Intrust Super Cup Round 16 Preview

The Intrust Super Cup Round 16 sees all of the 14 teams return to action after last weekend’s round of just the three games.

Those games had plenty of talking point, as the top two both lost, and in the case of the PNG Hunter it was a massive surprise. Losing to the last placed Tweed Heads Seagulls in PNG.

With 7 games to choose from this weekend, it hard to pinpoint the quality game of the round, but the clash between Souths Logan and Redcliffe on Sunday afternoon should be a great one. Ipswich too will no doubt entertain as they play the Bears for the TV game.

You can follow the action, results and ladder from Round 16 and all the rounds at our Intrust Super Cup.

QUICK MATCH BY MATCH PREVIEW

We have a quick preview of all of the Intrust Super Cup Round 16 games below, for more details including team lists click on the links to each match. Or for all the games and ladder our Intrust Super Cup Match Centre.

NORTHERN PRIDE v PNG HUNTERS
Saturday 5:35pm

A big game for these two clubs which kicks of Round 16. The Northern Pride, who are fresh from a bye have not won since Round 10 and their four wins for the season is the equal lowest in the competition and as a result are in the bottom three.

The PNG Hunters have had many more wins, however the interest will be if they can bounce back from the shock loss to the last placed Tweed Heads in Port Moresby last weekend. The remain on top of the competition ladder for now.

Interesting fact – the PNG Hunters are yet to win in Cairns having lost in 2014 and 2016, and there was no game in Cairns in 2015.

2017 Result – PNG Hunters 26 Northern Pride 10

Find out more here.

WYNNUM SEAGULLS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Saturday 6pm

The Sunshine Coast Falcons lost the chance to snatch the competition lead from the Hunters after their shock loss last weekend as they went down to the Townsville Blackhawks. They remain second, but arrive at Wynnum this weekend up against a side who are starting to turn around their fortunes.

The Seagulls have now won back to back games with a flogging of Tweed Heads (a form line that looks good after Tweed’s win over PNG) and a tough win over Norths being the results, but the Sunshine Coast are a different prospect even with the potential of several players out for NRL duty for Melbourne.

The Falcons could take the competition lead with a win, but a loss for Wynnum at this stage of the season will hurt their top 6 chances.

2017 Result – Sunshine Coast 12 Wynnum Seagulls 8

Find out more here.

CENTRAL CAPRAS v EASTS TIGERS
Saturday 6pm

Two sides fresh from a bye meet in Rockhampton on Saturday night, and the Capras will surely love a win. They have been unable to build on a few good results a few rounds back when they beat the Pride and were unlucky to only draw against the Blackhawks. Despite just the four wins there has been a lot of good performances in 2017, the previous encounter against the Tigers was an example where they were right in the game but ultimately beaten 36-24.

The Tigers continue doing what they do best, and that is being a constant force in and around the top 6. It helps to have Melbourne affiliated players like Brodie Croft and Curtis Scott, both of whom impressed for the Storm last weekend, but then you see their halves pairing features PNG international Tommy Butterfield and the excellent Billy Walters and a quality players like Linc Port on the wing and you see there is more than just a Melbourne feeder side.

Questions over their ability to win in North Queensland have been answered with good wins in Cairns and Townsville this season, although there was sizeable loss in Mackay. There is likely not going to be much between these sides on Saturday.

2017 Result – Easts Tigers 36 Central Capras 24

Find out more here.

BURLEIGH BEARS v IPSWICH JETS
Sunday 1:40pm
TV GAME – Channel 9

The two most recent premiers meet at Pizzey Park and the Bears are following the path of the Jets as they struggle to back up after their premiership.

Ipswich are going the better of the two sides currently, sitting just outside the top 6 and have won six of the last 8 games, and those two losses have come against the current top two sides. They don’t have the added bonus of Ben Hunt like their previous game in Round 14 against Norths, but their side is still very capable of beating the Bears.

Burleigh are on four wins for 2017 with their Gold Coast rivals Tweed Heads and lie second last on the ladder. They did Jamal Fogarty back last round, the halfback who led them to the 2016 title and a win against Central last round, but his graduation to the Titans has seen them lose a key player.

It will be great to see the Jets and their ad lib style of rugby league back on TV on Sunday afternoon.

2017 result – Ipswich 18 Burleigh 12

Find out more here.

TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Sunday 2pm

Tweed Heads welcome the Blackhawks with confidence this weekend after prevailing in the Intrust Super Cup’s toughest away trip and against the competition leaders no less in PNG Hunters in Port Moresby. Throw in the fact that they had beaten the previous competition leaders in Redcliffe a few weeks ago at Piggabeen and the Seagulls have more chance than what would appear on paper.

Townsville, such a dominant force in the Intrust Super Cup since their arrival in 2015 find themselves lying just sixth currently, but they have had a recent upturn in form. Either side of 20-20 in Mackay they have beaten Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast at home. But in general it has been their home form which has dropped in 2017, as they are 3/4 on the road in South East Queensland so far this season.

Townsville like playing Tweed Heads too. They are 4/4 at all locations and have a mighty for and against of 170-38.

2017 Result – Townsville 48 Tweed Heads 18

Find out more here.

SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Sunday 2pm

Arguably the game of the round between 3rd and 4th on the ladder, and two sides who have provided the most players to the Broncos in 2017 as part of their feeder arrangments.

Despite the comings and goings of players, the Souths Logan Magpies continue to cement their place in the Top 6, and will be confident going into the game on the back 4 wins and 1 loss since their loss to Redcliffe in Round 9. That loss was a hard fought 12-8 loss to the Hunters in PNG.

Redcliffe’s form has been patchy of late, consecutive losses to last placed Tweed Heads and the previously struggling Townsville Blackhawks has seen them fall from the competition lead. A win against fellow top 6 side Easts before last weekend’s bye will help, and so will too the mental edge after Redcliffe inflicted a heavy defeat on the Magpies in Round 9.

2017 Result – Redcliffe 52 Souths Logan 12

Find out more here.

NORTHS DEVILS v MACKAY CUTTERS
Sunday 3pm

The Intrust Super Cup Round 16 finishes off at Bishop Park and the home side need a win badly. They have now lost their last five games and eight of their last ten. A run which has seen them drop out of the Top 6. They never looked likely against Wynnum last weekend, and need something to happen again soon before their season disappears into obscurity.

Mackay are almost there themselves, and as a quirk of the draw are ahead of the Devils by one point on the ladder despite one less win. Thanks to a bye. The Cutters have beaten Wynnum in Brisbane this year, so an upset is certainly possible this weekend.

2017 Result – Mackay 10 Norths 34

Find out more here.

Intrust Super Cup Round 16 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

PNG Hunters
Wynnum Seagulls
Easts Tigers
Ipswich Jets
Souths Logan Magpies
Townsville Blackhawks
Norths Devils

Scott Sattler – Channel 9 and Penrith Legend

PNG Hunters
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Easts Tigers
Ipswich Jets
Redcliffe Dolphins
Townsville Blackhawks
Mackay Cutters

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

PNG Hunters
Wynnum Seagulls
Easts Tigers
Burleigh Bears
Souths Logan Magpies
Townsville Blackhawks
Norths Devils

Matt Crowhurst – Tigers TV

Coming soon.

Shannon Meyer – Intrust Super Cup Enthusiast

PNG Hunters
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Central Capras
Ipswich Jets
Townsville Blackhawks
Redcliffe Dolphins
Mackay Cutters

HOW ARE WE TIPPING?