This Brisbane Rhinos (2-1) will play host to the Gold Coast Stingrays (1-1-1) Saturday, October 23 in the fourth round of action in Gridiron Queensland’s 2021 season.
The Rhinos are coming off a tough 53-20 loss to the league leading Brisbane Ravens after beating the USQ Mustangs 29-14 and the Logan City Bears 44-6. Meanwhile, Gold Coast were also beaten badly by the Ravens, 58-0 but rebounded with a 33-0 blanking of SCS/MBR.
Brisbane’s offense is the second highest scoring in the league so far averaging 3o points a game, but they have given up 71 points in the three games (53 of those to the unbeaten Ravens).
Brisbane head coach Samuel Harkness enters the game without his starting quarterback Mitchell Bradford, who sprained his ankle last week, so he will look to backup Riley Dix. Dix’s main targets will be wide receiver Max Williams who has caught six touchdown passes, along with Calder Shanks and Jarrod Toshack. At running back, Riley Wood, Reagan Holliday and Angus Franz will rotate. Center Ryan Glasson anchors a young offensive line. Defensively, defensive lineman Harry Martin has been a standout and coupled with newcomer Xavier Savelino at linebacker, presents a formidable front seven. In the secondary, cornerback Nate Ashton-Miles has opened with season impressively and with veteran safeties Chiam James and Tyson Snagg both playing well, the Stingrays will have a tough time throwing the ball.
For the Stingrays, head coach Länce Töngakilo will be counting on phenomenal rookie running back Gab Salvo, who leads the team in rushing and scored two touchdowns in the 33-0 win over SCS/MBR two weeks ago. Fifteen-year veteran wideout Riku Haataja continues to produce and also scored two touchdowns while catching for over 100 yards in last week’s victory. Gold Coast also has quarterbacking woes with TE Dylan Napier being pressed into service this week.
On defense, a pair of rookies, linebackers Christian Denton and Lucas Aufanc, have been making big plays for the Stingrays and give the defense excellent mobility. Veteran Nata Togafu has moved from linebacker to defensive line and the transition has been smooth according to Töngakilo. Defensive lineman Sam Matautia with experience from playing in Europe along with Lui Breese who has also moved from linebacker to defensive line, give the Stingrays an impressive lineup up front on defense.
Both teams have fallen to the Ravens by lopsided margins so this will be a battle for second place.
Watch the game live here. Gold Coast Stingrays @ Brisbane Rhinos, Oct. 23, 10:30 CET (10:30 am, 4:30 am ET, 6:30 pm in Australia).