SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v EASTS TIGERS
Stockland Stadium on Saturday, May 24 - 4pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head to Head: Easts 7 Sunshine Coast 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvTIGES
Live stream: http://tigertv.net/
Two of the Sunshine Coast’s more consistent performers will reach key milestones this weekend, fittingly in front of their home crowd. Brenton Stonier is set to play in his 50th game for the Sunshine Coast and his 73rd overall, having played for both Norths and Souths Logan in the past. Rowan Klein has been named in the centres for his 66th match for the club – equalling the record held by Jon Muir. The Falcons will need to be on their game this Saturday, as they are hosting an Easts side who are hitting good form. The Tigers have won the past seven games between the sides and will be looking for their third win on the trot a Stockland Stadium. Coach Craig Ingebrigtsen has named an unchanged side from the one that defeated Ipswich last weekend, while Falcons coach Glen Dreger has also avoided making too many changes to his personnel, with Joe Meninga and Brad Reed the two new faces this weekend. Travis Long and Nathan Young have not been named. He has however made some positional switches from last week’s named side, with Callum Klein moving from fullback to the halves and Jay Lobwein returning to the hooking role he occupied earlier in the season.
Ben ‘Dobbo’ Dobbin (Triple M) says: If you want to stop the Tigers, you have to stop this guy first – MITCHELL GARBUTT. Wow, this kid can play. He wears the number 20, but don’t be deceived. He destroyed the Jets last week and won the Tigers the game on the back of solid runs and fantastic defence. Easts Tigers by 20.
NORTHERN PRIDE v WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
Barlow Park on Saturday, May 24 – 5.30pm
Referee: Peter Gough
Head to Head: Pride 7 Wynnum 7
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvWYN
Live broadcast: via Pride Live Tab https://www.facebook.com/northernpriderugbyleague &http://www.spreaker.com/user/wynnumseagulls2014
Pride co-captain Jason Roos will be a bit more relaxed heading out to the field this weekend after he and his wife welcomed a daughter into the family last Sunday morning. Following the Pride’s win over Burleigh last weekend, Roos walked straight from the field to the hospital and was there in time to be present for the birth with a few hours to spare. This match will be a big one for his co-skipper Brett Anderson who will play in the 100th Cup game for the Pride and his 114th overall, having previously played for North Queensland. Forward Blake Leary will play in his 50th Cup match, all for Pride. The two clubs cannot be separated in the head-to-head stakes, and Wynnum are one of the few clubs to enjoy success at Barlow Park. While the Pride have won three of the past four games against Wynnum, the Seagulls won the last game at the ground last year and are the only team to have beaten the Pride three times at Barlow. With Joel Riethmuller and Ricky Thorby called up to the Cowboys, Brent Oosen and Jack Svendsen come on to the bench. For Wynnum, Jeriah Goodrich comes in for Daniel Ogden.
‘Dobbo’ says: Wynnum makes the long trip to Cairns to take on premiership heavyweights the Northern Pride. Shaun Nona has been kicking them from everywhere and really steering his side around well. Wynnum had the bye last week and will be fresh after their trip to PNG. No Jake Granville or David Stagg makes the job a little tougher. Northern Pride by 10.
CQ CAPRAS v PNG HUNTERS
Marley Brown Oval on Saturday, May 24 - 7pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head to Head: PNG 1 Central 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvPNG
Live stream: http://www.qrl.com.au/interactive/live-stream.html
Tickets are selling well in Gladstone for the Capras match against the PNG Hunters this weekend. The Capras have a good record at Marley Brown Oval and will be out to make amends for their last game against the Hunters, a 46-14 loss back in round 3. With coach Jason Hetherington on Origin duty, assistant coach Damien Seibold will take the reins this weekend. Both teams are coming off losses, with the CQ side going down to an in-form Tweed side, while PNG paid for a sluggish start against the Devils. Coach Michael Marum has made two changes to his side, with Thompson Teteh and Sebastian Pandia not named. Teteh has a badly corked thigh, while Pandia has been stood down. Skipper Israel Eliab returns to the side after recovering from measles, while David Loko has also been named to make his return. For the Capras, Smith Samau comes into the centres for Brent Williams. Back row forward Guy Williams played his 150th game last weekend, and this weekend he will pass Heath Egglestone to become the most capped Capra of all time. Speedy back Hughie Stanley will play in his 50th Cup, having previously played for the Sunshine Coast and Easts.
‘Dobbo’ says: Great to this game being played in Gladstone – rugby league heartland. It will be a lot closer than what a lot of people think. The Capras and the Hunters are both teams on the rise and I will be very interested to see who comes up with the result. CQ Capras by 2.
* The PNG Hunters will feature on Channel 9s Sunday Footy Show this weekend. Reporter Bill Baxter and cameraman Paul Boersma travelled to Kokopo for PNG’s recent clash against Wynnum Manly Seagulls. They went behind the scenes with the Hunters camp and explored PNG’s cultural diversity. “It was really special to get up there … you have this elusive, unknown paradise so close to us,” Baxter said.
Sunday Footy Show (May 25). 11.30am to 1.30pm.
MACKAY CUTTERS v IPSWICH JETS
Stadium Mackay on Sunday, May 25 – 2pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head to Head: Ipswich 8 Mackay 5
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvJETS
The Channel 9 cameras head north for the first time this season and the first stop is the home ground of defending Intrust Super Cup premiers the Mackay Cutters. There will be plenty of excitement around the ground in the lead up to kick off, with the final of the State Under 18 Championships to be played before the main game. Cutters officials have planned a bumper day of entertainment as well. But all eyes will be on the 2pm clash between the Cutters and the Jets. The visiting Ipswich team’s six match-winning streak came to a halt last weekend against a committed Easts Tigers outfit. The Tigers forced the Jets into a number of uncharacteristic mistakes on their way to a 22-12 victory. Dangerous Ipswich centre Nemani Valekapa has been named to return from injury, while Bronco Martin Kennedy is expected to play his second match for the Jets. The may yet be changes to the Cutters line-up with three regulars – Anthony Mitchell, Sam Hoare and John Asiata – named on an extended Cowboys bench for their NRL clash with the Raiders. Mackay have won three of their past four home games, including wins over Redcliffe and Wynnum Manly.
‘Dobbo’ says: Ipswich’s loss last week was very out of character and the Walker brothers have given the Jets a really solid week of training. I always love a player on the rise and 18-year-old Carlin Anderson is young winger to watch. Another big Channel 9 game – but sorry ladies, sideline eye Frank Barrett won’t be there. Ipswich Jets by 12.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Piggabeen Sports on Sunday, May 25 - 2pm
Referee: Alan Shortall
Head to Head: Tweed 13 Souths Logan 11
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSvSLM
Two clubs who proudly wear the black and white cross paths in what could possibly be the game of the round. The NRL talent on display throughout both line ups adds to the appeal, although it could very well be the captains who hold the key. Matt King (Tweed) and Phil Dennis (Souths Logan) will provide the stability for their respective teams. The match will be Dennis’ 150th for the Magpies, the club he starred for in their 2008 premiership year. Both sides have had an influx of new personnel in recent weeks, and this weekend the Magpies will welcome two new faces with Luke Page and Patrick Mago named in their 17. Page started the season with the Burleigh Bears, but the big prop now finds himself in Magpies colours after signing with the Canberra Raiders mid-season. Magpies junior Mago is one of nine Raiders NRL hopefuls in the Souths Logan team for the Piggabeen clash. A damaging ball runner, Mago represented the Queensland Under 20s team earlier this month alongside Souths Logan and Canberra teammates Luke Bateman and Brenko Lee.
‘Dobbo’ says: It has been brought to my attention that the last four times I have tipped against the Tweed they have won. Well this week is different. Souths showed they can play some attacking footy when they smashed Mackay last week. But the Tweed are the quite achievers kicking butt and taking big names down. Tweed Heads Seagulls by 4.
BURLEIGH BEARS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Pizzey Park on Sunday, May 25 - 3pm
Referee: Chris Butler
Head to Head: Redcliffe 20 Burleigh 18 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvPHINS
The biggest news out of the Intrust Super Cup this week is confirmation of Petero Civoniceva’s return with the Redcliffe Dolphins. The former Origin and Test prop has answered an SOS from Dolphins coach Troy Lindsay and will don the red and white for the first time in 2014 against the Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park. The 38-year-old has been named on the bench for the round 13 clash against a Bears team that have won only one of their past 12 games against the Dolphins (40-30 in 2010 at Pizzey Park). However, Redcliffe have only one victory to show from four away matches this year. Sunday’s match is vitally important for both teams, who sit just outside the top five. Eighth-placed Redcliffe (13) is two points adrift of fifth spot, while the Bears are a point behind the Dolphins in 10th. After a hard fought encounter against the league-leading Northern Pride last week, new Bears coach Jim Lenihan will look to put his own stamp on the club this weekend when they turn out in front of their home fans for the first time since the coaching change.
‘Dobbo’ says: Both teams have had five wins a piece. Last weekend, Burleigh were beaten by the Pride and Redcliffe downed the Sunny Coast. Tough one to pick. Brad Tighe is in great form for Burleigh and they should beat the Dolphins at home. Burleigh Bears by 8.
