Intrust Super Cup Round 9 preview
The Intrust Super Cup returns in full this weekend with 7 games and all 14 teams after the international break last weekend, that featured some great rugby league featuring players from the Intrust Super Cup, and a catch up win for the Northern Pride over the Sunshine Coast, rescheduled due to an earlier cyclone.
Big story for the Queensland competition was the win for the Maroons in the Resident fixture on Sunday at Tapout Energy Stadium. The 36-32 win continued the Queensland winning streak after the Pride took out the inaugural State Championship last year. Easts Tigers Shaun Nona took player’s player and Matt Parcell of the Jets got the coaches nod of approval.
Happily for League fans, you can catch up with the Residents game on a delay this Friday night at the fan friendly time of around 11ish after the two NRL games. Handy for those on a big night out for the Broncos v Penrith clash though.
Ipswich Jets v Easts Tigers at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday – 3pm
Two of last year’s Top 5 meet at the North Ipswich Reserve to kick off Round 9 of the Intrust Super Cup. And the Jets and Tigers still remain in the Top 5 for 2015 with the home side one win and two places above their visitors.
Ipswich have the second most potent attack in the competition behind Townsville, and have a backline full of attacking flair who can provide tries from anywhere. Easts meanwhile have the second best defence for team who haven’t had a bye yet, for that stat they sit behind…you guessed it Townsville.
That’s not to say that Ipswich can’t defend, ask the number of sides who have tried to break down the Jets line. Also, Easts have plenty in attack, just ask Souths Logan and Central who were on the end of recent Tiger hidings at Tapout Energy Stadium.
Hard to tip though, Ipswich are 2-2 at home, Easts are 1-3 away. The wildcard may be the return of Cameron Munster depending on Storm duties.
Prediction: Easts by 4
Last Year: Ipswich 12 Easts 22
Odds: Ipswich $1.73 Easts $2.10
Teams:
Ipswich Jets: 1. Carlin Anderson 2. Marmin Barba 3. Chris Walker 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Brandon McGrady 6. Josh Cleeland 7. Dane Phillips 8. Josh Seage 9. Matt Parcell 10. Rod Griffin 11. Sam Martin 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Keiron Lander (c) 14. Troy O’Sullivan 15. Kurtis Lingwoodock 16. Billy McConnachie 17. Liam Capewell 18. Gerico Cecil
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
Easts Tigers: 1. Eddie Tautali 2. Richie Kennar 3. Donald Malone 4. Michael Kai 5. Matt Duffie 6. Shaun Nona 7. Grant Giess 8. Christian Welch 9. Tommy Butterfield 10. Liam McDonald 11. Dane Hogan (c) 12. Jake Foster 13. Troy Giess 14. Francis Tualau 15. Matthew Zgrajewski 16. Dean Britt 17. Joel Romelo
Coach: Craig Ingebrigtsen
Townsville Blackhawks v Burleigh Bears at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday – 4.30pm
The big question in the Intrust Super Cup is who will beat the Townsville Blackhawks, competition front runners, on a run of six wins straight, with a for and against of +178 and averaging just under 40 points a game. Oh, and unbeaten at home too.
Burleigh are the next team to take a shot at the newcomers whose novelty, if there was any to begin with, has well and truly worn off by now. But Burleigh have won their last two games away from Pizzey Park beating Ipswich and Redcliffe convincingly, so have some reasonable claims at an upset. Townsville also had some players involved in the International break.
Both sides feature NRL experience, although one side is far more heavily weighted than the other, and that factor is the stand out reason that looks like the streak will continue.
Prediction: Townsville by 14
Last Year: N/A
Odds: Townsville $1.12 Burleigh $6.25
Teams:
Townsville Blackhawks: 1. Jahrome Hughes 2. Zac Santo 3. Kyle Feldt 18. Mosese Pangai 5. Jonathon Reuben 6. Robert Lui 7. Michael Parker-Walshe 8. Ricky Thorby 9. Anthony Mitchell 10. Daniel Beasley (c) 11. Glenn Hall 12. Rhyse Martin 21. Neville Costigan 14. Nathan Norford 15. Lorenzo Ma’afu 16. Noel Underwood 17. Corey Jensen
Coach: Kristian Woolf
Burleigh Bears: 1. Tyler Chadburn 2. Zach Mackay 3. Brad Tighe 4. Connor Broadhurst 5. Kevin Gordon 6. Todd Seymour 7. Ryley Jacks 8. David Hala 15. Tyron Haynes 10. Pele Peletelese 11. Ayden Lee 12. Jason Chan 13. Darren Griffiths (c) 14. Tom Rowles 16. Louis Fanene 17. Josh Ailaomai 20. Kyle McConnell
Coach: Jim Lenihan
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Tweed Heads Seagulls at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday – 5pm
It’s a feathered fight of the Seagulls on Saturday evening at BMD Kougari Oval in a replay of the 2011 Grand Final.
Both sides come into the game on a reasonable run with the visiting Tweed Heads Seagulls looking for their third straight win, whilst the home Seagulls of Wynnum will achieve their fourth straight with a win. Tweed Heads will be hoping that they aren’t on the receiving end of a similar score line to the last game at Kougari Oval as Wynnum smashed Norths 66-4.
Tweed heads have adjusted well to the loss of their halfback Elgey to the Titans, and have the try scoring machine of Nathaniel Barnes on the wing. Wynnum name their usual line up which has brought much success over the previous seasons.
Wynnum could move to an outright second with a win, or allow a log jam of teams on 5 wins. It looks the former will be the likely result.
Prediction: Wynnum by 16.
Last Year: Wynnum 32 Tweed Heads 28
Odds: Wynnum $1.35 Tweed Heads $3.20
Teams:
Wynnum Manly Seagulls: 1. Daniel Ogden 2. Peter Gubb 3. Matthew Grieve 4. Mitchell Buckett 5. Greg Eden 6. Patrick Templeman 7. Matthew Seamark 8. Ben Shea 9. Alehana Mara 10. Tim Natusch (c) 11. Aaron Rockley 12. Brendon Gibb 13. Mitchell Frei 14. John Te Reo 15. Jon Grieve 16. Stephen Coombe 17. Olsi Krasniqi
Coach: Jon Buchanan
Tweed Heads Seagulls: 1. Shaun Carney 2. Nathanael Barnes 3. Luke Dumas 4. Davin Crampton 5. Kalifa Faifai Loa 6. Ricardo Parata 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Damian Sironen (c) 9. Matt Srama 10. Oliver Percy 11. Matt Robinson 12. Dane Clarke 13. Sam Saville 14. Sam Meskell 15. Hemi Mullen 16. Ethan Price 17. Will Bugden
Coach: Aaron Zimmerle
TV GAME – Channel 9
Mackay Cutters v Sunshine Coast Falcons at Stadium Mackay on Sunday – 1.40pm
The TV Cameras arrive in Mackay for the first appearance on the TV for both sides this season. Only 1 team will be left without a viewing up until now, but Central will get their turn in a few rounds. A lesson of fairness for all the teams that the NRL could take note from.
Mackay sit fourth on the ladder after 5 wins and a bye from their first 8 games, but you have to go down to Mackay’s opponents for this game in 10th to find a team who have scored less points. The bye doesn’t help with attacking totals, but it does for defence for which Mackay have the most miserly.
Both teams had a bye in Round 8, although only Mackay had the two weeks off, as the Falcons had to fly to Cairns for their rearranged game against the Pride. The loss to the resurgent premiers means the good results for the Sunshine Coast Falcons have dried up for the time being, and Mackay is a very hard place to rediscover that winning formula.
Mackay have won all three home games so far this year, and a fourth consecutive home win looks inevitable. The battle of the five eighths looks a good one too.
Prediction: Mackay by 20
Last Year: Mackay 22 Sunshine Coast 12
Odds: Mackay $1.25 Sunshine Coast $4.00
Teams:
Mackay Cutters: 1. Sam Clune 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Tyson Martin 4. Justin Tavae 5. Zack Walker 6. Cameron Cullen 7. Liam Taylor 8. Brad Lupi 14. Josh Chudleigh 10. Sam Hoare 11. Josh Osborne 12. Kelvin Nielsen 13. Chris Gesch (c) 15. Aleki Falepaini 16. Brenden Treston 17. Joss Boyton 18. Ryan Kinlyside 19. Gavin Bennion
Coach: Kim Williams
Sunshine Coast Falcons: 1. Sam Young 2. Young Tonumaipea 3. Travis Robinson 4. Hymel Hunt 5. Callum Klein 6. Ben Hampton 7. Brett Doherty 8. Jon Platt 9. Billy Brittain 10. Ryan Hansen (c) 11. Joe Stimson 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. James Ackerman 14. Jay Lobwein 15. Johnny Vuetibau 16. Rueben Baillie 17. Sam Satogi 19. Jacob Samoa (c) 20. Jordan Ryan
Coach: Glen Dreger
Souths Logan Magpies v Redcliffe Dolphins at Davies Park on Sunday – 2pm
A battle of two teams really struggling in this seasons’ competition, and both have things in common.
Both teams have only one win on the board so far this season, and without the two points for the bye might be battling to avoid last position on Sunday afternoon. As it stands a loss for the Magpies and a win for Norths may end up with the same result.
The other common ground between the two sides is home form. Redcliffe haven’t won a game at home this year and for a few games in a row last year, and Souths Logan only win was at Miriam Vale as a designated Souths Logan home game. So they haven’t won at their South East Queensland base this season.
A win will give either side their last realistic sniff of finals football, and the pressure will be on both sides, more so Redcliffe who wouldn’t have expected to be so low at this stage of season given off season recruiting. The loser could be last or just about finished for the season early. Given the recent big defeats of the Magpies and the fact that Redcliffe are away from home, the Dolphins look likely to double their win tally for 2015.
Prediction: Redcliffe by 8
Last Year: Souths Logan 30 Redcliffe 20
Odds: Souths Logan $2.75 Redcliffe $1.45
Teams:
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Josh Damen 2. Ramon Filipine 3. Dallas Anderson 4. Tim Brooks 5. Matt Trnka 6. Jack Joass 7. Oliver Olds 8. Sam Gardel 9. Travis Waddell 10. Andrew Edwards 11. Scott Doyle 12. Dan Tamou 13. Phil Dennis (c) 14. Herschel Gideon 15. Joe Boyce 16. Graham Levu 17. Aotealofa Tuimavave 18. Ihaka Watene
Coach: Josh Hannay
Redcliffe Dolphins: 1. Josh Beehag 2. Curtis Johnston 3. Tristan Lumley 4. Aaron Whitchurch 5. Tom Opacic 6. John Brady 7. Luke Capewell (c) 8. Charlie Faingaa 21. Shane Pumipi 10. Jon Green 11. Josh Benjamin 12. Anthony Cherrington 13. Trent Richardson 14. Darcy Etrich 15. Tom Geraghty 16. Harley Aiono 17. Taylor Brown
Coach: Troy Lindsay
Norths Devils v CQ Capras at Bishop Park on Sunday – 2.30pm
The battle of the basement at Bishop Park on Sunday as second last Central Capras arrive at Bishop Park to play a Norths side struggling for form and wins, a feat they haven’t achieved since 25th March. After starting the season off with two wins, the Devils have now lost 6 in a row and one can wonder if their original halfback moving to South Sydney is a coincidence for form.
Although Norths are a little hard done by due to positioning of the bye, there is three teams above the Devils with only win to their two.
Central have been quite competitive at home, and only 1 win isn’t a fair indication of the effort put in at home in Rockhampton. Their away form is a different story though, as the Capras have been on the receiving end of some big losses in their 3 losses from three on the road this season.
Norths will be hoping to turn around a huge last start loss of their own after Wynnum gave them a 60+ thumping in the round before the International break. If that can’t spark a turnaround in form, then it will be hard to find better inspiration. That or avoiding the last spot on the ladder, which is up for grabs for both sides with a loss this weekend.
Prediction: Norths by 4
Last Year: Norths 56 Central 6
Odds: Norths $1.55 Central $2.45
Teams:
Norths Devils: 1. Ryan Millard 2. Kainga Turner 3. Dylan Galloway 4. Joel Bailey 5. Rogan Dean 6. Sam Foster 7. Sean Loxley 8. Matt Mizzi 9. Krys Freeman 10. Francis Molo 11. Rhett Webster 12. Brett Greinke (c) 13. Todd Lowrie 14. Byron Creighton 15. Billy Solah 16. Richard Tuala 17. Josh Afoa
Coach: Mark Gliddon
CQ Capras: 1. Javarn White 2. Jake Ainsworth 3. Dan Randall 4. Ian Webster 5. Clinton Mooney 6. Matt Minto 7. Jacob Gagai 8. Gerard Tema 9. Josh Mitchell 10. Gavin Hiscox 11. Rajan Opetaia-Halls 12. Guy Williams (c) 13. Garret Field 14. Aaron Watson 15. Josh Johnston 16. Dean McAdam 17. Tyson White 18. Dean Allan 19. Corbyn Kilday
Coach: Lionel Harbin
PNG Hunters v Northern Pride at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo on Sunday – 2.30pm
The two teams in the Intrust Super Cup closest to the Equator finish off the 9th round of the competition in Papua New Guinea on Sunday.
The Northern Pride have turned around their season with 4 wins a row that has taken them off the bottom of the ladder a few weeks ago to ninth, and still with a bye up their sleeve.
The Hunters have not been as brilliant or untouchable as they were at times in 2014, and with the player movement and dreaded second season syndrome, it was to be expected to a degree.
Not that PNG have been that bad so far, a 5-3 record is a great achievement, and their home record is 100% so far this year, and worth noting is a big win to the PNG side against the Pride in the last trial game before the start of the season.
The Pride’s turnaround is ominous though, and it will be interesting to see if the wins continue further north this weekend.
Prediction: Pride by 4
Last Year: PNG 18 Pride 34
Odds: PNG $1.53 Pride $2.50
Teams:
PNG Hunters: 1. Stargroth Amean 2. Oti Bland Tony 3. Noel Zeming 4. Thompson Teteh 5. Adex Wera 6. Israel Eliab (c) 7. Ase Boas 8. Henry Noki 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Esau Siune 11. Kato Ottio 12. Brandy Peter 13. Adam Korave 14. Roger Laka 15. Lawrence Tu’u 16. Willie Minoga 17. Timothy Lomai 18. Atte Bina 19. Edward Goma 20. David Lapua
Coach: Michael Marum.
Northern Pride: 1. Linc Port 2. Semi Tadulala 3. Javid Bowen 4. Dean McGilvray 5. Luke George 6. Ryan Ghietti 7. Sam Obst 8. Jack Svendsen 9. Jason Roos (c) 10. Ben Spina 11. Vaipuna Tia Kilifi 12. Regan Verney 13. David Murphy 14. Cameron King 15. Tom Hancock 16. Sheldon Powe Hobbs 17. Alex Starmer 18. Nathan Wales 19. Jordon Biondi Odo
Coach: Joe O’Callaghan
