IPSWICH JETS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, July 6 2.30pm
Referee: Clayton Sharpe
Head to Head: Ipswich 18 Souths-Logan 16 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #JETSvSLM #rivals
Rugby league fans shouldnt need any encouragement to come along to this crucial match between the 2008 grand finalists. The gates will be thrown open with free entry to mark the annual Indigenous Appreciation Round clash. With Ipswich sitting in fifth spot and the Magpies hot on their heels in sixth, this important match will be fiercely contested from the opening whistle. There will be a lot to keep an eye out for off the field as well, with traditional dancers to further keep the crowd entertained. Ipswich has lost three matches in a row but coaches Ben and Shane Walker were encouraged by the teams effort in the two-point loss to Mackay last week. The Jets have been boosted by the return of Ian Lacey from injury and the late inclusion of former Rooster Lama Tasi, who has switched to the Brisbane Broncos mid-season. There is no shortage of class in the Magpies line-up either, with former Raider Travis Wadell to start at hooker. Former Jets Marshall Chalk and Ramon Filipine are also in the Magpies outfit, adding further spice to what should be an enthralling contest. Ipswich has not beaten Souths Logan in Ipswich since 2007, although they did draw 20-all last year.
QRL Media tips: Ipswich Jets by 2. Its virtually impossible to pick a winner here, but with some key personnel back in the fold, well tip the Jets to sneak home in a thriller.
CQ CAPRAS v SUNSHINE COAST SEA EAGLES
Browne Park on Saturday, July 6 6pm
Referee: Nick Morel
Head to Head: Central 5 Sunshine Coast 4 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #CQCvSCSE #rivals
Back in round 1 this year, the Sunshine Coast finished over the top of the CQ Capras to notch a 24-16 win. The Coast followed that result up with a narrow loss to Ipswich and a thrilling victory over the Norths Devils away from home. However, the Sea Eagles havent been able to grab a win since, despite many whole-hearted performances. They will get an opportunity here though to add to their tally against a Capras outfit coming off a bruising loss to the front-running Northern Pride. The Capras must win to keep their faint finals hopes alive. They have been boosted by the inclusion of former Rabbitoh Jamie Simpson who is poised to make his debut for the Capras on the wing. Simpson will add even more experience and depth to the young Capras roster following the recent mid-season signing of former Bulldog Brent Crisp. Big Sunshine Coast prop Martin Cordwell will play his 50th Cup match for the Sea Eagles, while youngster Eli Wickham gets a start at fullback.
QRL Media tips: Central Queensland Capras by 4. The Capras are traditionally strong at home, while the Sea Eagles have only won one of their past 29 away games.
MACKAY CUTTERS v NORTHERN PRIDE
Virgin Australia Stadium on Sunday, July 7 12.30pm* (delayed on Channel 9 at 2pm)
Referee: Chris Butler
Head to Head: Pride 9 Mackay 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #MCvPRIDE #rivals
The Channel 9 television cameras will head north to Mackays Virgin Australia Stadium for the first time this season. The match is part of the XXXX Rivalry Round and there will be no shortage of spice in this blockbuster. Both teams are on target to play finals football in September, with the Pride currently sitting in top spot and the Cutters in third. Mackay gave their finals prospects a real shot in the arm last week with a hard-fought 20-18 victory over the Ipswich Jets. Coach Kim Williams has again named Cowboys players Kalifa Faifai Loa and Anthony Mitchell, while skipper Jardine Bobongie returns from a weeks suspension. The Pride are coming off another comfortable win but they will be tested by the Cutters, who will no doubt enjoy the opportunity to play in front of a parochial home crowd. The match will be the last opportunity for players to impress for Queensland Residents selection, a team which should have a strong contingent of Pride players in it given their outstanding form. Hezron Murgha, Brett Anderson, Ethan Lowe and Joel Riethmuller are among a host of Pride players in contention for Queensland selection. The Pride have won the past four games between these two sides, but Mackays only two wins over the Pride have been in Mackay in 2009 and 2011 (by 1 point and 4 points).
QRL Media tips: Mackay Cutters by 8. The Cutters have been strong at home all season and they are playing well enough to knock over their big brother here.
NORTHS DEVILS v EASTS TIGERS
Bishop Park on Sunday, July 7 3pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head to Head: Norths 19 Easts 16 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #DEVILSvEASTS #rivals
While only one win separates these two sides the congested nature of the Intrust Super Cup ladder means Norths are sitting in fourth spot; while the Tigers are back down in seventh. The Tigers travel to Bishop Park with a poor record at the ground, having not won there since 2009. That is compounded by their recent unhappy run against the Nundah club with Norths wining six of the past seven matches played. However, helped by their willing additions from the Melbourne Storm, Easts have hit a purple patch of form and will be full of confidence for this trip across town. They are unchanged from last weekends successful match against Redcliffe, while Devils coach Andrew Wynyard has also named an unchanged side. His only tweaks have been positional changes with hooker Kurt Baptiste who was last weekends XXXX Man of the Match to start this match. Two of Norths big men will celebrate milestone matches this weekend, with prop Mark Vaiao to play in his 100th Cup game for the Devils (and his 130th overall with previous stints at Easts and Wynnum). Fellow forward Troyden Watene (Aspley/Wynnum Manly) will play his 50th Cup game for the club (and his 77th overall).
QRL Media tips: Norths Devils by 10. Their recent record is too good to ignore and they have also hit some form with the return of Baptiste.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
Dolphin Oval on Sunday, July 7 3pm
Referee: Robert Gallacher
Head to Head: Redcliffe 25 Wynnum 11 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #PHINSvWYN #rivals
It is crunch time for Redcliffe who need no reminding of how important this game against Wynnum Manly is to the future of their season. The Dolphins who were pre-season favourites have found the going tough in the competition and are in 9th spot on the ladder. Their home ground of Dolphin Oval so often thought of as a fortress has become less intimidating for opposition teams; with Redcliffe only winning two of their seven games here this year. Despite going in as underdogs, the Dolphins will draw self-belief from their strong 38-10 win over the Seagulls in round 1. In team changes, Dolphins outside back Delroy Berryman will return to the wing with Tui Samoa making a comeback via the bench. Wes Middleton and Tom Opacic are the players to make way. Broncos Under 20 star Cameron Cullen will start at five-eighth this week with Joe Bond moving to fullback; while Nick Slyney is named to start at prop with Alex Simpson on the bench. Halfback Matt Seamark requires only one more point to bring up 700 for Wynnum. He has also scored 22 points for Redcliffe in his career.
QRL Media tips: Wynnum Manly by 6. Redcliffe have their backs against the wall but may have lost too much firepower in their ranks to overcome a rejuvenated Seagulls side.
BURLEIGH BEARS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Pizzey Park on Sunday, July 7 3pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head to Head: Burleigh 11 Tweed 10
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #BEARSvTHS #rivals
The last match in round 1 between Tweed Heads and Burleigh was a fiery affair, with Seagull Beau Henry and the Bears Todd Seymour not seeing eye to eye in the match Tweed won 26-20. While tempers will hopefully remain calm for this match, there always seems to be extra spice in these derby games. The Seagulls have had the upper hand in recent times and have won four of the past five games; however, they have also lost their past four away games and will be looking to arrest this poor run. Burleigh too have a recent record they want to reverse, and have lost four of the past five games at home. Burleigh have named an unchanged line-up while Tweed Heads have made only one change, with Luke ODwyer moving up into the injury-hit Gold Coast Titans outfit. Tom Dawney will come back into the side at five-eighth. Burleigh centre Jordan Atkins will run out for his 50th match with the Bears and his 60th overall, with previous stints with Ipswich, Toowoomba and Tweed Heads. In keeping with this weeks XXXX Rivalry Round supporting the Men of League Foundation; Men of League members who show their membership badge will receive free entry to the game.
QRL Media tips: Burleigh Bears by 2. Both teams will be desperate to win, but well tip the Bears to do just enough to win at home.
