This weekend – Intrust Super Cup clubs and local league competitions will honour the memory of James Ackerman with a minutes silence before the game. Rugby league fans are being asked to give generously to the Ackerman Family Trust Fund – you can find donation details here: James Ackerman
The official hashtag to use is #TakeAKneeForAckers – teams are encouraged to form a tight circle, place one knee on the ground and link arms with teammates.
NORTHERN PRIDE v IPSWICH JETS
Barlow Park on Saturday, June 27 – 5.30pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: Pride 9 Ipswich 7 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvJETS
It’s been a long time since the Ipswich Jets have managed a win at Barlow Park. According to the club’s statistician, it has been 2507 days (or six years, 10 months and 11 days) to be exact.
The two clubs have shared a healthy rivalry in recent years – and in their last match in Round 5 – the Jets may have won the battle 26-22, but they had to withstand a second-half surge where the Pride fought back hard from a 26-8 halftime deficit.
This weekend, the Pride have made four changes after being downed by the Blackhawks 42-24 last weekend. NRL experienced prop Scott Bolton comes alongside centre Justin Castellaro, Alex Starmer and Keelan White. Semi Tadulala, and David Murphy have not been named while Cameron King and Patrick Kaufusi are on the Cowboys bench.
The Jets have name two changes to their match-winning team from last weekend, with Chris Walker returning for Richard Pandia and Gerico Cecil named for Liam Capewell. They will also have to find someone to take Marmin Barba’s place on the wing, with the competition’s second-leading try scorer this season sitting out the next two games due to suspension.
Last weekend, fullback Carlin Anderson brought 100 points for the season. His is just behind Marmin Barba who has 112 points.
This will also be the 50th Cup game for Pride backrower Graham Clarke (previously with Wynnum Manly).
MACKAY CUTTERS v WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
Stadium Mackay on Saturday, June 27 – 6pm
Referee: Clayton Sharpe
Head-to-Head: Mackay 8 Wynnum 7
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvWYN
Livestream: Seagulls TV
Maintaining a spot in the top six will be on the minds of the Mackay Cutters when they host Wynnum Manly on Saturday night. The Cutters have been mainstays at the pointy end of the ladder so far this season, but a loss here could see them drop out of the six for the first time since Round 1.
In a tight head-to-head tally – the Cutters have the advantage and have also won the past four games between the two sides, including a 28-10 victory at BMD Kougari Oval.
Wynnum Manly were pipped by a Burleigh field goal last week in just their third loss at home this season. Remarkably, their most recent defeat was also by one-point against Northern Pride in Round 11.
Coach Kim Williams has made several changes to the side that went down to Easts on the road last weekend with Buchanan Rawhiti replacing Zach Walker on the wing and the in-form Josh Chudleigh returning at hooker. North Queensland Cowboys-contracted prop Sam Hoare is also expected to join the squad before kick-off.
Meanwhile, the Seagulls’ selection consistency shows no signs of abating with Jon Buchanan naming an unchanged 17. Backrower Brad Mana is the only addition on a five-man bench.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
This game will not be played this weekend.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Davies Park on Sunday, June 28 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Nick Morel
Head-to-Head: Tweed 15 Souths Logan 11
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvTHS
Souths Logan stalwart Phil Dennis will play his 200th Intrust Super Cup this Sunday when the Magpies host Tweed Heads in this weekend’s TV match. Now in his 10th season with the club, Dennis is one of the Magpies’ favourite sons. He has also previously played for Wests and Easts.
Named at lock, he will welcome the return to their home ground of Davies Park after a long stint on the road. In the past month, the Magpies have travelled far and wide for their matches, taking in Cherbourg, North Stradbroke Island and Port Moresby in PNG.
Broncos Under 20 and Magpies junior George Fai will make his Cup debut for the club this weekend and will be joined by Jack Anderson. Scott Doyle returns from suspension, with Hershel Gideon onto an extended bench and Matt Trnka and Aotealofa Tuimavave not named.
The Seagulls have had a frustrating past few weeks which has seen them tally up two close losses and a draw.
Coach Aaron Zimmerle would have been getting out the kicking tee at each training session this week, with goal kicking the only difference in their Round 15 loss where they went try-for-try with the high-flying Hunters.
Stalwart James Wood is set to return via the bench with Matt White named for the Titans. This will be the 207th Cup game for Woods, making him the only current player with 200+ games to his name.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v NORTHS DEVILS
Dolphin Oval on Sunday, June 28 – 2pm
Referee: Nick Pelgrave
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 26 Norths 12 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvDEVILS
Both teams have struggled to get their desired results on the board this season – with their wins coming only in patches.
Norths performed well early but have not been able to maintain their promise; while the Dolphins managed to string together three wins in a row between Rounds 9-11 but have been unable to recapture that form as yet.
Coming off the bye, the Dolphins enter this match following the news that club stalwart Troy Lindsay won’t be renewing his contract as head coach in 2016 in order to pursue his business interests. Whether the departure of Lindsay has any impact on Redcliffe’s performance remains to be seen.
In their last match – the Dolphins let an 8-4 first half lead against the Cutters slip to go on to lose the match 28-18. Five-eighth John Brady injured his shoulder in that match, but has been named to take his place in the line-up this week. Anthony Cherrington is set to return to the side with Joe Bradley not named.
Norths are another side desperate to get another win on the board. The Devils pushed Burleigh all the way in their Round 14 TV match, but still went down by seven points. Backrowers Nathan Lowrie and Kristian Wanka are two new additions, with the latter coming off a number of strong performances for West Brisbane Panthers in the Brisbane Rugby League.
EASTS TIGERS v BURLEIGH BEARS
Tapout Energy Stadium on Sunday, June 28 – 2pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 21 Easts 18 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvBEARS
The Tigers welcome back two of their Melbourne Storm contingent for the clash against Burleigh. Shaun Nona returns from injury to slot straight back into the halves at the expense of veteran Isaac Kaufmann, who received a surprise call-up from Craig Ingebrigtsen. Now with three NRL games under his belt, 21-year-old Christian Welch will start at prop.
The Tigers were impressive in their win last weekend against the Cutters last week, never giving relinquishing the upper hand in the match despite the Cutters pushing hard right to the final siren.
Bears coach Jimmy Lenihan has selected an unchanged side that snatched a win from under the beaks of the Seagulls last weekend.
Noted for his ability to kick bombs, fullback Khan Ahwang also showed he could put them through the sticks, slotting the match-winning field goal.
A Burleigh win will see them leapfrog the Tigers on the ladder; they could finish the round as high as fifth if other results fall their way.
However, they will have to overcome their poor recent record against the Tigers – who have won the past four and seven of the past eight matches played between the two sides.
PNG HUNTERS v CQ CAPRAS
Kalabond Oval on Sunday, June 28 – 2.30pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 2 Central 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvCQC
Injuries have not been kind to the Capras this year – and they have been forced into another team reshuffle as they face one of the toughest away trips in the competition – taking on the Hunters in PNG.
A dislocated elbow to Dean Allen means Capras coach Lionel Harbin has named a new halves combination; giving Josh Mitchell a start in the halfback jersey.
It is one of a number changes to the side that suffered a heavy loss at the hands of Ipswich last Saturday. Tarrant Mariner transitions from centre to fullback, with Shaun Collins and Ha'Ofanga Rabakewa forming a new-look centre pairing. Josh Johnston is on an extended bench, with Tyson White, Gerard Tema and Dylan Webber coming into the side.
Dan Randall, Reece Baker, Hayden Buckman, Rajan Opetaia-Halls and Clinton Mooney will not be making the trip over to Kokopo.
For PNG – it is a welcome return home after seeing off a tough challenge from the Tweed Heads Seagulls last weekend. It was a club-record eighth win in a row for the side who this year have shown they are more than capable of winning games on the road as well.
For this match, Hunters’ coach Michael Marum has shuffled his squad for this match, promoting David Lapua to the wing and Timothy Lomai to a starting backrow position.
