IPSWICH JETS v CQ CAPRAS
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, June 20 – 4pm
Referee: Nick Pelgrave
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 24 Central 11 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvCQC
The Ipswich Jets’ five-game winning streak came to a halt a fortnight ago in Kokopo, with the Hunters earning a last-gasp win. Ipswich were fielding three debutants that night, but have recalled some troops following a weekend off with the bye.
Dangerous centre Nemani Valekapa has been named to return in the backline in what will be his 50th Cup game and will be joined by Brandon McGrady. The addition of Kurtis Lingwoodock and Gerico Cecil also gives coaches Ben and Shane Walker some extra size off the bench.
Central Queensland coach Lionel Harbin has opted to try a new halves pairing, shifting regular backrower Guy Williams into the number seven jersey to partner Matt Minto at five-eighth.
Youngster Mark Johnstone moves back to his more accustomed position of hooker, pushing Josh Mitchell to the bench. The Capras will be without Josh Johnston (shoulder), while Gerard Tema has been included in the side but is in doubt with a foot injury.
This is set to be a tough assignment for the Capras who last won in Ipswich back in 2006. The Jets have also won nine of the past 10 games between these two sides, including their Round 3 nail-biter 28-26.
NORTHS DEVILS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Bishop Park on Saturday, June 20 – 4pm
Referee: Tyson Brough
Head-to-Head: Norths 9 Sunshine Coast 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvSCF
Both sides will be desperate for two competition points at Bishop Park on Saturday. The Devils’ last win came against Central Queensland in mid-May, while the Falcons’ two-game winning run came to an end last weekend, going down to the Northern Pride 28-6.
Norths played without much luck last weekend against the Bears and this weekend will be without Broncos-contracted Dale Copley, who is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a broken eye socket sustained in the loss to Burleigh. Dylan Galloway transitions to fullback, with Joel Bailey in at centre.
The Devils will also be missing former Souths Logan forward Chris Faust who was also injured in the Burleigh game, while young talent Michael Molo is named to start in the second row despite playing for Queensland’s victorious Under 18 side at the MCG on Wednesday night.
For the Falcons, Young Tonumaipea returns at centre after a stint in the NRL with the Melbourne Storm. Ex-Redcliffe back Paul Ivan earns a second start in the backrow following his somewhat surprise selection last round. Maroochydore product Jye Ballinger has also been added to a five-man bench by coach Glen Dreger while Brett Doherty and Jake Turpin have been omitted.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v NORTHERN PRIDE
Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, June 20 – 4pm
Referee: Nick Morel
Head-to-Head: Townsville 1 Pride 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvPRIDE
The Pride have hit good form of late, winning three from their past four games and are looking ahead to the challenge this weekend of taking on northern rival the Blackhawks in Townsville.
The visitors will be bolstered by the return of two key forwards for the match against a Townsville pack featuring 417 games of NRL experience; with Graham Clark (ankle) and Jack Svendsen (back) returning for the Cairns-based side. Regan Verney and Alex Starmer have not been named.
Their last meeting saw the Blackhawks run away with a 52-10 win at Barlow Park and the Pride will be keen to avenge that poor showing.
For Townsville, coach Kristian Woolf has named an unchanged 17 following last weekend’s win over the Capras – but may be forced to make changes, with Robert Lui’s return from a hamstring injury rumoured to be short-lived. He is set to travel with the Cowboys to Canberra to cover for their Origin stars.
The Blackhawks will also be turning pink this weekend and will wear pink camouflage jerseys and neon pink socks to celebrate their Women in League Round. The jerseys will be signed and auctioned following the game with proceeds going towards junior rugby league in the Townsville region.
Bid forms will be available at the gates and from Brothers Leagues Club in Townsville. Fans can join the action by visiting the Blackhawks website.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS v BURLEIGH BEARS
BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, June 21 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 16 Wynnum 15 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #WYNvBEARS
The Burleigh Bears are on the hunt for three successive wins when they head bayside to take on Wynnum Manly this Sunday. The Bears did just enough to get past the Norths Devils 19-12 last round and in the process, they registered back-to-back victories for just the second time this season.
Coach Jimmy Lenihan has found consistency at the selection table and has named an unchanged 17 for this match.
The Bears face an in-form Seagulls side who have won seven of their past eight games and are currently sitting second on the competition ladder.
Despite conceding 32 points in their last-start win over Souths Logan at North Stradbroke Island in Round 13; the Seagulls still boast the second-best defence in the competition (behind Townsville).
This week, 205-game NRL veteran David Stagg returns to the side via the bench at the expense of young dummy half Mitchell Moore, while Stephen Coombe comes into the side for Olsi Krasniqi.
Seagulls halfback Matt Seamark is currently sitting third on the Leading Points Scorers ladder for the Intrust Super Cup and only requires six goals to equal the most kicked in the Cup, a record which jointly held by Nick Parfitt (Toowoomba / Burleigh) and Brad Davis (Tweed Heads) with 483.
EASTS TIGERS v MACKAY CUTTERS
Tapout Energy Stadium on Sunday, June 21 – 2pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: Easts 9 Mackay 8
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvMC
Livestream: Tiger TV
It will be an emotional return back home for the Easts Tigers this week, with the club and their fans to farewell Grant Giess.
Coach Craig Ingebrigtsen has again called on the services of veteran playmaker Isaac Kauffman to help guide the side with Shaun Nona still out. Troy Giess re-joins the side this week for Brenton Horwood.
Donald Malone has been named at fullback this weekend, and last week moved to equal second highest Cup try scorer alongside Nick Parfitt with 113. Tweed’s Nathanael Barnes has the most with 125.
After signing with Easts mid-season, former Magpies prop Matt Pitman has been named on an extended bench. The former Queensland Residents representative featured for BRL side Carina last weekend.
Mackay welcome back man-mountain front rower Pulou Vaituutuu from an ankle injury alongside skipper Chris Gesch at lock. Kelvin Nielsen and Zack Walker are the other new faces in the team, with Gavin Bennion and Ryan Kinlyside not named. Rookie Coen Hess is in line to play his second Cup match after picking up two tries in the Cutters’ win over Redcliffe last round.
While the Cutters were able to claim a 30-8 win over the Tigers when they met in Mackay in Round 4; Easts have a strong record at home this season and have won six of their past seven home games.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v PNG HUNTERS
Piggabeen Sports on Sunday, June 21 – 3pm
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Head-to-Head: PNG 2 Tweed 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSvPNG
Livestream: QRL Livestream
The PNG Hunters are on a club-record seven-game winning streak and will be confident of continuing their good form when they head to Piggabeen this weekend having won their past three away games.
Last week, they overcame a poor start against the Souths Logan Magpies in front of a massive 15,000+ crowd at Port Moresby to comeback and claim a 34-12 win.
For this match against the Seagulls, the Hunters are expected to field a mostly unchanged line-up, with Brandy Peter promoted from the bench in place of Kato Ottio who has been ruled out due to injury, while Warren Glare will come onto the extended bench.
For Tweed Heads however, injuries have meant coach Aaron Zimmerle was struggling to put a full team out on paper earlier in the week – with playmaker Jamal Fogarty the latest player struck down.
Fogarty came off the field with an ankle complaint in the first five minutes of the Seagulls’ 24-24 draw with Easts last Sunday. Mark Offerdahl also has not been named, while Jai Ingram is set to return from an ankle injury via the bench. Young Titan Karl Lawton – younger brother of former Titan Kane Lawton – is to make his Seagulls debut.
Shaun Carney has been shifted to the halfback position this week, with Ali Grant – who made his debut last weekend – slotting in at fullback.
Redcliffe Dolphins – bye
Souths Logan Magpies – bye
View the Round 15 teams here: Intrust Super Cup Round 15 teams
