ROUND 12 | Intrust Super Cup Preview

Here is the Intrust Super Cup Round 12 Preview, and it is a bunch of fixtures with plenty of interest from first to last.

The TV cameras will capture the Coal Train aka Dave Taylor for the first time this weekend as the Capras get their first TV game at Dolphin Oval for the season, as Redcliffe will try and avoid a second TV game upset. Saturday also sees first play last which may not be as one sided as the ladder positions suggest, and some northern exposure in Cairns as the Pride and the Devils fight it out at Barlow Park.

A treat for those who like traditional Sunday afternoon timeslots as there are four big clashes to feast on this weekend.

The first is at Piggabeen as the Seagulls try and keep and extend their winning run to six games, followed by a trio of 3pm kick offs between great rivals from PNG to Brisbane.

Wynnum v Easts is always a tough contest, but there is added incentive this weekend with both teams way down the ladder. Souths Logan and Ipswich always produce cracking games, and this weekend at Davies Park will be no exception. The weekend rounds off between PNG and Townsville, a great new rivalry between the two newest sides in the ISC. The Blackhawks yet to cash in on some great form with a premiership yet, unlike the Hunters who did last season.

Your full  Intrust Super Cup Round 12 Preview awaits.

 

Intrust Super Cup Round 12 PREVIEW

SATURDAY 1:10pm – REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v CENTRAL CAPRAS
VIEW: Channel Nine @ 1pm

The TV camera return to Dolphin Oval for the second time in three weeks, and the Dolphins will be hoping it will be a better outcome this time around than the first. Two weeks ago they were beaten by the Northern Pride on their turf, the 24-26 score line a little flattering with a late burst of points. That loss was their second in a row after five straight wins, and happily for Dolphins fans they got back on track on the Sunshine Coast last weekend with a comfortable 26-4 win.

A gem for the TV audience this weekend comes courtesy of the Central Capras first appearance for the season, and it comes in the form of a big Coal Train, otherwise known as Dave Taylor. The former NRL powerhouse was returned to his roots somewhat this season by playing for the Rockhampton based club, and he has had some impact so far this season, scoring a winning try against the Pride, but the Capras for their increase in competitiveness still only have three wins, and sit second last. They have also let a good number of leads slip against some very good sides.

Perhaps Big Dave Taylor turns it on for the cameras this weekend, and continues a run of upsets for the TV game. Perhaps the collective powerhouse that is the Redcliffe Dolphins continues its charge through the Top 6.

Teams

Redcliffe Dolphins

1. Tony Tumusa 2. Jonus Pearson 3. Scott Schulte 4. Moses Pangai 5. Jeremy Hawkins 6. Bryce Donovan 7. Cameron Cullen (c) 8. Nathan Watts 9. Tristan Hope 10. Sam Anderson 11. Jamil Hopoate 12. Aaron Whitchurch 13. Toby Rudolf 14. Samson Graham 15. James Taylor 16. Tom Geraghty 17. Sheldon Pitama

CQ Capras

1. Zeik Foster 2. Junior Kirisome 3. Connor Broadhurst 4. Nathan Bassani 5. Chanel Seigafo 6. Blake Goodman 7. Jack Madden (c) 8. Bill Cullen 9. Billy Gilbert 1.0 Oliver Percy 11. Jamie Hill 12. Dave Taylor 13. Jerry Key 15. Brad Lupi 16. Maipele Morseau 18. Aaron Flanagan 19. Peter Rogers

 

SATURDAY 4pm – BURLEIGH BEARS v MACKAY CUTTERS

Despite being a game of first v last, this could well be a very interesting, and possibly more closely fought game that the ladder would suggest. Mackay have a very good record record on the road this season against the good sides. Wins against Norths, and Ipswich in recent weeks, and last weekend were very competitive against the Magpies. So their last place on the ladder may not be as bad as it seems. Proff of how competitive the competition is really. They also have Lachlan Coote named at fullback for extra class, and the returning Cooper Bambling from the Raiders system gives them more quality.

Burleigh have also seen some quality return to the side of late, in particular their halfback Jamal Fogarty. The Bears aren’t leading the competition for no good reason, and you only have to look at their forward pack, arguably the best there is. The Bears can even afford to have Ben Hannant on their bench. They are unbeaten at home in 4 games this season too.

A good battle to watch for could be between the number 9’s, Pat Politoni is a match winner for the Bears, and Jayden Hodges has NRL quality and steers the Cutters well.

Not suggesting that Mackay will win, but they might, and the 10.5 points start looks good.

Burleigh Bears

1. Toby McIntosh 2. Troy Leo 3. Sami Sauiluma 4. Henare Wells 5. Tyrone Roberts-Davis 6. Dallas Wells 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Luke Page (c) 9. Pat Politoni 10. Matt White 11. Jamie Dowling 12. Blake Leary 13. Sam Coster 14. Jai Whitbread 15. Hayden Schwass 16. Josh Ailaomai 17. Ben Hannant

Mackay Cutters

1. Lachlan Coote 2. Yamba Bowie 3. Nathan Saumalu 4. Blake Atherton 5. Kurt Wiltshire 6. Nicho Hynes 7. Cooper Bambling 8. Sam Hoare 9. Jayden Hodges 10. Jordan Grant 11. Mitchell Dunn 12. Thomas Murphy (c) 13. Nicholas Brown 14. Darcy Cox 15. Lona Kaifoto 16. Kellen Jenner 17. Brenden Treston 18. Johnny Faletagoa’i

 

SATURDAY 6pm – NORTHERN PRIDE v NORTHS DEVILS

The two northern sides face each other in Cairns this weekend, with the northern Queensland side in a position to leapfrog their northern Brisbane opponents with a win at Barlow Park.

The Northern Pride went down last weekend to the very in form Tweed Heads Seagulls, and prior to that has upset Redcliffe  at Dolphin Oval and beaten the Sunshine Coast Falcons. All without the big name off season signing of Todd Carney. Jake Clifford had already surpassed him before the former NRL bad boy’s exit, and his form has seen him emerge as a strong option for the Cowboys in the halves. The Pride currently sit seventh, but can sneak into the Top 6 with a win.

The Devils meanwhile have lost three of their last four, but a strong start to the year, which including inflicting a rare loss on the Burleigh Bears, sees them still lying in fifth position on the ladder. They will be without one of their best in Sam Tagataese this weekend, but do have a pair of halves that are catching the eye of the Broncos as well. Norths have only won once in Cairns, but happily that was last year, and there’s no reason why they can’t double up this weekend.

 

Teams

Northern Pride

1. Jack Murphy 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Brett Anderson 4. Javid Bowen 5. Gideon Gela-Mosby 6. Jake Clifford 7. Jordan Biondi-Odo 8. William Bugden 9. Ryan Ghietti (c) 10. David Murphy 11. Hancock 12. James Clark 13. Graham Clark 14. Nathan Wales 15. Sheldon Powe-Hobbs 16. Troy Kapea 17. Emry Pere 18. Connor Jones 19. Darryn Schonig 20. Shawn Bowen

Norths Devils

1. Jack Ahearn 2. Namila Davui 3. Luke Pollock 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Chevi Ellis 6. Troy Dargan 7. Todd Murphy 8. Oshae Tuiasau 9. Calum Gahan 10. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 11. Iain Riccardi 12. Brandon Lee 13. John Palavi (c) 14. Guy Williams 15. Carne Doyle-Manga 17. Dalton Phillips 19. Alex Bishop

 

SUNDAY 2pm – TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS

What a wonderful opportunity to say that the Tweed Heads Seagulls are one of the competition’s form teams heading into Intrust Super Cup Round 12. The Seagulls have hung around the bottom of the ISC for the past few seasons, so their 5 game winning streak, which has then on the cusp of Top 6, is a great story. Sure, they have been assisted of late with the NRL arrivals of Kane Elgey and Konrad Hurrell, but one of their stars AJ Brimson was part of that exchange so the Seagulls are doing well.

The Sunshine Coast were humbled at home last weekend by Redcliffe, and are suffering in 2018 much like their Grand Final opponents PNG Hunters. They have lost 4 of their past 5 games, but that win was a 38-0 thrashing of the Capras, showing their capability on their day. Aside from last weekend’s loss to Redcliffe, their losses have only been small, often with late scoring going against them. A worry given Tweed Heads ability to find wins in their run, particularly the 50m penalty goal after the siren to win two weeks ago.

Teams

Tweed Heads Seagulls

1. Brendan Elliot 2. Ryland Jacobs 4. Konrad Hurrell 3. Brayden McGrady 5. Kiah Cooper 6. Lindon McGrady 7. Kane Elgey 18. Leilani Latu 17. Eli Levido 16. Cheyne Whitelaw (c) 11. Manuel-Liolevave 12. Ryan Simpkins 13. Maia Sands 8. Jarrod Morfett 9. Sam Meskell 10. Tristan Lumley 14. Tony Matautia 15. Jack Cook 19. Shane Gillham

Sunshine Coast Falcons

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Matt Soper-Lawler 3. Justin Olam 4. Jordon Ah-One-Remfrey 5. Khan Ahwang 6. Jahrome Hughes 7. Cooper Johns 18. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Lachlan Timm 11. Lachlan Roe 12. Jye Ballinger (c) 13. Jacob Hind 14. Rhys Jacks 15. Martin Cordwell 16. Liam McDonald 17. Harrison Muller 19. Nick Timm 20. Connor Donehue

 

SUNDAY 3pm – WYNNUM SEAGULLS v EASTS TIGERS

This game could hardly be more traditional. Sunday afternoon 3pm, two classic Brisbane teams in a great rivalry, and hopefully glorious sunshine.

Not many however, would have predicted that this match would be featuring team 11th and 12th on the ladder, with just three wins from their first 10 games a piece.

Looking through the sides, especially Easts, it is hard to see why they are so low down, they haven’t won since round 6, but they also have missed out in some tight ones. Perhaps it will take the big rivalry with Wynnum to spark their 2018 campaign again. They do have a very handy halves combination of Billy Walters, and Brodie Croft.

The Seagulls don’t lack quality halves either, nor try scoring power in their backline, Delouise Hoeter and Daniel Ogden among the most prolific in ISC history. A win here would even up the ISC head to head ledge at 33 wins a piece, and condemn their rival to potentially last place.

Teams

Wynnum Manly Seagulls

1. Patrick Templeman 2. Peter Gubb 3. Edward Burns 4. Delouise Hoeter 5. Daniel Ogden 6. Shaun Nona 7. Michael Dobson 8. Junior Pita 9. Mitch Cronin 10. Stedman Lefau 11. Patrick Carrigan 12. Til Vea 13. Mitch Frei (c) 14. Mitchell Moore 15. Max Elliott 16. Lachlan Lee 17. Alex Barr 18. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard

Easts Tigers

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Linc Port 3. Conor Carey 18. Cheyse Blair 5. Jarrod McInally 6. Billy Walters 7. Brodie Croft 8. Matthew Groat 9. Chris Ostwald 10. Brett Greinke 11. Jake Foster c) 12. Patrick Kaufusi 13. Jack Svendsen 14. Brayden Torpy 15. Ash Little 16. Michael Egan 17. Harley Aiono

 

 

SUNDAY 3pm – PNG HUNTERS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS

In seasons gone by, this was one of the premium clashes of the season, and while in our opinion it will still be a quality clash, the lowly ladder position of the Hunters makes it just that little less interesting to neutrals.

The main reason is the lowly position of the Hunters after 11 rounds, usually these two teams are fighting for the top of the ladder. But it could be worse, the Hunters could have been dead last if not for a recent turnaround in form that started at Wynnum and continued at home to Central last weekend. A look through their side will see a few more names that are from the era of better results – highlighted by Stanton Albert who has returned back to PNG from a chance to play in the UK. The boost of a little bit of extra experience seems to have done the trick for now, and may the winning continue.

Easier said than done of course, as the Blackhawks have a quality side full of ex NRL talent, despite a slow start to the season. The turnaround from an ugly start of the season started six games ago, where they have won every week, and that sequence now has them second on the ladder, and the competition’s best for and against. Townsville have lost one of the better players so far this year in Francis Molo to the Cowboys, and their record of 0-3 in PNG is another downside. But seeing the name of Zac Santo in the squad excites, an excellent fullback who didn’t quite make it with the Raiders.

Teams

PNG Hunters1Adex Wera 2. Junior Rau 3. Thompson Teteh 4. Willie Minoga 5. Edene Gebbie 6. Ase Boas (c) 7. Watson Boas 8. Enock Maki 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Dilbert Issac 11. Nixon Putt 12. Ila Alu 13. Rahdly Brawa 14. Silas Gahuna 15. Baundo Aba 16. Patrick Morea 17. Stanton Albert 18. William Mone 19. Butler Morris 20. Mekenzie Yei

Townsville Blackhawks

1. Jonathon Reuben 2. Levi Dodd 3. Shaun Hudson 4. Ty Carucci 5. Kalifa Faifai-Loa 6. Jaelen Feeney 7. Zach Clay 8. Cade Maloney 9. Krys Freeman 10. Rod Griffin 11. Jake Marketo 12. Temone Power 13. Joe Boyce 16. Ross Bella 19. Brent Woolf 22. Sione Lousi 14. Zachary Santo 15. Andrew Niemoeller

 

SUNDAY 3pm – SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v IPSWICH JETS

What a great game to complete Intrust Super Cup Round 12, with two Top 6 sides going head to head on a Sunday afternoon at an old school rugby league ground.

Ipswich got past the Norths Devils last weekend on the back of a rare double to in-form prop (and new try scoring machine) Nat Neale and 5 penalty goals, that has them sixth and just two points behind their opponents this weekend. Although there is a significant points difference variance. An interesting stat is the Jets record at Davies Park – 13/15 wins, and the last 6.

Souths Logan also registered a win last weekend, but were equally pushed for their two points by the Mackay Cutters, only sealing the game with the match’s final try in the last ten minutes. Still, the 42-30 effort sees them third on the ladder, and ready to take advantage of slip ups from the top two.

One question that was raised from last weekend is why more teams in rugby league don’t do the short kick off like Ipswich. Instead of the usual kick which is almost 100% guaranteed to end in oppositions hands, Ipswich seem to get the ball back at around 50% at least. One led directly to a try. Surely worth the risk.

Teams

Souths Logan Magpies

1. Corey Allan 2. Benaiah Bowie 3. Marion Seve 4. Dan Russell 5. Paul Rokolati 6. Guy Hamilton 7. Sam Scarlett 8. Rhys Melville 9. Travis Waddell 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Brendon Gibb 12. David Fifita 13. Phil Dennis (c) 14. Jordan Scott 15. Sam Elliott 16. Simi Fatafehi 17. Patrick Mago

Coach: Jon Buchanan

Ipswich Jets

1. Wes Conlon 2. Marmin Barba 3. Pio Seci 4. Sam Caslick 5. Richie Pandia 6. Julian Christian 7. Dane Phillips 8. Tyson Lofipo 15. Kierran Moseley 10. Nat Neale (c) 11. Ben White 12. Seb Pandia 13. Ben Shea 9. Jayden Connors 16. Huskie Teutau 17. Rory Humphreys 21. Rowan Winterfield 19. Mitch Carpenter

 

 

Week 12 Predictions

Brendan O’Farrell from Intrust Super and former Queensland Origin star Adrian Vowles join us for 2018.

BRENDAN O’FARRELL

REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
BURLEIGH BEARS
NORTHERN PRIDE
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
EASTS TIGERS
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS

ADRIAN VOWLES

REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
BURLEIGH BEARS
NORTHERN PRIDE
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
WYNNUM SEAGULLS
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS

SHANNON MEYER

REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
BURLEIGH BEARS
NORTHERN PRIDE
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
EASTS TIGERS
IPSWICH JETS
PNG HUNTERS