Intrust Super Cup Round 14 Preview
A big week for Ipswich taking the headlines in Brisbane news, firstly we saw the much loved Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisale resign in a dressing gown, and on the sporting front the Intrust Super Cup Round 14 will feature its first million dollar player thanks to Wayne Bennett’s decision to drop Ben Hunt to the Ipswich Jets this weekend.
There may well be a few more eyes on the competition than usual, and mostly looking down North Ipswich Reserve way, but the interest shouldn’t stop on Saturday evening, and an intriguing round of quality clashes awaits. As usual.
One of the highlights outside of Ben Hunt this weekend will be the wonderfully named Flockbuster match up between the Wynnum Seagulls and Tweed Heads Seagulls. Throw in two head to heads between four sides in the Top 6, and there’s plenty to like and follow this weekend in the Intrust Super Cup.
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.
Ipswich Jets v Norths Devils
Saturday 3pm
As above, this match will attract more than the usual loyal fans of these two clubs thanks to Ben Hunt’s arrival for the Jets, those in the know will recognise this is an important match for both sides as a three point gap has opened up between these two sides and the Top 6. A loss on Saturday will see the losing side fall five points behind and need a really good run to break into finals contention.
These sides have had a tough draw of late, with both having to play the competition leaders PNG Hunters and Sunshine Coast in the last three rounds, their combined record 0 wins and 4 losses tells they are probably just that one rung down from the best of the best this season, but both sides did push their respective Top 2 opposition last weekend.
Wayne Bennett want Ben Hunt to find his running game, and there is probably no better side on earth than the Ipswich Jets and their adlib, entertaining style. Hopefully he can keep up with them.
Burleigh Bears v Central Capras
Saturday 4pm
Both of these sides in the second half of the ladder are coming off losses last weekend, and the Burleigh Bears will be looking nervously over their shoulder at their Gold Coast rivals Tweed Heads as they drew level on wins with the Bears at the very bottom of the ladder.
Central Capras aren’t too much further in front, and haven’t been able to kick on from their gallant draw with the Townsville Blackhawks two weeks ago, where they were very unlucky not to get the win. The loss to Tweed Heads last weekend is one that got away.
When getting the chance to watch these sides, they haven’t been too bad despite the lowly ladder position, but a loss here will all but rule out their final chances, and for the Bears it could see them land in last position.
Mackay Cutters v Townsville Blackhawks
Saturday 6pm
Townsville Blackhawks got their mojo back last weekend with a 26-16 win over Redcliffe, and it was never more needed. A run of poor results, and surprisingly bad results at home, had seen them in danger of dropping out of the Top 6. Not a place they have been in much since their arrival to the Intrust Super Cup since 2015.
Mackay’s up and down season continued last weekend with a good home win over the Wynnum Seagulls, it was their fifth win of the 2017 season, progress on 2016 in which they registered a total of just four wins. They are likely the last side who could make the Top 6 from here, and a win over the Blackhawks will not only move them upwards, but bring the sixth place back towards the field.
Wynnum Seagulls v Tweed Heads Seagulls
Saturday 6pm
Saturday night’s last game sees one of those rare things in Australian sport where there are two sides with the same nicknames, and thankfully they embrace the moment with the wonderfully titled “Flockbuster”.
Tweed Heads enter the game in good form, having won two in a row against Central Capras last weekend in Rockhampton, and they stunned the previous competition leaders Redcliffe before then. Up to that point it had been a lean year for the Seagulls from just south of the border, with just one win coming from their fist 11 games.
Wynnum’s season started off well with three straight wins, but just one win since has seen them slide down the ladder, with a bye currently propping them up from a further drop. There’s still plenty of quality at the bayside club, and they kept themselves in the game last weekend in Mackay with good goal kicking before eventually losing.
Another match where a loss will make it hard for the losing side to remain in contention for finals football.
Sunshine Coast v Northern Pride
Sunday 1:40pm – TV Game
The TV cameras arrive on the Sunshine Coast in Sunday afternoon, and there’s no better time as the Falcons are in red hot form and sitting second, just one point from the PNG Hunters.
Sunshine Coast have lost just once since Round 2, and that only defeat came at the hands of Redcliffe at Dolphin Oval. They may have lost Ryley Jacks to the Storm, but still have Guy Hamilton, who is the competition’s fourth highest point scorer in the halves.
They’ll be looking to continue their progress to a grand final to better there finish from 2016, and are facing a Northern Pride side who are struggling in 2017.
The Pride are on a three game losing streak, but pushed final contenders Easts Tigers last weekend in Cairns after a 32-28 loss. They have beaten Norths and Mackay on the road this year, but the Falcons are a much harder prospect and are in form that is seemingly taking them to the sharp end of the 2017 Intrust Super Cup season.
Redcliffe Dolphins v Easts Tigers
Sunday 2pm
Traditional timeslot, traditional Brisbane teams, and a match that is of growing importance to the Dolphins.
Prior to Round 12, the Dolphins season was going swimmingly (pardon the pun), but a shock loss to last placed Tweed Heads where they were ordinary and followed that up with a loss in Townsville last weekend has seen them drop from first to third. A loss to the Tigers will see them slip behind their opponents. Some may point to the missing Benji Marshall, but Redcliffe seemed to do OK without him after an injury saw the NRL Star sit out some time.
Easts Tigers had a good win in Cairns last weekend, and whilst they are not flying quite as high as their Melbourne Storm feeder counterparts they are well entrenched in the Top 6, and a win this weekend will see them leap frog this weekend’s opponents. A great match up awaits.
PNG Hunters v Souths Logan Magpies
Sunday 3pm
The second of two all Top 6 games rounds out the Intrust Super Cup Round 14 clashes in Port Moresby.
The Hunters are flying having taken the lead of the competition after Redcliffe’s recent losses, and are on a six match winning run. They are hard to beat at home too, but not invincible like in 2015 and 2016, as Norths Devils proved earlier in the year. And there seems to be just a hint of a little more of their natural style coming out mixing with their new found disciplined approach.
Souths Logan Magpies are having a tremendous 2017, kicking on from 2016 where they were just short of the finals come season’s end. Not a bad effort too under the circumstances of being a constant production line for the Broncos. One constant has been centre Scott Doyle and five eighth Matt Minto, both of whom are playing this weekend and will be vital to their chances.
A Magpies upset is possible, but they will have to be at their very best and bravest to beat the Hunters in PNG.
You can follow the action, results and ladder from Round 14 and all the rounds via our Intrust Super Cup Match Centre.
Intrust Super Cup Round 14 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
Burleigh Bears
Wynnum Seagulls
Townsville Blackhawks
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Redcliffe Dolphins
Souths Logan Magpies
Scott Sattler – Channel 9 and Penrith Legend
Ipswich Jets
Central Capras
Wynnum Seagulls
Townsville Blackhawks
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Redcliffe Dolphins
PNG Hunters
Dan White – Nothing But League’s Northern Queensland and NRL Contributor
Ipswich Jets
Burleigh Bears
Tweed Heads Seagulls
Townsville Blackhawks
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Easts Tigers
PNG Hunters
Matt Crowhurst – Tigers TV
Coming soon.
Shannon Meyer – Intrust Super Cup Enthusiast
Norths Devils
Burleigh Bears
Tweed Heads Seagulls
Townsville Blackhawks
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Redcliffe Dolphins
PNG Hunters
HOW ARE WE TIPPING?
| Tipster | CORRECT | GAMES | % | Last Weekend |
| Scott Sattler | 59 | 90 | 66% | 4 |
| Matt Crowhurst | 52 | 83 | 63% | 4 |
| Shannon Meyer | 55 | 90 | 61% | 3 |
| Brendan O Farrell | 52 | 90 | 58% | 4 |
| Dan White | 51 | 90 | 57% | 4 |
