Intrust Super Cup Round 17 Preview
Much like a few weeks back when Million Dollar man Ben Hunt turned out for the Ipswich Jets, the Intrust Super Cup Round 17 has a big name player amongst the player ranks.
This time it is Nate Myles who will be turning out for the Easts Tigers on Saturday night. The new Melbourne Storm recruit was playing at Suncorp Stadium in a Maroons jersey around a month ago, so it must be the quickest fall from Origin to Queensland Cup since before the introduction of the Broncos in 1988.
But it is not all about the former Maroons forward, there is still a great bunch of games ahead this weekend, one of them is the all Melbourne Storm feeder clash between Easts (4th) and the Sunshine Coast (2nd).
There’s also a Grand Final replay between Burleigh and Redcliffe at Pizzey Park, and a lot of teams outside the top six that are fast approaching their last chance to feature in finals football.
Interestingly, the Intrust Super Cup Round 17 is the exact same match ups of the first round in 2017.
You can follow the action, results and ladder from Round 17 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 17 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.
IPSWICH JETS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Saturday 3:00pm
Ipswich are looking to get back to winning ways after they were well beaten 44-0 by the Burleigh Bears in last weekend’s TV game. Amazing that a team with such an attacking focus couldn’t manage a point. Credit to the Bears anyway.
Tweed Heads didn’t fare much better against their bogey side the Townsville Blackhawks, but did at least cross the line. The 50-8 loss ruined any progress after their sensational upset in Port Moresby the week before.
Ipswich are currently 7th, but 4 points behind sixth placed Souths Logan. A loss for the Jets and win for the Magpies will open up a sizeable gap for the finals that would be unlikely to be caught by season’s end.
Previous 2017 Result – Tweed Heads 6 Ipswich 34
Find out more here.
EASTS TIGERS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Saturday 5pm
A clash between 2nd and 4th, between two strong Melbourne Storm feeder sides has had more value added to it with the arrival of Nate Myles for the Tigers.
It would have been a quality contest anyway, with players from both sides shining with their limited chances with the Storm throughout the last month. Brodie Croft, Ryley Jacks, Curtis Scott, Dean Britt to name a few.
The previous encounter ended 7-7, and there will likely be not too much in this clash on the weekend. With the Melbourne Storm team in town for the Broncos clash it is a great weekend to shine.
Previous 2017 Result – Sunshine Coast 7 Easts Tigers 7
Find out more here.
WYNNUM SEAGULLS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Saturday 6pm
The final clash on Saturday sees two sides coming off respectable losses last weekend against top three opposition.
The Magpies went down 12-19 to Redcliffe, an improvement from their 40 point loss earlier in the season, and showed their continued progress throughout 2017. Wynnum went down 30-12 to the Sunshine Coast Falcons at home, and that ended a mini revival for the Seagulls of two straight wins.
Another clash of two feeder sides from the same club, this time being the Brisbane Broncos, a win for Souths Logan will make it difficult for any team currently outside the top 6 to make the finals. Wynnum included.
Previous 2017 Result – Souths Logan 4 Wynnum 17
Find out more here.
NORTHERN PRIDE v MACKAY CUTTERS
Sunday 1:40pm
TV GAME – Channel 9
The TV cameras return to North Queensland, and this time it is for the Northern Pride and Mackay Cutters game in Cairns to showcase another leg of the Foley Shield.
Mackay Cutters will arrive in Cairns with confidence after thrashing the Norths Devils in Brisbane 52-4. If they put in another shift like that, the struggling Pride won’t stand a chance.
Northern Pride were gallant in defeat to the competition leading PNG Hunters, only losing the lead in the 72nd minute. They will need to be as resilient against the Cutters, but do have the statistic of having scored 103 less points than the Cutters going against them.
Mackay are still in the hunt for the Top 6, where a loss here for the Pride will see them looking over their shoulder at last placed Tweed Heads.
Previous 2017 result – Mackay 4 Northern Pride 24
Find out more here.
BURLEIGH BEARS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Sunday 2pm
Grand Final replay comes at just the right time for Burleigh who turned in the performance of the season to thrash Ipswich 44-0 last weekend.
Up until now the Bears title defence has been underwhelming, a by product of the huge injury toll for the Titans in 2017. With some players coming back, and the recent introduction of Daniel Vidot and Jamal Fogarty (when not playing for the Titans) there is still hope of a top 6 finish. It will take many wins, and one against Redcliffe will show they are up for the chase and finals football.
Redcliffe seem over the minor form blip of 2 losses against Tweed Heads and Townsville, and have seen off fellow top 6 sides Easts and Souths Logan in consecutive weeks. Perhaps the Dolphins could be inspired to end the Bears season, as a loss here to Redcliffe would just about rule out their Top 6 hopes, to take revenge for the Grand Final loss in 2016.
Previous 2017 Result – Redcliffe 26 Burleigh 8
Find out more here.
PNG HUNTERS v CENTRAL CAPRAS
Sunday 2pm
The PNG Hunters are in somewhat of a dip in form. Sure they are leading the competition, but they have recently had a big struggle to get past Souths Logan at home and the Northern Pride in Cairns. In between that there was the loss to Tweed Heads in Port Moresby, a scarcely believable result.
As least they are winning, Central haven’t been too far away this season, but their run of 4 straight losses since their draw in Townsville shows the fine line between form and results.
Fan favourite Willie Minoga returns to the centres, a position he filled in the opening round so well when he scored the match winning try. Central weren’t far away that day, so could a second consecutive upset be possible in Port Moresby this weekend.
Previous 2017 Result – Central 16 PNG Hunters 22
Find out more here.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v NORTHS DEVILS
Sunday 3:30pm
Surely the Blackhawks could be described as being back now for the 2017 as they have now assembled a good run of results with wins over Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast, a draw against Mackay and a thrashing of the Tweed Heads last weekend 50-8 in the past four weeks. They have climbed to fifth as a result, and welcome back Kyle Laybutt from the Cowboys as the NRL side favour the recent mid season signing Te Maire Martin.
Norths are now the least in form side in the competition, and a trip to Townsville won’t fill them with joy. Their losing streak has hit 6 games, and it will be hard to turn that around. In their favour they do have a win in Port Moresby and Mackay this year, showing their away capability. They also pushed Townsville very close earlier in the year at Bishop Park.
2017 Result – Norths 16 Townsville 18
Find out more here.
Intrust Super Cup Round 17 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
Tweed Heads Seagulls
Easts Tigers
Souths Logan Magpies
Mackay Cutters
Burleigh Bears
PNG Hunters
Townsville Blackhawks
Scott Sattler – Channel 9 and Penrith Legend
Tweed Heads Seagulls
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Souths Logan Magpies
Mackay Cutters
Redcliffe Dolphins
PNG Hunters
Townsville Blackhawks
Dan White – Nothing But League’s Northern Queensland and NRL Contributor
Tweed Heads Seagulls
Easts Tigers
Souths Logan Magpies
Northern Pride
Redcliffe Dolphins
PNG Hunters
Townsville Blackhawks
Matt Crowhurst – Tigers TV
Coming soon.
Shannon Meyer – Intrust Super Cup Enthusiast
Ipswich Jets
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Souths Logan Magpies
Northern Pride
Redcliffe Dolphins
PNG Hunters
Townsville Blackhawks
HOW ARE WE TIPPING in 2017
| Tipster | CORRECT | GAMES | % | Last Weekend |
| Scott Sattler | 70 | 111 | 63% | 6 |
| Matt Crowhurst | 52 | 83 | 63% | NA |
| Shannon Meyer | 64 | 111 | 58% | 5 |
| Brendan O Farrell | 62 | 111 | 56% | 3 |
| Dan White | 60 | 111 | 54% | 4 |
