QUICK WRAP: Magpies vs Devils

1 April 2023 - Souths Logan play Norths in round 4 of the BMD Premiership on Saturday evening at Logan Metro Sports Complex, Browns Plains

Apr 05, 2023

Was the game worth watching?

Yes. Souths are pretty good and play a powerful brand of football and Norths have a lot of famous players. There was almost a fight.

Final result

May be an image of 2 people, people playing sport and text

(Norths used the wrong comp logo but at least they had a graphic!)

Note: the QRL lists this game as running to 80 minutes for some reason, with a number of scores occurring after 70’. I have assumed anything they’ve listed as occuring after 70’ as actually occurring between 60’ and 70’, so this graph might be out from the actual game clock.

It was a poorly produced game in general. There was no advance warning this was the featured game and it appeared that morning on Qplus that there wouldn’t be a featured BMD game at all. The score bug was missing through the first half. These stats are pretty dubious. But it’s what we have to work with.

Did the Magpies or the Devils look like the better team?

Clear victory to the Magpies by knock-out. The Devils coughed up what possession they had and were run over in attack and then smacked twice as hard in defence. It was a tough day out for Brigginshaw and co.

Were the Magpies really the better team?

Yes, comfortably so. It’s nice when the eye test and the statistics agree. The Devils had only two minutes less ball but supposedly had ten fewer possessions than the Magpies. The two sides had similar errors, marginally more penalties against Norths and Souths Logan had a marginally better completion rate. The relative lack of opportunity and, I can’t stress this enough, how much the forwards dominated made this a formality in the end.

Did you notice?

The Souths Logan Magpies might have the best pack, relative to their league, in all of football. Here’s a typically crushing defensive set.

It was like this all day. Souths would make contact with intent, get Norths on their backs and stymie any attempt at offence.

In particular, here’s my current favourite player, April Ngatupuna, trucking everyone. She’s the perfect bench battering ram. Ngatupuna ran for 58 metres and recorded 37 post-contact in 40 minutes. (Here’s some more from earlier in the season)

Ngatupuna might not be the most mobile of players but when she hits, it's effective.

I may not find the best players but I do find the ones that are the most fun to watch.

After being hit in the mouth repeatedly and eventually conceding a try, the Devils’ shoulders slump. It’s not even half time and there’s only eight points in it but the game’s over.

Bonus: here’s another crushing defensive set.

Bonus bonus: here’s Ali Brigginshaw getting pissed off after being punked all day. It would inspire Brigginshaw to go up another gear late in the game. Her teammates did not come with her and it all fizzled out.

Boxscores

(see above re: minutes)

Final thoughts

I’ve neglected to note it in this or the last Quick Wrap but the genuine first graders are working to different timelines to the reserve graders. Any gaps between expectations and performance might be due to motivation (not worth risking injury or expending energy needed later) and/or lack of condition (peaking for later in the year). Some players are terriers, some have to pace themselves.
Destiny Brill: still good.
Steph Hancock left the field after one (1) minute due to a head knock. How ugly it might have gotten with a full Souths bench?
Souths have struggled with the boot. The Magpies could have won this by another 4-6 points. This week was 1 from 5 and was 50% in the week before’s thrashing of the Capras. Only the first match against the Tigers was a more than respectable 4 from 4, courtesy of Baylee Davis, who then had a 1 from 5 shocker in the second week. Duties have been passed between players since then.
Kicking hasn’t mattered so far but could be decisive when the Magpies play the Bears (round 5) or the Cutters (round 7). That’s some tough sledding ahead for Souths Logan but I still think they’re in the mix for the title. Worth noting that the QRLW teams that have won the minor premiership have both lost the grand final.
The Devils are now one draw from four games, and not performing much better than the men’s side. While Norths could pick up points against Tweed and Central, I’d say it’s just about season over.

Corrections

Addendum: Jaime Chapman scored a sick try for Tweed in round 4. Not sure that changes much of what I said about her previous game but it did happen.

Omission: Ali Brigginshaw and Gayle Broughton had both signed for the Broncos by Monday’s newsletter. The former slipped my mind as being so obvious that I had forgot it had even happened.

Error: I can't explain why I thought Albert Kelly was injured. Apparently, coach Ben Te'o was testing halfback combinations and it was Kelly’s turn to miss the game against Wynnum, so if he was elevated to the top 30, he could do a job for the Phins.

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