Intrust Super Cup Round 13 Preview
The excitement of Wednesday’s State of Origin may have died off a little, but the Intrust Super Cup makes up for it with a full list of quality match ups featuring the top sides facing off or in form teams meeting as below.
Two of the pre season favourites for the title meet in Townsville, two in form teams meet on the Sunshine Coast, the Norths Devils are looking to build on their run of two head to head wins straight against the PNG Hunters and the TV game features Tweed Heads and Central, with the visitors winning just their second game of the year last weekend.
That win of last placed Tweed Heads against competition leaders Redcliffe was the season’s biggest upset so far, and in a season that has seen a number of surprising results, will there be another one this weekend?
The mini preview of all the games are below, but click on the header for a full preview with team lists. Or visit the Intrust Super Cup Match Centre.
Sunshine Coast Falcons v Ipswich Jets
Saturday 2:30pm
Two high flying sides by form and nickname meet in the weekend’s first fixture, and it should be a cracking game.
The Falcons continue to impress, and they did well to beat the Norths Devils last weekend, and have jumped ahead of the Redcliffe Dolphins on the ladder. They have lost just one of the last 10 and could take the lead of the Intrust Super Cup this weekend with a win.
A Michael Purcell second half triple secured a win against Wynnum last weekend which was needed after a slightly underwhelming loss to the Hunters before that.
Northern Pride v Easts Tigers
Saturday 5:30pm
The 2014 Grand Finalists meet in Cairns on Saturday evening, and both could really do with a win.
The Pride have a 4-8 record so far in 2017, and haven’t had too long a run of wins or losses, but will need a long winning run soon if they want to be part of the finals. The Pride currently sit fourth last but are just five points from the top 6.
Easts have been hit and miss since a five game winning streak came to a stop in Round 8, and despite two losses in three game against top sides, still remain 5th. They also have well beaten the Pride in their clash earlier in the year 42-12.
Mackay Cutters v Wynnum Seagulls
Saturday 6pm
Mackay probably should be heading into this weekend’s clash on the back of a win, but unfortunately were overrun by the Burleigh Bears in the second half. That made it four losses in a row.
Four losses is not as bad as the six straight losses the Seagulls registered up until their win over Burleigh in Round 11. Wynnum couldn’t keep that winning run going against Ipswich last weekend, and sit above the Cutters thanks to two points for a bye.
Both sides have won just the four games in total in 2017, and a loss may have one side in danger of being of being forgotten about for finals football.
Central Capras v Tweed Head Seagulls
Sunday 1:40pm – TV Game
Tweed Heads provided the upset of the season beating Redcliffe last weekend, and will be super keen to continue that this weekend in Rockhampton. They made the competition leaders look second rate, but will have to contend with missing players to the Titans. See the full preview above.
Central Capras are in some decent form themselves. They were robbed of victory against Townsville two rounds ago when they eventually drew 26-26, and defeated the Pride 10-4 in a very low scoring game.
A win for Central will keep them right on the tail of the top 6 sides, Tweed meanwhile, may have left their run a little too late, but if they can continue to better their record of just the two wins thus far in 2017 you just never know. Especially if they can keep up last weekend’s performance.
Souths Logan Magpies v Burleigh Bears
Sunday 2pm
Souths Logan Magpies continue to impress, and climb the Intrust Super Cup ladder.
Having supplied the Broncos with plenty of players throughout 2017, they were depleted further still last weekend and still got the win against the Easts Tigers. They climbed to fourth as a result, and are on a run of three straight wins.
Burleigh also impressed last weekend with a stirring come from behind win against Mackay. They looked dead and buried in Mackay, but found some of that spirit that took them to a premiership last year and overcame the Cutters.
Townsville Blackhawks v Redcliffe Dolphins
Sunday 3pm
At the start of the season these two teams were at the top of the list for potential winners, Sunday’s meeting sees both sides coming off a bad result but for Townsville it is more of a form slump than a blip.
Redcliffe looked strangely limp against the Tweed Heads Seagulls last weekend, a side who had previously won just once, and it was the season’s biggest upset. Townsville on the other hand were thrashed 42-4 in Port Moresby and it continues a poor run for the Blackhawks of no wins in 3 games overall.
Another worry for Townsville is they have won just one of their last five home games, and opponents don’t come much tougher than an in form Redcliffe. If they turn up that is.
Norths Devils v PNG Hunters
Sunday 3:05pm
Norths Devils were the first side in the Intrust Super Cup to beat the Hunters in PNG during the regular season since their first season in 2014 earlier in the season (Sunshine Coast won in Port Moresby in last year’s Finals Series). They are looking to do a double over the Hunters as they face off in the weekend’s last fixtures.
The Hunters are in good form though, thrashing Townsville last weekend, and have been very reliable on the road this season unlike last year. In fact they are a very impressive 5 from 6 on the road this year. No wonder they are leading the competition.
Norths have lead the competition earlier in the season, and were ahead of the Sunshine Coast last weekend before being overtaken by the Falcons. The Devils won this exact fixture last year too. Hunters beware.
You can follow the action, results and ladder from Round 13 and all the rounds via our Intrust Super Cup Match Centre.
Intrust Super Cup Round 13 Tips from the Team
How much of an expert are our experts? Find out and follow our tips below. This year we have no less than the CEO of Intrust Super Brendan O’Farrell and Channel Nine’s expert commentator Scott Sattler.
Brendan O’Farrell – CEO Intrust Super
Ipswich Jets
Easts Tigers
Mackay Cutters
Central Capras
Souths Logan Magpies
Redcliffe Dolphins
TBA Norths v PNG
Scott Sattler – Channel 9 and Penrith Legend
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Easts Tigers
Mackay Cutters
Central Capras
Souths Logan Magpies
Redcliffe Dolphins
Norths Devils
Dan White – Nothing But League’s Northern Queensland and NRL Contributor
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Northern Pride
Mackay Cutters
Central Capras
Souths Logan Magpies
Redcliffe Dolphins
PNG Hunters
Matt Crowhurst – Tigers TV
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Northern Pride
Mackay Cutters
Tweed Heads Seagulls
Burleigh Bears
Redcliffe Dolphins
PNG Hunters
Shannon Meyer – Intrust Super Cup Enthusiast
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Northern Pride
Wynnum Seagulls
Tweed Heads Seagulls
Souths Logan Magpies
Redcliffe Dolphins
Norths Devils
HOW ARE WE TIPPING?
| Tipster | CORRECT | GAMES | % | Last Weekend |
| Scott Sattler | 55 | 83 | 66% | 4 |
| Matt Crowhurst | 48 | 76 | 63% | NA |
| Shannon Meyer | 52 | 83 | 63% | 4 |
| Brendan O Farrell | 48 | 83 | 58% | 3 |
| Dan White | 47 | 83 | 57% | 5 |
