Ken Gittens in action for Souths
Premiers Souths Magpies overcame the suspension of 1985 Grand Final halfback Wayne Cullen to easily account for Easts Tigers 22-4 in a round 1 floodlit Winfield State League match at Lang Park in Brisbane. Cullen had to front the QRL Judiciary just two hours before kick-off and copped a devastating three match ban for a high shot charge arising from a fiery match against Redcliffe three days earlier.
Easts’ coach Wayne Lindenberg and centre Greg Manthey threw a scare into their camp when they were involved in a car accident on the way to training the night before the game against Souths. Neither were injured but their delayed arrival from Toowoomba by several hours threw a hiccup into the team’s preparation.
Souths’ stars Eddie Muller, Peter Jackson and Mark Meskell attended Brisbane representative training at Corbett Park, Grange the day before the match against Easts, but Brisbane coach, Barry Muir allowed them to sit out the session.
With Cullen sidelined Souths’ coach Graeme Atherton moved Beaudesert product, Gary French from five eighth and handed the number 6 jersey to Brett Leaso.
Centre Ken Gittens scored two tries for Souths and played a big role in another by winger Paul Wallace. Gittens was unlucky not to finish with three tries after skipper Norm Carr broke the line and displayed surprising pace before passing to Gittens who then found Jackson in support. But Jackson’s return pass was put down by Gittens with the tryline within reach. Easts’ only points came from the boot of forward, Ian Stains.
In selection news ahead of the weekend’s State League games: Toowoomba promoted brilliant 18-year-old Oakey winger Rohan Teevan to the starting side, while the Ipswich Jets named 1985 Queensland under-18 hooker Kerrod Walters on their inter-change bench.
In other judiciary news, Norths’ utility back Chad Duffy from Mt Isa was banned for two weeks, found guilty on a head butting charge.
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