Intrust Super Cup Preview: Burleigh Bears and Tweed Head Seagulls
In the final part of the Intrust Super Cup preview series we look at current champions Burleigh Bears and the side south from south of the border, Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Check out our Match Centre with all the latest Intrust Super Cup news.
BURLEIGH BEARS
Last Year: 2nd, Intrust Super Cup Premiers, Beaten in State Championship
2017 Premiership Odds: $9
TEAM INS AND OUTS
Gains: Henare Wells (New Zealand Warriors), Josh Rogers (Gold Coast Titans NYC), Sam Coster (Illawarra Cutters), Matt White (Melbourne Storm), Tyler Cornish (Sydney Roosters), Harry Siejka (Canterbury Bulldogs), Lorenzo Ma’afu (Townsville Blackhawks), Toby McIntosh (Murwillumbah)
Losses: Jamal Fogarty (Parramatta Eels), Cameron Cullen (Manly Sea Eagles), Paterika Vaivai (Gold Coast Titans), Louie Fanene (retired), Josh Berkers (North Sydney)
FIRST THREE GAMES
Away v Redcliffe Dolphins – Sunday 5th March 12:40pm
Home v Norths – Saturday 11th March 4pm
Away v Central Capras – Sunday 18th March 4:30pm
2017 SEASON PREDICTION
9th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Tyler Cornish – recruited from the Roosters system, he spent most of 2016 playing for their feeder team in the Intrust Super Premiership the Wyong Roos. He is looking to restart his career on the Gold Coast and will cover the large hole left by the exits of both Cameron Cullen and Jamal Fogarty. With a logjam of halves in the Titans side, it looks like he will spending plenty of time with Burleigh to start with.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2017
Can they back up their premiership win in 2017? The Jets struggled in 2016 to match their feats from the previous, and they will have to contend with the loss of their star halves from 2016.
The big question is how well will the Bears cover the loss of both Cameron Cullen and Jamal Fogarty. Both halves had tremendous 2016 seasons, Jamal Fogarty did enough to get a contract with Parramatta and Cameron Cullen with Manly. A shame then that it looks unlikely they’ll get a game in the top grade anytime soon. Fogarty was brilliant throughout most of 2016, and Cullen’s Grand Finals performance was very influential in them winning the title.
They still have recruited some good talent like Henare Wells, the reliable Matt White, and the previously mentioned Tyler Cornish. They also keep former Wests Tigers player and joint 2016 Burleigh Player of the Year Kurtis Rowe and the rest of the premiership winning team. But they are going to be without Pat Politoni, who looked like likely to grab a Titans spot before his injury, and Paterika Vaivai who is reportedly in line for a Round 1 NRL selection. So with other teams strengthening so well, especially those with links to the Broncos and Cowboys, can the Bears keep up in 2017? And is there any hangover from the huge loss in the State Championship game to the Illawarra Cutters?
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Last Year: 13th
2017 Premiership Odds: $17
TEAM INS AND OUTS
Gains: Damian Sironen (Illawarra Cutters), Lamar Liolevave (Bulldogs), Nick Harrold (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Mackenzie Reid (Easts Tigers), Talor Walters (Melbourne Storm NYC), Jack Cook (Melbourne Storm NYC), Adam Barnes (Tugun)
Losses: Will Bugden (Northern Pride), Cory Blair (retired)
FIRST THREE GAMES
Home v Ipswich Jets – Sunday 5th March 2pm
Away v Mackay Cutters – Saturday 11th March 6pm
v Wynnum Seagulls @ North Stradbroke Island – Sunday 19th March 12:40pm
2017 SEASON PREDICTION
14th
PLAYER TO WATCH
Damian Sironen – A name you know being the nephew of the former Balmain great, and one for the Tweed fans too as he is back at the club he left midway through 2015. That move in 2015 was to chase an NRL dream with the Newcastle Knight, and whilst it didn’t end in being an NRL regular, he was part of the NSW Cup winning side. He made it two NSW Cups in a row after being part of the Illawarra Cutters team last year that won the state and national titles. Tweed Heads will be hoping his influence inflicts the same amount of punishment to Burleigh in 2017 as the State Championship final.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2017
The Tweed Heads Seagulls are sometimes a forgotten team in the Intrust Super Cup, especially in 2016 when their local rivals Burleigh had an outstanding season that culminated in a premiership.
Will suffer the same as Burleigh early with the Titans injury list, but their gains shows their intent of improving their showing from 2016, but they will need to having finished second last in 2016. They have slowly dropped down the ladder since their four consecutive finals appearance from 2011-2014, and with Mackay Cutters looking like improvers in 2017, will their strengthening be enough to avoid the wooden spoon or move further up the ladder?
