Intrust Super Cup preview – Central v Mackay
CQ Capras v Mackay Cutters at Browne Park on Saturday, April 11 – 6pm
The battle for Central Queensland supremacy kicks off on Saturday evening in Rockhampton, with the away side Mackay Cutters on a hot streak of form after four consecutive wins.
The Capras had the week off last week, and that gave them some thinking time after being well beaten in Townsville the week before. Their home form is a different story and their record of one win against Burleigh and a close loss to Ipswich shows that they are more of a formidable opponent in Rockhampton than on the road.
Mackay’s away record stands at 1-1 after a first round loss to Townsville and a great win against Wynnum in Brisbane after that, so they will be confident of replicating that against their “neighbours”. One addition to the Cutters which will excite is Pulou Vaituutuu’s inclusion who was our player to watch for Mackay this year. An interesting battle will be between the new recruits for both sides at number 6 with both Cameron Cullen and Matt Minto adding something extra to their respective sides in 2015.
This game last year was a close high scoring game with Mackay winning 34-28. Whilst it is tempting to take the big odds and tip Central, but the recent form of Mackay is too hard to ignore.
Prediction: Mackay by 4.
Odds: Capras $3.30, Mackay $1.33
Teams:
CQ Capras: 1. Javarn White 2. Jonas Pearson 3. Russell Webber 4. Tarrant Mariner 5. Ray Ebsworth 6. Matt Minto 7. Mark Johnstone 8. Peter Gallen 9. Ian Webster 10. Fabian Soutar 11. Garrett Field 12. Guy Williams (c) 13. Gavin Hiscox 14. Josh Mitchell 21. Gerrard Tema 16 Chris Stolk 24. Andrew Dale
Coach: Jason Hetherington
Mackay Cutters: 1. Sam Clune 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Justin Tavae 5. Buchanan Rawhiti 6. Cameron Cullen 7. Liam Taylor 8. Sam Hoare 14. Michael Sio 20. Pulou Vaituutuu 11. Tyson Martin 12. Kelvin Nielsen 13. Chris Gesch (c) 10. Brad Lupi 15. Aleki Falepaini 16. Josh Chudleigh 17. Mitch Day 18. Josh Osborne
Coach: Kim Williams
