Finally the wait is over as the Intrust Super Cup competition begins for 2018.
Here’s just a little taste of what lies ahead this weekend, covering all the way from PNG To Tweed Heads.
For the PNG Hunters fans, we have an extra little bit about our thoughts on your favourite sporting team on the planet.
Intrust Super Cup Round 1 Preview
SATURDAY 1:10pm – SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v BURLEIGH BEARS
Live Channel 9 at 1pmย
New season, new television day and time now kicks off the round. The 2016 Premiers who had a good late season run take on one of the favourites for the 2018 title in what should be an entertaining opener to the season.
FALCONS:ย 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Matthew Soper-Lawler 3. Justin Olam 4. Jye Ballinger 5. Alexander Copelin 6. Kurt Aldridge 7. Brentt Warr 18. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Jacob Hind 11. Dane Hogan 12. Christopher Lewis 13. Harrison Muller 14. Louis Geraghty 15. Lachlan Timm 16. Liam McDonald 17. Lachlan Roe 19. Caleb Daunt 20. Nicholas Timm
BEARS:ย 1. Kurtis Rowe 2. Troy Leo 3. Sami Sauiluma 4. Josh Berkers 5. Henare Wells 6. Dallas Wells 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Luke Page (c) 9. Pat Politoni 10. Matt White 11. Hayden Schwass 12. Blake Leary 13. Sam Coster 14. Jai Whitbread 15. Josh Ailaomai 16. Dylan Kelly 17. Matt Robinson 18. Chris Law 19. Tyler Sparkes
Last Year – Burleigh 12 Falcons 24 – Burleigh 32 Falcons 26 *
SATURDAY 6pm – NORTHERN PRIDE v WYNNUM SEAGULLS
WYNNUMย SEAGULLSย LIVE STREAM- click here for more
Todd Carney is the big name, big news story leading into the start of the 2018 Intrust Super Cup season. He takes his first step back to NRL redemption on Saturday evening in Cairns when the Wynnum Seagulls fly into town. Battle of number six jumper – Carney v Nona is worth the price of admission alone. Nona led the Pride to ISC and NRL State Championship glory in 2014.
PRIDE:ย 1. Jack Murphy 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Brett Anderson 4. Enari Tuala 5. Justin Castellaro 6. Todd Carney 7. Jake Clifford 8. Darryn Schonig 9. Ryan Ghietti 10. William Bugden 11. Graham Clark 12. Tom Hancock 13. David Murphy 14. Troy Kapea 15. Nathan Wales 16. Emry Pere 17. Colin Wilkie 18. Jordan Biondi-Odo 19. Aidan Day 20. Connor Jones
SEAGULLS:ย 1. Patrick Templeman 2. Peter Gubb 3. Jeriah Goodrich 4. Delouise Hoeter 5. Daniel Ogden 6. Shaun Nona 7. Michael Dobson 8. Junior Pita 9. Mitch Cronin 10. Max Elliott 11. Alex Barr 12. Atelea Vea 13. Mitch Frei 14. Jayden Berrell 15. Patrick Carrigan 16. Keenan Palasia 17. Payne Haas 18. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard
Last Year – Wynnum 20 Pride 18 – Wynnum 16 Pride 40 *
SATURDAY 6pm – MACKAY CUTTERS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Mackay are yet to beat Townsville since the Blackhawks arrived in the Intrust Super Cup in 2015, but the margin for games in Mackay have been only two points (twice) and a draw in three visits. Another tight contest awaits.
CUTTERS:ย 1. Jack Joass 2. Yamba Bowie 3. Nate Saumalu 4. Bennett Leslie 5. Blake Atherton 6. Nicho Hynes 7. Kyle Laybutt 8. Sam Hoare 9. Jack Hickson 10. Nick Brown 11. Mitch Dunn 12. Shane Wright 13. Jardine Bobongie 14. Lona Kaifoto 15. Tyson Martin 16. Jordan Grant 17. Leonati Fetuani 18. Darcy Cox
BLACKHAWKS:ย 1. Paul Byrnes 2. Jonathon Reuben 3. Levi Dodd 4. Kalifa FaiFai Loa 5. Michael Carroll 6. Jaelen Feeney 7. Zach Dockar-Clay 8. Rod Griffin 9. Krys Freeman 10. Brendan Santi 11. Jacob Marketo 12. Andrew Niemoeller 13. Joe Boyce 14. Jordan Kenworthy 15. Temone Power 16. Ross Bella 22. Sione Lousi
Last Year – Townsville 60 Mackay 12 – Mackay 20 Townsville 20
SATURDAY 7pm – CENTRAL CAPRAS v EASTS TIGERS
TIGERSTV – click here for moreย (now Ruby League Gold 24/7)
Some big name recruiting done by both sides in the off-season. Is Dave Taylor aka Coal Train enough to derail the Tigers opening match, perhaps not with the overall quality of the Tigers team. Super excited about the return to the Intrust Super Cup of Joe Bond at fullback.
CAPRAS:ย 1. Zeik Foster 2. Ken Tofilau 3. Connor Broadhurst 4. Nathan Bassani 5. Chanel Seigafo 6. Blake Goodman 7. Jack Madden 8. Bill Cullen 9. Billy Gilbert 10. Phil Nati 11. Dave Cowhan 12. Dave Taylor 13. Jerry Key 14. Aaron Teroi 15. Jamie Hill 16. Brad Lupi 17. Luke George 18. Tyson White 19. Maipele Morseu 20. Jyde Dwyer
TIGERS:ย 1. Joseph Bond 2. Linc Port 3. Conor Carey 4. Shane Neumann 5. Jarrod McInally 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Joshua Ralph 8. David Tyrrell 9. Brandon Smith 10. Patrick Kaufusi 11. Jake Foster (c) 12. Brett Greinke 13. Jack Svendsen 14. Jarred Tuite 15. Ashley Little 16. Anton Iaria 17. Harley Aiono 18. James Salter 19. Jack Anderson 20. Christopher Ostwald
Last Year – Easts 36 Central 24 – Central 26 Easts 34
SUNDAY 2pm – NORTHS DEVILS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
It took Tweed Heads seven games to win their first match in 2017, coincidentally against the Devils at Bishop Park. Norths meanwhile will hope to replicate their four wins from five start to 2017 under their new coach. Sam Tagatese is an eye-catching recruit for Norths, as he returns to the club where he played Colts.
DEVILS:ย 1. Jackย ย Ahearn 2. Paulย ย Ulberg 3. Gehamat Shibasaki 4. Luke Ellis 5. Luke Pollock 6. Gary Riccardi 7. Todd Murphy 8. Sam Tagataese 9. Alexย ย Bishop 10. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 11. Moses Noovao-McGreal 12. Michael Sio 13. John Palavi 14. Calum Gahan 15. Oshae Tuiasau 16. Carne Doyle-Manga 17. Guy Williams
TWEED:ย 1. Ali Grant 2. Kiah Cooper 3. Ryland Jacobs 4. Brayden McGrady 5. Tevita Folau 6. AJ Brimson 7. Eli Levido 8. Tristan Lumley 9. Sam Meskell 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Lamar Liolevave 12. Hiale Roycroft 13. Tony Matautia 14. Jenan Parrish 15. Jordan Aiona 16. Jarrod Morfett 17. Sam Saville 18. Theo Hippi 19. Maia Sands 20. Lindon McGrady
Last Year – Norths 28 Tweed Heads 34
SUNDAY 2pm – REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
A classic Sunday afternoon clash between two classic Brisbane based teams. A point of interest lies in the new recruits in the halves – the Magpies welcome ex Falcon Guy Hamilton and Cameron Cullen returns to the Dolphins – a club he played with in 2014 and the club he opposed in a Man of the Match performance in Burleigh’s 2016 Grand Final win against Redcliffe.
PHINS:ย 1. Tony Tumusa 2. Josh Beehag 3. Jake Sparey 4. Jeremy Hawkins 5. Curtis Johnston 6. Manaia Rudolph 7. Cameron Cullen 8. Sam Anderson 9. Hugh Pratt 10. Nathan Watts 11. Scott Schulte 12. Jamil Hopoate 13. Samson Graham 14. Toby Rudolf 15. James Taylor 16. Tom Geraghty 17. Sheldon Pitama
MAGPIES:ย 1. Corey Allan 2. Cameron Booth 3. Marion Seve 4. Scott Doyle 5. Lenny Magey 6. Guy Hamilton 7. Sam Scarlett 8. George Fai 9. Jordan Scott 10. Samuelu Lavea 11. Simione Fatafehi 12. Brendon Gibb 13. Patrick Mago 14. Lane Ferling 15. Phillip Dennis 16. Uiti Baker 17. Thomas Flegler 18. Rhys Melville 19. Luke Archer 20. Benaiah Bowie
Last Year – Redcliffe 52 Magpies 12 – Magpies 12 Redcliffe 19
SUNDAY 3pm – PNG HUNTERS v IPSWICH JETS
IPSWICH JETSย LIVE STREAM –ย click here for more
Two sides that always provide entertainment for different reasons. The Hunters were competitive enough against the Broncos in a recent trial in Port Moresby, a good sign they won’t suffer too much from post premiership blues.ย Ipswich are yet to win in PNG, so a big task lies ahead.
The Hunters are yet to lose to Ipswich in PNG, so keeping that record intact is the minimum. The big question in 2018, like any other reigning premier is whether they can back it up. After a number of Hunters produced excellent performances at the Rugby League World Cup, and they were competitive against the Broncos in a pre season trial, that appears as if it won’t be a problem.
Looking forward to seeing new names, Charlie Simon has been suggested to us as a newbie to watch, and we will. Adam Korave returns to the Hunters as a name to know and trust. The slippery Adex Wera fills in at fullback for Stargroth Amean. Missing from last year’s premiership winning squad are Israel Eliab and Bland Abavu, who appear to have been dropped, and the Wellington brothers who are now attached to Widnes in the UK Super League. Unfortunately they are doing so without Kato Ottio alongside them, which is sure to be a big motivation for the Hunters in Round 1 and beyond.
Finally, always great to see Willie Minoga running around again in 2018, a frightening prospect to face in the centres.
HUNTERS:ย 1. Adex Wera 2. Wawa Paul3. Nixon Put 4. Willie Minoga 5. Butler Morris 6. Ase Boas (c) 7. Watson Boas 8. Moses Meninga 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Enock Maki 11. Rhadley Brawa 12. John Andy 13. Adam Korave 14. Charlie Simon 15. McKenzie Yei 16. Edene Gebbie 17. Dilbert Isaac 18. Silas Gahuna 19. Brendon Gotuno 20. Patrick Morea
JETS:ย 1. Michael Purcell 2. Wesley Conlon 3. Pio Seci 4. Samuel Caslick 5. Richard Pandia 6. Julian Christian 7. Dane Phillips 8. Tyson Lofipo 9. Jayden Connors 10. Nathaniel Neale (c) 11. Ben White 12. Sebastian Pandia 13. Benjamin Shea 14. Christopher Ash 15. Rory Humphreys 16. Rowan Winterfield 17. Mitchell Carpenter
Last Year – Ipswich 12 PNG 32 – PNG 20 Ipswich 4
* Country Week games
Week 1 Predictions
Brendan O’Farrell from Intrust Super and former Queensland Origin star Adrian Vowles join us for 2018.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – CEO, INTRUST SUPER
Sunshine Coast Falcons
Northern Pride
Townsville Blackhawks
Easts Tigers
Redcliffe Dolphins
Norths Devils
PNG Hunters
SHANNON MEYER – ISC WRITER
Burleigh Bears
Northern Pride
Townsville Blackhawks
Easts Tigers
Redcliffe Dolphins
Norths Devils
PNG Hunters
ADRIAN VOWLES – FORMER SEAGULLS, COWBOYS AND QUEENSLAND REPRESENTATIVEย
Burleigh Bears
Northern Pride
Townsville Blackhawks
Central Qld Capras
Souths Logan Magpies
Norths Devils
PNG Hunters
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/03/03/season-preview-2018-intrust-super-cup/
