Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
Brisbane City v North Harbour Rays;
When: Thursday 10 September. Kick-off 7:30pm AEST
Where: Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Match Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant Referees: Matt O'Brien, Brett Cronan
Television Match Official: Greg Milne
Broadcast Information: FOX SPORTS Channel 502
2015 Brisbane City Form Guide: WWW
2015 North Harbour Rays Form Guide: LWL
Last Time They Met: 09/10/14; North Harbour Rays 26 - 77 Brisbane City; Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Match Notes: Undefeated Brisbane City are looking to extend their seven-match winning streak in the National Rugby Championship, and defending the Horan-Little Shield for the first time. North Harbour Rays will be looking for some consistency and have made a number of changes to their starting side.
At Stake: The Horan-Little Shield
1. Pettowa PARAKA – Reds/Easts
2. Matt MAFI– Brothers
3. Sam TALAKAI – Reds/GPS
4. Ben HYNE– Brothers
5. Cadeyrn NEVILLE – Reds/Manly
6. Waita SETU - GPS
7. Liam GILL (C) – Reds/Sunnybank
8. Scott HIGGINBOTHAM – NEC Green Rockets
9. Nick FRISBY– Reds/GPS
10. Jake McINTYRE – Reds/Sunnybank
11. Mika TELA– Souths
12. Henry TAEFU- Sunnybank
13. Samu KEREVI– Reds/GPS
14. Chris KURIDRANI– Reds/GPS
15. Karmichael HUNT – Reds/Brothers
16. Markus VANZATI– Souths
17. Ryan FREENEY - GPS
18. Feao FOTUAIKA- Sunnybank
19. James MOORE– Easts
20. Luke BEAUCHAMP– Brothers
21. Moses SOROVI – University
22. Patrick JAMES– Brothers
23. Junior LALOIFI- Sunnybank
1. Rory O’CONNOR - Warringah
2. Luke HOLMES (C)- Warringah
3. Lawrance HUNTING - Northern Suburbs
4. Ryan MELROSE - Manly
5. Harry RORKE- Gordon
6. Harry BERGELIN- Manly
7. Boyd KILLINGWORTH- Warringah
8. Jack DEMPSEY- Gordon
9. Josh HOLMES- Warringah
10. Hamish ANGUS- Warringah
11. Tyson DAVIS- Warringah
12. Tom HILL- Eastwood
13. Dennis PILI-GAITAU- Manly
14. Alex NORTHAM- Manly
15. Reece HODGE- Manly
16. Vance ELLIOTT- Manly
17. Mitch LEWIS- Manly
18. Alex HOLMES- Bond University
19. Cameron TRELOAR- Warringah
20. Ruairidh WILSON - Gordon
21. Tim DONLAN - Manly / Richard WOOLF- Manly
22. Sam LANE- Manly
23. Michael ADAMS- Warringah
@RugbyReg says (http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-2015-round-4-preview/):
The value of the Horan-Little Shield is there on show this Thursday night as the Rays are in with a chance to steal the Shield away from current holders, Brisbane City. It will be a challenge in the true sense of the word, however, as while Brisbane have the freedom to rest some key players after their short turnaround from a Sunday game in Toowoomba, the Rays have team changes for less positive reasons.
It’s a nature of the professional game, and perhaps the RWC window, that key players Ed Gower, Sam Ward and Mark Johnson have all just taken up opportunities overseas. It’s a blow for the Rays but, as is the theme of this tournament, it provides an opportunity for another group of players to strut their stuff.
Key Match ups:
The NRC has a reputation for being a free-spirited running extravaganza of tries, but the battles at scrum time can’t be overlooked. Sam Talakai for Brisbane has been one of the stand out players for his team, providing an attacking anchor at the set piece, whilst being highly involved across the park. To combat him. the Rams have promoted 21 year old Rory O’Connor into the starting line-up for the first time this season and he deserves his start after some impressive impacts from the bench.
Meanwhile, City have given the chance to Henry Taefu in the centres and the highly regarded Sunnybank player should have an epic battle with his opposite number in Tom Hill. Both are highly physical centres, with Taefu (a Ray last year) also possessing a handy offload whilst Hill has been close to his side’s best so far this season.
