MACKAY CUTTERS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Stadium Mackay on Friday, June 5 – 7pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: Townsville 1 Mackay 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvTSVB
Livestream: Blackhawks TV
Mackay will host the Intrust Super Cup’s first Friday night game this season when the Cutters welcome the Townsville Blackhawks tonight.
The “Northern Derby” will showcase a traditional rivalry between two regions who have been fierce combatants in Foley Shield football in past years.
Coming into this match following a weekend off with the bye, the Blackhawks will welcome back winger Jonathon Reuben (hamstring) and halfback Michael Parker-Walshe (broken rib), as well as Cowboys player Glenn Hall. Noel Underwood will slot in the centres this week with Moses Pangai still out due to injury.
In their last start, the Blackhawks were defeated by the PNG Hunters, so they will be looking reassert their dominance on the ladder where they share top spot with the Ipswich Jets.
It will be a tough challenge against the Cutters however, who have made minimal changes to the successful side that saw them snatch a 12-10 win over defending premiers Northern Pride last weekend.
Buchanan Rawhiti comes in on the wing while Josh Osborne is the player omitted. Tone Susuga has been added to an extended bench.
Halfback Liam Taylor kicked two goals last week which saw him move to 585 points for Mackay; meaning he has now scored more points for the Cutters than the next four point scorers combined.
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday, June 6 – 3.30pm
Referee: Liam Anderson
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 7 Sunshine Coast 5
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvPHINS
“Little Brother” Sunshine Coast will host the Dolphins in what is shaping as an intriguing match-up. Both teams have struggled early this season, with Redcliffe currently sitting one win above the Falcons on the ladder.
The Falcons found form in their 36-24 win over the Capras last weekend, while the Dolphins were halted in their push to record four wins in a row by the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
In an interesting added twist, John Dixon started his new role as coaching director with the Falcons last weekend and will come up against his old side in this match, which will be the Sunshine Coast's 150th Cup game (they have won 40, drawn two and lost 107).
On the field, Falcons centre Callum Klein is expected to miss up to three months with a serious ankle injury. He is set to undergo an operation after suffering syndesmosis damage.
Storm winger Suli Vunivalu returns from a sprained medial ligament, while other changes see Young Tonumaipea, Jay Lobwein and Sam Wright named in the side. Hymel Hunt and Ben Hampton have been named on an extended Storm bench while Tony Tumusa will play on the wing for their NYC team.
For the Dolphins, the only change sees Tyson Cleal come into the side for Josh Benjamin (knee injury).
NORTHERN PRIDE v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Barlow Park on Saturday, June 6 – 5.30pm
Referee: Clayton Sharpe
Head-to-Head: Tweed 9 Pride 6
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvTHS
Tweed Heads centre Davin Crampton requires one more try to bring up 50 in the Cup and it would almost be fitting if he brings it up against his old side. This Saturday’s match will be his 83rd Cup game and he has scored 45 tries in his 74 games for the Pride (second only to Brett Anderson for the club).
He also scored one of the Seagulls’ 10 tries against Burleigh last weekend in their 50-4 win; their biggest win and most points ever against the Bears. The team has undergone a minor reshuffle with Oliver Percy set to start and Will Bugden moving to an extended bench that also includes Matt White and Jai Ingram. Agnatius Paasi has earned a call-up to the Titans five-man bench.
The Pride however came off second best in a tight tussle against Mackay last weekend, going down 12-10. This week, coach Joe O’Callaghan has also kept faith with his side who only lost in the final stages of the game, with the addition of Alex Starmer, Semi Tadulala and Brent Oosen to an extended bench the only real changes. Patrick Kaufusi has been named, but is not expected to play due to a knee injury.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
Ron Stark Oval, Stradbroke Island on Sunday, June 7 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Michael Wise
Head-to-Head: Wynnum 26 Souths Logan 10 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvWYN
Souths Logan and Wynnum Manly are heading “overseas” for this weekend’s TV match at Ron Stark Oval, North Stradbroke Island. An Indigenous Recognition match; both sides will wear specially designed jerseys while before the game; Indigenous culture will also feature with a Welcome to Country, National Anthem (also sung in traditional language) and traditional dancers.
In terms of milestones, both sides will see true clubmen honoured this weekend. Magpies prop Andrew Edwards will draw level with Matt McCosker on 117 club games, making him the second most capped Cup player for the side behind Phil Dennis (who will play his 168th).
Wynnum’s international halfback Matt Seamark will also become his club’s second most capped player, drawing level with David Seage on 152. Former skipper Luke Dalziel-Don has played the most games for the club, taking part in 173 games.
The team sheet for Souths Logan sees Brandon Khuu in at fullback while Josh Damen moves to the wing in place of Samisoni Vaioleti who broke his leg in the Magpies loss to the Jets at Cherbourg last weekend. Aotealofa Tuimavave comes into the front row for the suspended Tikiko Noke.
David Stagg was injured in Wynnum Manly’s win over Redcliffe last weekend with John Te Reo coming onto the bench in his place.
BURLEIGH BEARS v CQ CAPRAS
Pizzey Park on Sunday, June 7 – 2pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 29 Central 7
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvCQC
Looking at their performances across the board, you can understand the frustration felt by the fans of the Burleigh Bears. At their best – they can produce football that sees them take down sides like the ladder-leading Ipswich Jets; but at their worst – they produce football that sees them on the end of an unflattering result – such as their 50-4 loss to Tweed Heads last weekend.
This weekend they will host the Capras, a side who have won four of the past five games between these two sides.
However, Central need to overcome some poor form of their own which has seen them lose their past 10 games; their worst ever run was 11 losses in 2006-2007.
In team news, centre Tarrant Mariner is set to make his return from an ankle injury in place of Shaun Collins, while Yeppoon Seagull Jonathan Still has earned a call-up into this weekend's extended squad.
Javarn White will return at fullback while Gerard Tema (foot) and Josh Johnston (back) remain in doubt due to injury.
For the Bears, former Colt Marino Allen and Andrew Vela come onto the bench with Jason Chan and Mark Ioane (Gold Coast Titans) omitted.
Outside backs Khan Ahwang and Jamie Anderson have both been named in the both the Bears line-up and SEQ Queensland squad to contest the A Grade carnival at Southport this weekend.
PNG HUNTERS v IPSWICH JETS
Kalabond Oval on Sunday, June 7 – 2.30pm
Referee: Nick Morel
Head-to-Head: PNG 1 Ipswich 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvJETS
Two of the competition’s more exciting attacking teams in the PNG Hunters and Ipswich Jets go head-to-head in the final match of Round 13.
While many teams in the Intrust Super Cup display attacking flair, both the Hunters and Jets are more willing to chance their arm no matter the situation of the game or when they are on the field; resulting in some thrilling play.
On Sunday, the Hunters fans will be willing their team to take down another top-ranked side following their impressive performance to defeat Townsville in Round 11. That was their fifth win in a row – a record for the club.
Coming into this match following a bye – they will be refreshed and ready to face the Jets who posted their 10th win (the most of any side in the competition) during last week’s Rivalry Round match against the Magpies.
The Jets have won their past six away games and this weekend Liam Capewell will come into the centres for Nemani Valekapa.
For the Hunters, Atte Bina and Warren Glare have been omitted while Brandy Peter and Edward Goma move onto an extended bench that also includes new additions Timothy Lomai, David Lapua and Sebastian Pandia.
