PNG HUNTERS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Kalabond Oval, Kokopo on Saturday, July 19 – 2.30pm
Referee: Tyson Brough
Head to Head: PNG 1 Sunshine Coast 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvSCF
Fresh from breaking their 36 game losing streak, the Sunshine Coast will head to Papua New Guinea in search of back-to-back wins. The Falcons held off a determined finish from the Redcliffe Dolphins to record a thrilling 26-24 victory last Saturday and the news got even better during the week when the club announced a new partnership with the Melbourne Storm. Glen Dreger’s Falcons will meet a desperate Hunters outfit which has dropped to seventh after four-straight losses. Noted try scorer Thompson Teteh returns to the Hunters starting side this weekend, partnering Jason Tali in the centres with Noel Zemming dropping back to a utility role on the bench. Saturday’s match is the first of four-straight home games for the Hunters who will look to use the favourable run home as a springboard into the finals.
Ben ‘Dobbo’ Dobbin (Triple M) says: Last week the Hunters were taught a rugby league lesson at the hands of the Tweed. The Sunshine Coast had their first win in nearly two years and on top of that have done a deal with Melbourne Storm to be a feeder club. While the Sunny Coast have started planning for 2015, the Hunters simply must win. On that alone the Hunters to just get home in a tight one. PNG Hunters by 2.
CQ CAPRAS v IPSWICH JETS
Browne Park on Saturday, July 19 – 6pm
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Head to Head: Ipswich 22 Central 11 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvJETS
Live Call: http://www.spreaker.com/user/caprasnation2014
Luck seemed to desert the Central Queensland Capras in last weekend’s 40-10 loss to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. In a remarkable start, the Capras’ opening kick-off bounced off the cross bar and went out on the full. It resulted in a penalty on the half-way line to the Seagulls, who were good enough to capitalise and put two quick tries on at the other end of the field. Capras coach Jason Hetherington will be hoping for a much better start on Saturday as his team looks to claim another big scalp at Browne Park. Ian Webster kicked a last gasp field goal to clinch a 19-18 victory for the Capras in their last home match against Burleigh. Ipswich is under some pressure to perform in this match after a heartbreaking 42-40 loss to the Souths Logan Magpies last weekend. The Jets did fight back from a 40-12 deficit to nearly snatch a win late in the game, but their opening 55 minutes didn’t impress local fans. Co-coaches Ben and Shane Walker will be aiming for their 50th career win.
‘Dobbo’ says: Ipswich’s opening 20 minutes last week will probably go down as their worst this season! But for the Jets to level the game from 30 points behind with a minute to go showed how dangerous they can be when they get it right. Martin Kennedy showed in his second stint why he is such a good player. A danger game for the Jets who have high hopes of giving the title a shake. The Capras had no luck over at Stradbroke Island, but they enjoyed the experience and will want a good showing at home. Ipswich Jets by 8.
MACKAY CUTTERS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Stadium Mackay on Saturday, July 19 - 6pm
Referee: Peter Gough
Head to Head: Souths Logan 10 Mackay 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvSLM
The Souths Logan Magpies snapped an alarming away record when they recorded their first win on the road in six games last Saturday. It took a penalty goal after the siren though for the Magpies to finally seal that win and now they head to Mackay in search of another vital two competition points. The Round 20 clash is virtually a must-win game for both teams as they attempt to keep touch with the top five in their quest for finals action in September. Magpies second-rower Leon Panapa and fullback Jordan Rapana tormented the Jets last weekend and the duo again loom as pivotal players for Souths Logan. The Magpies have won their last three games against Mackay, including a 42-22 victory earlier this year in Round 12. On the milestone front, Souths back-rower Darcy Wright will play his 50th Cup match in the black and white. Mackay this week announced some positive news, with the launch of its Academy development program for junior players in the district.
http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2014/07/15/clear_pathway_in_mackay_.html
‘Dobbo’ says: When it clicks at the Magpies boy oh boy it clicks. Last week the first half of footy they played against the Jets was near perfect. Luke Page, the strong front rower with the worst haircut in the Cup, was outstanding and really sent a clear message to Raiders coach Ricky Stuart who was in the stand. Jordan Rapana was fantastic at the back and kicked a clutch goal after full time to seal the win. Will do a job on the Cutters. Souths Logan Magpies by 12.
EASTS TIGERS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Langlands Park on Sunday, July 20 – 2pm* (Live on Channel 9/WIN/NBN)
Referee: Clayton Sharpe
Head to Head: Redcliffe 24 Easts 14 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvPHINS
Live call: http://tigertv.net/tigeronair/
Easts Tigers received mixed news at the judiciary last night ahead of Sunday’s Channel 9 match against the Redcliffe Dolphins at Langlands Park. Hooker Tom Butterfield is free to play after being found not guilty of a careless high tackle and taking an early plea to a dangerous throw charge. The news wasn’t so good for centre Donald Malone (careless high tackle Grade 3) and lock Jacob Ling (dangerous throw Grade 2) with both players suspended for two matches. However, the Tigers won’t lack any star power on Sunday, with as many as eight Melbourne Storm players likely to be in their 17. This Storm contingent may also include Cody Walker, with the classy five-eighth rumoured to be in line to return from a hamstring injury. This match will effectively be Redcliffe’s last throw of the dice with the Dolphins needing to win to be any chance of figuring in the Intrust Super Cup semi-finals. In a bid to spark his team into action after losing five-straight games for the first time in the club’s Cup history, Dolphins coach Troy Lindsay has made positional changes. Halfback Adrian Davis shifts to fullback with Oliver Regan moving to the wing and Marty Hatfield switching back to his regular centre position. Bronco Cameron Cullen will return to the halves where he starred for the Dolphins last season.
‘Dobbo’ says: The Tigers are really humming. They currently sit in second and Cameron Munster is in rare form as well with three tries last weekend. On the other hand, 2014 will go down as a year of near misses and unwanted records for the Dolphins. One record that they won’t want to remember is the fact they were the team that the Sunny Coast beat to break their drought. It had to be someone! Tigers will be far too strong in this one. Easts Tigers by 16.
NORTHERN PRIDE v NORTHS DEVILS
Barlow Park on Sunday, July 20 - 2pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head to Head: Pride 12 Norths 2 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvDEVILS
Stream: Pride Live https://www.facebook.com/northernpriderugbyleague
Classy Norths Devils fullback Shaun Carney will play his 50th match in the Intrust Super Cup this weekend. A former Tweed Heads flyer, Carney has scored eight tries in his first season with the Bishop Park club. After a promising start to the season, the Devils have lost six in a row and must now beat the Pride on their home turf to keep their fading finals hopes alive. Norths have won only one of their last nine games against the Pride, although they did push the northern heavyweights all the way in a 24-22 loss in Round 6 this year. The Pride’s four Queensland Residents stars – Javid Bowen, Shaun Nona, Blake Leary and Davin Crampton – return for the competition leaders after sitting out the catch up game against Easts. Nona and Leary were outstanding for the Residents and will now look to carry that form into the concluding stages of the regular Intrust Super Cup season.
‘Dobbo’ says: The Pride currently sit first on the table and will be feeling fresh after the weekend off for the bye. The Devils were really upset with last week’s tight loss. Look for late inclusions Jarrod Wallace and Francis Molo to prove a real handful. Wallace is a potential super star of the game and is getting better with age. The Pride have been by far the best team all year and are still hurting from their soft exit from last year’s comp .That won’t happen again this year. Northern Pride by 16.
BURLEIGH BEARS v WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
Pizzey Park on Sunday, July 20 - 2pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head to Head: Burleigh 16 Wynnum 14 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvWYN
Live call - Preview from 1.30pm: http://www.spreaker.com/user/wynnumseagulls2014
A heavy mid-season injury toll will test the resolve of the Burleigh Bears in Sunday’s crucial Intrust Super Cup match against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Pizzey Park. But it will still take a brave person to tip against a Burleigh team determined to honour the memory of one of the club’s favourite sons. The successful team will clinch the important two competition points and lift the Adam Watene (Cook) Memorial Trophy. History suggests the Bears will be hard to topple, with the Pizzey Park club having won four of the past five memorial matches. Adam was an immensely popular figure whose career took off with the Bears, the club he played for on 83 occasions. He also played 22 games for the Seagulls, but his crowning moment came in the 2004 Queensland Cup season when he lifted the premiership trophy with Burleigh following their extra-time win over Easts. Adam passed away suddenly in 2008 in the UK, at the age of 31, leaving behind his wife Moana and two children Arana and Ena, who will lead the players onto the field on Sunday. The team that takes the field for Burleigh won’t include forwards Chris Kitching (hamstring) and Kyle McConnell (shoulder), with the pair joining Matt Keating, Ryley Jacks, Nafe Seluini and Matt Beddow on the sideline. Seluini is edging closer to a comeback from a shoulder problem, but the other players may not return for Burleigh this year. Sunday’s match will be Sam Meskell’s 50th Intrust Super Cup game for Burleigh.
‘Dobbo’ says: 4 v 6 with both sides desperate for a win. Winning is a great feeling and last week both teams had solid victories. Stephen Coombe, the former Under 20 Broncos captain, is playing great football in the second half of this season. I’m really happy to see that the Wynnum super coach is now in a full time role at the club and this can only make Wynnum stronger. Burleigh must win to stay in the finals hunt and ‘Disco’ Jimmy Lenihan will be keen to get back-to-back wins. Burleigh Bears by 4.
Tweed Heads Seagulls – bye
