Intrust Super Cup Round 15 Preview

Just the three games this weekend in the Intrust Super Cup Round 15 as the QRL unfortunately take a leaf out of the NRL around Origin time and produce a small round of fixtures.

Previous seasons has seen the QRL spread out the byes a lot more evenly across the season so that the byes don’t seem quite as obvious, and so it is a shame we are left with just three games on a weekend where the NRL are only offering up 4 games that are missing 21 Origin players.

If anything, it should have been a great weekend to showcase the Intrust Super Cup whilst the NRL hibernates, so a full program of seven games made more sense.

On top of that, this was the perfect weekend to finally head up to Port Moresby and televise a game to the rugby league masses with so little league on in the NRL. Why not branch out and possibly make your game the most interesting bit of rugby league in Australia this weekend. Financial costs are a factor of course, but surely someone somewhere in rugby league could look past the costs.

Or at least the TV game could have gone as far as Townsville for what looks the game of the weekend between the Blackhawks and the Falcons. The Wynnum – Norths clash is likely to be reasonably entertaining, but it could have been a good weekend to take more of a risk.

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.

Townsville Blackhawks v Sunshine Coast Falcons
Saturday 4pm

Probably the game of the Intrust Super Cup Round 15 this weekend as the Blackhawks welcome the Sunshine Coast Falcons in Townsville.

The Sunshine Coast side sit second on the ladder and are looking for a seventh straight win this weekend at the expense of the Blackhawks whose recent results have not been inconsistent to say the least.

Townsville’s recent run of results include two draws that needed a late conversion to obtain that point, in amongst a great win over Redcliffe and a flogging by the PNG Hunters. It’s a far cry from the side which has been at the top of the Intrust Super Cup since their inception in 2015.

Sunshine Coast look unstoppable at the moment, and although they were pushed last weekend by the Northern Pride, they still had enough to run out 21 point winners. However it has been a while since they have faced a Top 6 side, and the last time they did it resulted in a good win for the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Both sides lose players to their parent NRL clubs this weekend with the Origin players affected round, as the Cowboys and Storm coincidentally play each other in Melbourne, and despite the respective losses there is still plenty of firepower remaining to make the difference.

Read more here

PNG Hunters v Tweed Heads Seagulls
Saturday 5pm

It’s first v last in Port Moresby on Saturday night as the PNG Hunters and Tweed Heads Seagulls meet at the National Football Stadium.

With the Hunters going so well at the moment with a sizeable winning run and sitting atop of the competition ladder, a win for the home side looks a formality here.

But we can’t forget the last time Tweed Heads played an in form side leading the competition. That time it was Redcliffe who left Piggabeen with a thoroughly deserving loss, but this time it is in Port Moresby with one of the toughest atmospheres to deal with for Tweed Heads. Hard enough without the huge loss to Wynnum last weekend hanging over their heads.

It is close to exactly two years since the Hunters first played in Port Moresby on a Saturday night during Origin. That night the crowd was bigger than any NRL game, and given the dross served up the NRL this weekend, if they fill the National Football Stadium, it will probably be more than any of the NRL games again.

Read more here

Wynnum Seagulls v Norths Devils
Sunday 1:40pm – TV GAME

BMD Kougari Oval hosts this weekend’s TV Game, and it looks an interesting one between two sides hoping to stay in finals contention.

Wynnum awoke last weekend with a huge win over their Seagulls rivals Tweed Heads 46-8, a much needed win after a previous run of one win since Round 3. They are still some distance from the top 6, but a win over a similarly placed side it what they need.

Norths won’t be easy to beat though, and after being swept up in the Ben Hunt led Ipswich Jets, they’ll be keen to get back on track with a win. They have their own former NRL halfback in Chris Sandow who will no doubt enjoy the exposure to show all that he still has plenty to offer the game.

Read more here

You can follow the action, results and ladder from Round 15 and all the rounds via our Intrust Super Cup Match Centre.

Intrust Super Cup Round 15 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

Townsville Blackhawks
PNG Hunters
Wynnum Seagulls

Scott Sattler – Channel 9 and Penrith Legend

Sunshine Coast Falcons
PNG Hunters
Norths Devils

Dan White – Nothing But League’s Northern Queensland and NRL Contributor

Sunshine Coast Falcons
PNG Hunters
Wynnum Seagulls

Matt Crowhurst – Tigers TV

Coming soon.

Shannon Meyer – Intrust Super Cup Enthusiast

Sunshine Coast Falcons
PNG Hunters
Norths Devils

HOW ARE WE TIPPING?