ROUND 6 | Intrust Super Cup Preview

It’s hard to believe that we’re already up to Round 6 in this year’s Intrust Super Cup, which at its conclusion will see off the first quarter of the season.

This weekend is all about Saturday with 6 of the 7 games being played, and there are some cracking games available to watch as well.

The big Super Saturday starts off in Cairns for the TV Game between the Pride and the Tigers, and finishes at BMD Kougari for the first Flockbuster of the year between the Wynnum Seagulls and the Tweed Heads Seagulls.

In the middle of it all is the big clash of the weekend between the undefeated Burleigh Bears and second placed Norths Devils.

Then there’s the lonely Sunday afternoon clash between Souths Logan Magpies and Central Capras.

https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/04/09/review-intrust-super-cup-round-5/

Intrust Super Cup Round 5 Preview

SATURDAY 1:10pm – NORTHERN PRIDE v EASTS TIGERS
VIEW: Channel Nine @ 1pm

Pictures circulated this week of Todd Carney in Cowboys gear as he was granted permission to train with the NRL club, but he’s still got a way to go and a Pride team to keep winning with. His halves partner Jake Clifford has done a fine job himself in 2018. Talking of big name halves, it will be interesting to see if Brodie Croft turns out for his old Intrust Super Cup side after being dropped out of the top 17 by the Melbourne Storm. Both sides are coming off a loss last weekend, but the Pride are unbeaten in Cairns in 2018. Easts got the double over the Pride in 2018.

Last Year – Easts 42 Pride 12  —  Pride 28 Tigers 32

Teams

Northern Pride

1. Jordan Biondi-Odo 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Brett Anderson 4. Enari Tuala 5. Shawn Bowen 6. Todd Carney 7. Jake Clifford 8. Darryn Schonig 9. Ryan Ghietti (c) 10. William Bugden 11. Tom Hancock 12. Nathan Wales 13. Graham Clark 14. Connor Jones 15. David Murphy 16. Emry Pere 17. Troy Kapea 18. Jack Murphy 19. Justin Castellaro 20. Aidan Day

SATURDAY 3pm – IPSWICH JETS v MACKAY CUTTERS

Ipswich got back into the winners circle last weekend against the Northern Pride and welcome another northern Queensland side this weekend in the Mackay Cutters. Ipswich are in a group of 10 teams on either a 3-2 or 2-3 record, the Cutters, who have only one win this season are in danger of being cut adrift further this weekend. The Jets have won both of their home games in 2018 and a win on Saturday afternoon would make it a trio of North Queensland wins having previously defeated the Pride and Blackhawks. Mackay also don’t have the luxury of Lachlan Coote this weekend.

Last Year – Ipswich 20 Mackay 30

Teams

Ipswich Jets

1. Michael Purcell 14. Denzel Burns 3. Pio Seci 17. Rory Humphreys 5. Wes Conlon 6. Julian Christian 7. Dane Phillips 8. Tyson Lofipo 21. Kierran Moseley 10. Nat Neale (c) 11. Ben White 12. Seb Pandia 13. Lock Ben Shea 4. Sam Caslick 9. Jayden Connors 15. Huskie Teutau 16. Rowan Winterfield 19. Mitch Carpenter

Mackay Cutters

1. Yamba Bowie 2. Kurt Wiltshire 3. Nathan Saumalu 4. Blake Atherton 5. Johnny Faletagoa’i 6. Nicho Hynes 7. Jack Hickson 8. Sam Hoare 9. Jayden Hodges 10. Jordan Grant 11. Left Second Row Mitchell Dunn 12. Right Second Row Shane Wright 13. Lock Thomas Murphy (c) 14. Jesse Dee 15. Lona Kaifoto 16. Bennett Leslie 17. Nicholas Brown 18. Jardine Bobongie 19. Darcy Cox

SATURDAY 5pm – SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS

Two of the Intrust Super Cup’s best performers from the past few seasons to not win a premiership go head to head on Saturday afternoon, both teams having solid wins last weekend. The Blackhawks beat Tweed Heads 38-4 and made it look easy, the Falcons equally impressive with a big 32-4 win in Mackay. Townsville put in the kind of performance that most expected of the pre season favourites, but whether they can continue it on the road is the question. They are win-less on the road this season. Possibly surprisingly, the Blackhawks are the second best defensive side so far in 2018. An interesting quirk too for the Falcons, who see Melbourne bound Ryley Jacks replaced by brother Rhys Jacks. Both games saw good wins for the home in 2017.

Last Year – Townsville 38 Falcons 14  — Falcons 42 Townsville 16.

Teams

Sunshine Coast Falcons

1. Khan Ahwang 2. Matt Soper-Lawler 19. Keelyn Tuuta-Edwards 4. Justin Olam 5. Jake Ainsworth 6. Brentt Warr 7. Rhys Jacks 18. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 15. Liam McDonald 11. Dane Hogan (c) 12. Christopher Lewis 13. Lachlan Timm 10. Jacob Hind 14. Lachlan Roe 16. Louis Geraghty 17. Jye Ballinger 20. Caleb Daunt 21. Mackenzie Reid 22. Sam Burns

Townsville Blackhawks

1. Carlin Anderson 2. Jonathon Reuben 3. Shaun Hudson 4. Jordan Drew 5. Kalifa Faifai-Loa 6. Zach Clay 7. Jaelen Feeney 8. Joe Boyce 9. Krys Freeman 10. Rod Griffin 11. Jake Marketo (c) 12. Andrew Davey 13. Temone Power 16. Ross Bella 17. Cade Maloney 22. Sione Lousi 19. Brent Woolf

Coach: Kristian Woolf

SATURDAY 5:30pm – NORTHS DEVILS v BURLEIGH BEARS

Top of the table clash at Bishop Park on Saturday, and given the ease of which the Devils deals with the Hunters, Norths are a good chance of breaking the Bears unbeaten run. The Bears meanwhile had to come from behind in Rockhampton last weekend against the Capras. There are some quality match ups on offer at Bishop Park, the best one being between front rowers Luke Page and Sam Tagataese. The PNG International has been at his destructive best this season, and Sam Tagataese had done much the same for the Devils, and his form has seen him included in the top of the Best and Fairest for the season so far. The Devils’ Michael Sio is also among the front-runners, which strangely doesn’t include any Burleigh players.

Last Year –  Burleigh 14 Norths 26

Teams

Norths Devils

1. Jack Ahearn 2. Paul Ulberg 3. Gary Riccardi 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Chevi Ellis 6. Troy Dargan 7. Todd Murphy 8. Sam Tagataese 9. Michael Sio 10. Oshae Tuiasau 11. Moses Noovao-McGreal 12. Guy Williams 13. John Palavi (c) 14. Iain Riccardi 15. Carne Doyle-Manga 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Jarryd Dodd 19. Calum Gahan

Burleigh Bears

1. Henare Wells 2. Tyrone Roberts-Davis 3. Sami Sauiluma 4. Jamie Dowling 5. Brenko Lee 6. Dallas Wells 7. Josh Rogers 8. Luke Page (c) 9. Pat Politoni 10. Matt White 11. Hayden Schwass 12. Blake Leary 13. Sam Coster 14. Jai Whitbread 15. Dylan Kelly 16. Josh Ailaomai 17. Joe Greenwood

SATURDAY 6pm – REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v PNG HUNTERS

It’s not gone quite right for the Hunters in 2018 so far, they do have a pair of victories from their first two games in Port Moresby, but it is on the road where the problems lie. And a game at Dolphin Oval is hardly an easy place to turn that around, and the Hunters have only won there once in their first season in 2014. The PNG side has seen a lot of changes so far in 2018, the pre season movement slightly weakened the side, and the recent loss of Stargroth Amean to retirement has hurt even more. His replacement Adex Wera and fan favourite Willie Minoga are also not available through injury this weekend, making it an even tougher assignment. They still have one of the best halves in the competition in Ase Boas, and there’s plenty of promise in Edene Gebbie as the latest fullback. After losing their first two games, the Dolphins have won three in a row, and their season is building nicely. They will fancy pouring more misery on the Hunters season on Saturday night.

Last Year – Hunters 12 Redcliffe 10  —  Redcliffe 28 Hunters 12

Teams

Redcliffe Dolphins

1. Tony Tumusa 2. Jonus Pearson 3. Tom Opacic 4. Moses Pangai 5. Jeremy Hawkins 6. Joshua Fauid 7. Cameron Cullen (c) 8. James Taylor 9. Sheldon Pitama 10. Sam Anderson 11. Toby Rudolf 12. Kotoni Staggs 13. Samson Graham 16. Tom Geraghty 14. Scott Schulte 15. Nathan Watts 17. Hugh Pratt

PNG Hunters

1. Edene Gebbie 2. Junior Rau 3. Wawa Paul 4. Butler Morris 5. Paul Bobby Jnr 6. Ase Boas (c) 7. Watson Boas 8. Moses Meninga 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Baundo Aba 11. Nixon Putt 12. John Andy 13. Rahdly Brawa 14. Charlie Simon 15. Enock Maki 16. Patrick Morea 17. Mekenzie Yei 18. Silas Gahuna 19. Dilbert Issac 20. Ila Alu

SATURDAY 7pm – WYNNUM SEAGULLS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS

Time for the first Flockbuster of the year – where the two Seagulls teams face off. Tweed Heads have a poor recent record in this fixture, and they have yet to register a win in 2018, they haven’t looked that bad at all in the two TV games seen thus far. Against both Townsville and Burleigh they were in the game for large parts, only to be blown away by some quick tries. If they can get off to a good start against Wynnum, they may just bring home their first win of the year. The door is open to Tweed Heads as Wynnum are yet to win at home in two attempts.

Last Year – Teed Heads 18 Wynnum 24  — Wynnum 46 Tweed Heads 8

Teams

Wynnum Manly Seagulls

1. Patrick Templeman 2. Delouise Hoeter 3. Edward Burns 4. Jeriah Goodrich 5. Daniel Ogden 6. Aaron Booth 7. Michael Dobson 8. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard 9. Mitch Cronin 10. Max Elliott 11. Patrick Carrigan 12. Til Vea 13. Mitch Frei (c) 14. Jayden Berrell 15. Junior Pita 16. Salesi Funaki 17. Payne Haas 18. Alex Barr

Coach: Adam Brideson

Tweed Heads Seagulls

6. AJ Brimson 3. Ryland Jacobs 4. Brendan Elliot 5. Regan Muir 2. Kiah Cooper 1. Ethan Roberts 7. Eli Levido 8. Leilani Latu 9. Sam Meskell 10. Tristan Lumley 11. Lamar Manuel-Liolevave 12. Ryan Simpkins 13. Cheyne Whitelaw (c) 14. Rex Johnson 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. Tony Matautia 17. Shane Gillham 18. Hiale Roycroft

SUNDAY 3pm – SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v CENTRAL CAPRAS

The only game on Sunday gives the Magpies a chance to build on the big win they had over the Wynnum Seagulls last weekend. The Magpies sit on top of the pile of team on three wins with the best for and against, and the visit of the Capras would historically give them a chance to improve on that on Sunday. The Capras don’t win too many on the road, but they haven’t the likes of Dave Taylor in their forward pack either, and they have reasonably competitive in all their matches, with only a home loss to the Devils the only real blowout. They pushed Burleigh pretty hard last weekend too. Perhaps this won’t be as one sided as it looks.

Last Year – Magpies 52 Capras 10

Teams

Souths Logan Magpies

1. Corey Allan 2. Benaiah Bowie 3. Marion Seve 4. Scott Doyle 5. Paul Rokolati 6. Guy Hamilton 7. Sam Scarlett 8. George Fai 9. Travis Waddell 10. Sam Lavea 11. Simi Fatafehi 12. Brendon Gibb 13. Patrick Mago 14. Jordan Scott 16. Uiti Baker 15. Phil Dennis (c) 17. Daniel Tamou

Week 6 Predictions

Brendan O’Farrell from Intrust Super and former Queensland Origin star Adrian Vowles join us for 2018.

BRENDAN O’FARRELL – CEO, INTRUST SUPER

Northern Pride
Ipswich Jets
Townsville Blackhawks
Burleigh Bears
Redcliffe Dolphins
Wynnum Seagulls
Souths Logan Magpies

SHANNON MEYER – ISC WRITER

Northern Pride
Ipswich Jets
Townsville Blackhawks
Burleigh Bears
Redcliffe Dolphins
Wynnum Seagulls
Souths Logan Magpies

ADRIAN VOWLES – FORMER SEAGULLS, COWBOYS AND QUEENSLAND REPRESENTATIVE

Northern Pride
Ipswich Jets
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Norths Devils
Redcliffe Dolphins
Wynnum Seagulls
Souths Logan Magpies