Michael Nunn IT S Rivalry Round this week in the Intrust Super Cup and I am not going to try and talk down our competitiveness against the Easts Tigers. The Tigers are our closest rival, our neighbour, the guy next door. But the Tigers aren t that good guy next door. They re the neighbour that comes over for a BBQ but brings terrible beer and drinks your Balters. The Tigers are the neighbour that doesn t bring your bin in when he gets his or collect your mail while you are away. The Tigers have won 12 or their past 19 against the Jets with one draw. Although it is still a tight contest overall with the Tigers leading 26-22 with one draw.
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Subscriber only IT wasn t only winning and giving his squad a workout that pleased Jets Colts coach Chris Ash. It was his team s improved fitness and regional school talent that has the former Jets and Brothers A-Grade footballer excited about the competition starting after Easter. The Jets team beat the Western Mustangs 34-20 in Saturday s trial, which was a curtainraiser to the Ipswich Indigenous All Stars v Ipswich All Stars gala match. With his team leading comfortably 22-4 at halftime, Ash gave everyone a run after the break. We re pretty happy, the St Peter Claver College teacher said.
Michael Nunn THE Ipswich Jets season is about to take off and it will start with a trial against the Sunshine Coast Falcons at the Coast on February 20. The Jets Intrust Super Cup side then play Souths Logan in Ipswich before ending the pre-season with the PNG Hunters at the North Ipswich Reserve on March 6. Jets head strength and conditioning coach Jonathan Dore was adamant the work has been done in the pre-season. Our testing shows we are ahead of this time last year and that s testament to the players who worked hard last year, Dore said. What is going to be interesting is the new rules this year that have filtered down from the NRL.
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Subscriber only FORMER NRL player Ian Lacey recalls the anxiety he endured when a neck injury playing for the Ipswich Jets forced his retirement. It was during Lacey s 100th and final game for the club that his football career suddenly ended after a tackle in the 2013 Queensland Cup semi-final in Mackay. I really felt the spinal cord move in my neck, Lacey said. It was just an awkward tackle and my whole left side of my body went numb. The former Broncos hooker knew then and there it was time to hang up the boots. However, his forced retirement did little to diminish his passion for the game and eagerness to help the Indigenous community.