REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Redcliffe will looking to go back to back in the 2019 Intrust Super Cup season, repeating the feat that they managed in 2002 and 2003, and more recently by Wynnum in 2011-2012.
Ignoring the losses and gains list for 2019, the big news is that the Redcliffe Dolphins will be going into the 2019 season without one of their star players in Cameron Cullen, who has been ruled out for the season due to injury. The experienced and influential Cullen was one of the main reasons for Redcliffe’s success in 2018, and how they will cover that loss is going to determine their season.
The Dolphins have two very interesting signings for the 2019 season, one being Gerard McCallum, which told Matt Crowhurst about his rugby league journey.
Trials Form: Sat 16th Feb – Norths 12 Redcliffe 12
Trials Form: Sat 23rd Feb – Souths Logan 32 Redcliffe 24
https://nothingbutleague.com/2017/06/06/gerard-mccullum-the-long-way-round/
IN AND OUT
GAINS: Jordan Grant, Nick Brown (Mackay Cutters), Faitotoa Faitotoa (Newcastle Knights), Zev John (Melbourne Storm), Gerard McCallum (Easts Tigers), Harrison Smith (Cronulla Sharks), Josh Rudolph, Raeden Fonoti (Year off)
LOSSES: Sam Anderson (Maitland Pickers), Toby Rudolf (Cronulla Sharks), Tristan Hope, Mosese Pangai, (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Josh Fauid (Easts Tigers), Curtis Johnston (North Sydney), Tom Opacic (North Queensland Cowboys), Jonus Pearson (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jake Sparey (Easts Tigers), Rinsma Saueha (Wests Panthers), Nick Slyney (Retired)
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
There has rarely been a fall from grace like the Souths Logan Magpies in 2018. The Magpies were genuine front-runners around the halfway point of 2018 but their season fell apart and were lucky to win any games in the second half of the season. Not that they weren’t competitive in a lot of those losses.
Souths Logan have recruited well, grabbing some real quality from around the Intrust Super Cup. Linc Port, Mitchell Frei, Alex Bishop and Matt Soper-Lawler all bring with them experience and consistent performance over recent seasons, and compliment the squad nicely.
They still have one of the competition’s best players in Guy Hamilton and the player who has started the most games in Intrust Super Cup history – Phil Dennis, who will no doubt be as crafty as ever. They fielded a very strong side in the NRL trial with a very weakened Broncos side in Warwick and got belted 42-0.
The Magpies have lost a promising fullback for the second year in a row with Corey Allen heading to the Rabbitohs for 2019, following Jamayne Isaako’s rise from Magpie to Bronco in 2018.
Trials Form: Sat 16th Feb – Broncos 42 Souths Logan 0
Trials Form: Sat 23rd Feb – Souths Logan 32 Redcliffe 24
IN AND OUT
GAINS: Mitchell Frei (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Harrison Muller, Matt Soper-Lawler (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Linc Port (Easts Tigers), Alex Bishop (Norths Devils), Jack Joass (Mackay Cutters), Gerome Burns (Norths Devils / Brisbane Broncos), Haydyn O’Hara (Brisbane Broncos), Jerome Veve (Burleigh Bears)
LOSSES: Sam Scarlett (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Sam Lavea (Easts Tigers), Travis Waddell (Dubbo), Corey Allan (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
It helps to have a relationship with the Melbourne Storm, and the Falcons are taking full advantage of that for 2019 with a high quality squad that look capable of bouncing back from a disappointing season where they finished 10th after being losing grand finalists in 2017.
Nicho Hynes is possibly their best new name to come into the Falcons nest for 2019, the former Mackay Cutters player doing enough in a wooden spoon outfit to catch the eye of Sunshine Coast for the upcoming season. Another exciting recruit from a little further north is speed machine Jonathon Reuben from Townsville. A side that features Rueben and PNG International Justin Olam is going to have firepower capable of many wins.
Talking of internationals, Fijian international player Sitivene Moceidreke joins the Falcons from the Mounties in Canberra. In Todd Murphy, Sunshine Coast have a half more than capable of replacing the outgoing Canadian International Rhys Jacks.
Other notable exits include Matt Soper-Lawler and Jye Ballinger, who have been some great contributors for the Falcons in recent seasons. But a fully fit Sandor Earl should cover some of the loss of experience.
Sunshine Coast also have a new head coach for the 2019 Intrust Super Cup season with former Melbourne Storm NYC coach Eric Smith taking over from Craig Ingebrigtsen. Their second favouritism for the premiership and thumping win over Ipswich in a trial shows they are ready for the step up in 2019.
Trials Form: Sat 16th Feb – Sunshine Coast 48 Ipswich 0
Trials Form: Sun 23rd Feb – Sunshine Coast 28 Norths 16
IN AND OUT
GAINS: Todd Murphy (Brisbane Broncos / Norths Devils), Tyson Smoothy (Brisbane Broncos), Louis Geraghty (Melbourne Storm), Nicho Hynes, Nathan Saumalu (Mackay Cutters), Daniel Dole (Wentworthville), Jonathon Reuben (Townsville Blackhawks), Darryn Schonig (Northern Pride), Sitivene Moceidreke (Mounties), Trent Schaumkel (Northcote NZ), Cameron Moran (Ipswich Jets), Dalton Phillips (Norths Devils)
LOSSES: Jye Ballinger (Albi Tigers), Harrison Muller, Matt Soper-Lawler (Souths Logan Magpies), Jacob Hind (Burleigh Bears), Rhys Jacks (Easts Tigers)
