Tigers, Jets blast through to next stage

BIG Sam Kasiano was among the try scorers for Easts as they staged a 32-0 mutiny of the Northern Pride in their Q-Cup elimination final in Cairns on Saturday.
The result pits the Tigers against Ipswich, who beat Townsville 32-12, in another sudden-death match next Saturday, to be held at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park.
Easts had every reason to falter, losing fullback and key player Scott Drinkwater in the lead-up, and still without key halves Brodie Croft and Billy Walters.
Conversely, the Pride benefited from the return of young gun Jake Clifford at halfback, slotting back in after beginning his NRL career at the North Qld Cowboys.
That form line counted for little though as Easts scored three tries in the opening 28 minutes, as the Pride looked bereft of ideas.
While Clifford can look forward to an NRL career next year, Tigers half Brayden Torpy is planning on playing for Australian Universities in South Africa in October.
His halves partner Josh Ralph had featured in only one Intrust Super Cup game all season, having spent the majority of the season playing in the local Brisbane Rugby League. Defying that disparity, Torpy helped steady his team in the face of adversity and Ralph scored a hat-trick in the unusual setting of suburban Stan Williams Park, home of Cairns Brothers.
Torpy also potted two first-half goals, including converting Kasiano’s 35th minute try, as the Tigers took a 20-0 lead at halftime.
Monster Samoan test rep Kasiano, who had only played once for Easts in the regular season, qualifies to play for the Tigers in the final because affiliate club Melbourne Storm remains alive in the NRL.
Under competition rules, so long as the ‘parent club’ is still playing in the same season and a contracted player has been overlooked for the top 17, they can play for the ‘feeder club’.
While Easts face Ipswich next week, in the major semi-final Redcliffe will host Burleigh at Dolphin Stadium on Saturday, with the winner advancing straight to the grand final at Suncorp Stadium on Sept 23.
Finals Week 1 Results: Sat, Sept 1 – Townsville Blackhawks 12 Ipswich Jets 32, Northern Pride 0 Easts Tigers 32. – QRL