ROUND 15 PREVIEW
Sunshine Coast Falcons v Easts Tigers
Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday, June 18 - 3pm
Referee: Peter Gough
Head-to-Head: Easts 10 Sunshine Coast 4
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvTIGES
Two of the Storm’s feeder teams go head-to-head to kick off Round 15 in what should be an entertaining match. The Tigers have won the past 10 games played between these two sides, but the Falcons would be hopeful of halting their run with the support of the home crowd behind them. Two Falcons are set to celebrate milestones in this match with half Ryley Jacks (previously with Easts and Burleigh) to play his 50th Cup game, while forward Ryan Hansen (previously with Norths) will run out for his 100th. Sitting in sixth position, the Falcons will aim to close the four-point gap between themselves and the fifth-placed Tigers. They boast a strong pack including former Tiger Troy Giess and the highly rated pair of Joe Stimson (returning from suspension) and Pat Hollis. Last weekend, Easts welcomed back Javarn White, but lost Tom Butterfield to another shoulder injury. Powerful Tigers centre Shane Neumann requires two tries to equal Wade Liddell as Easts top Cup try-scorer (65). Neumann also holds the season try-scoring record for the Sunshine Coast with 15 in 2009. Before the match, the two teams will lead a minute’s applause before kick-off to remember team-mates James Ackerman and Grant Giess who passed away in 2015. – with Matt Crowhurst
Head to QRL Live to follow the Round 15 action
Townsville Blackhawks v Ipswich Jets
Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, June 18 – 4pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: Townsville 2 Ipswich 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvJETS
Although the sides have met four times – most famously in last year’s premiership decider – this is the first time they will play at Townsville’s home ground of Jack Manski Oval. Their previous four games have been at Ipswich, Charters Towers and Suncorp Stadium. The Blackhawks are coming off a frustrating loss against Redcliffe where they gave up a 16-0 halftime lead to go down 18-16. That result is bound to spur them into action, especially in front of their home crowd. Their two biggest strengths are their size and experience; and they will enter the game against the Jets with Matt Bowen and Glenn Hall, who have both played more than 200 NRL games. The Blackhawks have proven this year they’re a clinical and professional side and they will be looking to return to form against Ipswich. After a few lean weeks, the Jets scored themselves a 16-14 win over the Devils last weekend – but it came at a cost. Fullback Carlin Anderson is out for the season with a broken jaw, while Nat Neale is out of this match with a hip injury. Sebastian Pandia comes into the side after missing last week against Norths. The Blackhawks will be celebrating their Defence Force Round against the Jets so will offer free entry for defence force personnel who have ID. – with Michael Nunn
Norths Devils v CQ Capras
Salter Oval on Saturday, June 18 – 6pm
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Head-to-Head: Norths 27 Central 10 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvCQC
The Norths Devils and CQ Capras return to Bundaberg’s Salter Oval for the first time since 2006, when the Devils claimed a 26-14 win. The Brisbane side are taking this home game into Central Queensland confident in the fact they have an outstanding 27-10 head-to-head record against their opposition and have won the past nine games between the two sides, including back in Round 2 where they posted a 32-24 win, despite allowing the CQ side to surge back into the game in the second half. Having gone down by a slim two-point margin against the Jets, the Devils will be hoping to get back on course as they aim to stay in touch with the top six. The Capras have enjoyed more success this season and come into this match having claimed a hard-fought win over the Cutters last weekend. Winger Adam Henry's crossed for four tries last weekend, posting the first four-try haul of the season. It also equalled his club’s Cup record held by Heath Egglestone, Jade Williams and Marlon Doak. Gates to Salter Oval will open at 9.30am with the first Bundaberg Rugby League game to kick off at 11.30am.
Mackay Cutters v Northern Pride
BB Print Stadium Mackay on Saturday, June 18 – 6pm
Referee: Clayton Sharpe
Head-to-Head: Pride 13 Mackay 5
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvPRIDE
The Cutters are back at BB Print Stadium Mackay for the first time since April and will be looking to repeat their performance from their last home match where they earned their first win of the season; a two-point win over the Jets. As has been the case in a few of their past matches, the Cutters were in the contest against the Capras last weekend but couldn’t best them; despite getting out to an early lead. This week, they will welcome the addition of Jack Creith and Cowboys NYC star Cooper Bambling into the side. Wiremu Weepu from the Souths Suburbs club has also been named to make his Cutters debut. When these two sides met at Barlow Park this year the Pride were able to post a comfortable 44-24 win over their NQ rivals, but they have struggled to win away from home, and this season have won only one of the past five games on the road. Having posted a strong result against the Falcons last weekend, the side will want to build and crack the competition top six. For this match, gates will open at 4.30pm as rain has forced the two scheduled women’s games to be played at Brothers ground instead.
XXXX Rivalry Match of the Round
Tweed Heads Seagulls v Burleigh Bears
Piggabeen Sports on Sunday, June 19 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: David Munro Assistant Referee: Jarrod Cole
Head-to-Head: Tweed 13 Burleigh 12 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSvBEARS
The local derby between the Bears and Tweed Heads is one to look forward to as it always brings out the best in both sides. While Burleigh share the competition lead with Townsville and the Gulls are stuck in the bottom half of the ladder; that old cliché of form not mattering in a derby tends to ring true with the sides showing plenty of passion whenever they meet. The Seagulls too have a strong home record against the Bears, who have not won a game at Piggabeen since 2006. This weekend, Burleigh welcome back Queensland Residents representatives Sami Sauiluma (from suspension) and Cameron Cullen to the starting side after both missed last week’s win over Wynnum Manly. Titans and Bears lock Jeff Lynch told the Burleigh Bears website that after missing their first encounter that his side won 36-26 in Round 2; he was looking forward to the challenge of claiming a win at the Seagulls home ground. “I missed the last Tweed clash, so I’m pretty keen to get out there and go up against the local rivals and the other second-tier Titans boys and see how they fare,” he said. The Seagulls – who suffered a disappointing loss to Easts in Round 14 – will be aiming to claim a big scalp this weekend to keep hold of the Ray McCarron Memorial Trophy. – with Kevin Braysher
PNG Hunters v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
National Football Stadium on Sunday, June 19 – 3.05pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head-to-Head: PNG 3 Wynnum 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvWYN
They left it late, but the Hunters unbeaten run at home remained intact against Souths Logan last weekend and they will be hoping for that to continue this weekend against Wynnum Manly. They also hold a handy home record against their opposition, having won both of their past encounters in PNG. However, despite losing their past two games on the trot, the Seagulls have a positive outlook about their chances of becoming the first side to come home with two points this season. Gulls coach Jon Buchanan told Quest Newspapers that he was pleased with the way his side had been progressing since their rough start to the season and was confident of springing the upset. “I’m actually pretty happy with the way we’ve been playing at the moment and we’re all looking forward to the challenge this weekend,” he said. “Our boys always love the opportunity to get away as a team and there’s no better trip for that than PNG.” Hunters co-captain Noel Zeming scored two late tries last weekend – including the all-important match-winner against a somewhat unlucky Magpies side. That gave him 18 in total for the club, which saw him pass Willie Minoga (now with Townsville) to become the club’s fifth leading try scorer. Seagulls halfback Matthew Seamark will become the club’s most capped player following this match, breaking a record previously held by former premiership-winning captain Luke Dalziel-Don.
Souths Logan Magpies - Bye
Redcliffe Dolphins - Bye
*Each week, the XXXX Rivalry Match of the Round will highlight a match that showcases a traditional rugby league rivalry. The storied histories of club battles, local derbies and bitter grand final combatants will take centre stage in this new promotion by XXXX that helps celebrate the heritage of the “greatest game of all”.
**Statistics by Brad Tallon
