By Lee Reilly
For Wynnum-Manly Seagulls Captain Mitch Frei, Sundays match is a must win and Norths Devils will be a tough assignment.
“They’ve got a pretty good side. A lot of experience in this competition (Intrust Super Cup) and first grade (NRL) as well.”
“One thing I’ve noticed with the competition this year is how close it is. There’s not too much difference between the top and the bottom teams. You probably don’t have those weeks where you’re going in thinking you have an easy win. You’ve got to turn up every week and we’ll definitely be doing that on Sunday against Norths.”
For Frei, the transition back to Wynnum-Manly – after a season with the Sydney Roosters in the NRL which netted the 25 year-old six first-grade games – has been an easy one.
“It’s been a good transition for me actually. A lot of the players I played with are still here.”
“Since I have come back it hasn’t felt uncomfortable and I’ve fitted right back in.”
Frei believes the high standard of the Queensland Cup is fast making it the best competition outside of the NRL.
“It’s a very physical competition. I think it’s probably working its way up to maybe being the second strongest rugby league competition in the world.”
“There are a lot of people who have played first-grade; there are a lot of people who have played for a very long time. It’s a very tough competition, always has been and probably always will be.”
Last week’s convincing 46-8 victory over the Tweed Heads Seagulls was a perfect way to start the sides four-game block at BMD Kougari Oval, and just the type of game the side needed.
“We’ve been waiting on a game like that for a little while now. Everything clicked together. It was just a real good effort from all the boys and a good confidence booster going into this week.”
Wins at home have been an issue in 2017 for Wynnum-Manly, something the side has talked about at great lengths and wants to rectify moving forward for the rest of the season.
“We pride ourselves on winning at home. That’s something we’ve been poor at this year. So we have had a conversation about making sure we can win the rest of our home games.”
“We are in a position where we do need to win a lot of games to make the top 6, so winning all those home games will help out with that.”
Sunday also marks a live QLD Intrust Super Cup on Channel Nine, which according to the 25 year-old only helps enhance the competition.
“I think it’s really good with what Channel Nine do with our competition. It gives us all a little bit of exposure. It expands our competition and puts the young players coming through on the map.” Frei said.