance as the battle for a top-four position heats up.

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It has been a season of fine margins for Burdekin, with many games going right down to the wire.

At their best, the Roosters have shown they are capable of matching the competition’s leading sides and producing the type of football that can take them deep into the finals.

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There is a growing belief within the camp that if the Roosters can produce their best performances over the next fortnight, two wins are certainly within reach.

Fourteen rounds of hard work have set up an opportunity, and now the players have the chance to finish the regular season strongly and carry that momentum into the finals.

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However, to beat the top sides, Burdekin knows it must be switched on in the effort areas.

Discipline, defensive effort, chasing, support play and doing the little things right will be crucial.

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Two wins could change everything.

The Roosters believe a premiership is within their reach. Now they have to prove it.

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The A-grade match kicks off at 6pm on Saturday night.

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RESERVES PLAYING FOR PRIDE

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The Roosters reserves are playing for pride, but one wonders what could have been.

Although they are out of the top four, they are the only team to have beaten both of the top two sides this season — Souths and Western Lions.

If coach Peter Horan can put his best side on the field, the Roosters could come away with a win when the game kicks off at 4.30pm.

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UNDER-19S FACE TOP-OF-THE-TABLE CLASH

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The under-19s will finish their regular season with a top-of-the-table clash against Brothers.

The young Roosters are sitting second on the ladder behind Brothers, with the two teams set to meet again in a fortnight.

The teams have met twice this season, with Brothers winning the first encounter in Townsville before the Roosters claimed victory in the return match in Ayr.

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Coach Alf Cantarella has hooker and playmaker Jack Power returning from injury, which is a positive for the team, with the little No. 9 dangerous in loose play.

The Roosters have lost outstanding winger Chekayne Taiters to injury, but the signing of outstanding centre Kobe Geia is a plus.

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Harrison Lammon has also returned from injury, while Leylan Lampton, Logan Guglielmania, Kirk Viero, Kaddy Zaro, Kenny Southwell, Mason Kiehne, Tyce Cursio, Riley Smith and Chad Fraser are all in form.

It shapes as a top game, kicking off at 3pm on Saturday.

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The Old Boys are taking a bus to Brothers for the games, so the support will be there.

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