BURLEIGH BEARS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Pizzey Park on Saturday, July 4 – 3pm
Referee: Clayton Sharpe
Head-to-Head: Townsville 1 Burleigh 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvTSVB
Livestream: Blackhawks TV
The last time these two sides met is a match the Burleigh Bears would desperately like to forget. Outclassed and out-enthused on the park, the Blackhawks scored almost a point a minute against the Bears in their 78-6 triumph in Round 9.
The Bears will out to avenge that loss with a strong showing against the top-of-the-table side this weekend and have some good recent home form on their side, having won their past three games at Pizzey Park.
This weekend, the Burleigh are set to see the return of Jaiden Hawks, Dimitri Pelo and Pele Peletelese to the line-up, with Corbin Kiernan, Jamie Anderson and Caleb Morehu not named.
For the Blackhawks, team changes from their Round 15 match win over the Northern Pride see the return of Kyle Feldt from injury, with Chris McLean not named. Lenny Magey has been included on an extended bench.
Townsville captain Daniel Beasley will run out for his 50th Cup game having previously played with Norths and Mackay.
However, he is not the only person celebrating a milestone with weekend, with referee Clayton Sharpe appointed to his 186th Intrust Super / Queensland Cup game; putting him at the top of the list of most appearances, one ahead of Rob Alexander on 185.
NORTHERN PRIDE v EASTS TIGERS
Barlow Park on Saturday, July 4 – 5.30pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: Pride 12 Easts 5
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvTIGES
The Northern Pride have retired their No. 7 and No. 8 jerseys for this match as a mark of respect to both their opponents Easts and the Sunshine Coast.
The gesture outlines the level of respect between the Pride and Tigers, who have shared a fierce rivalry in recent years.
Pride coach Joe O’Callaghan, who spent a year as part of the Easts coaching team, looks set to field a side without North Queensland Cowboys-contracted players.
Forwards Scott Bolton and Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi are omissions from last week, with the latter expected to be sidelined for two-three weeks with an ankle injury.
The Tigers have also made changes ahead of their trip north, with Storm quintet Mahe Fonua, Matt Duffie, Christian Welch, Dean Britt and Francis Tualau notable absentees alongside an injured Eddie Tautali.
Coach Craig Ingebrigtsen has called on the uncapped duo Whetu Austin and Brandon Downey, Donald Malone, Foisa Peni, Billy Walters and Brenton Horwood the other players to make their return to the team.
The Pride have an enviable home record and will be looking to keep that intact against the Tigers who are the last SEQ team to win at Barlow Park; a major semi in 2013. Since then, Pride have only lost to Townsville and Mackay at Barlow Park.
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v MACKAY CUTTERS
Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday, July 4 – 6pm
Referee: Nick Morel
Head-to-Head: Mackay 12 Sunshine Cost 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvMC
It will be an emotional homecoming for the Falcons on Saturday, with the club returning to Sunshine Coast Stadium for the first time since the tragic passing of James Ackerman. The club is asking fans to don black and yellow in a show of solidarity and contribute to the hugely supported Ackerman trust fund.*
On the field, Melbourne Storm-contracted Travis Robinson has been named to start in the halves alongside David Oakes for the Falcons, while Billy Brittain returns at hooker.
After going down to Wynnum Manly at home last weekend and the Tigers in the round beforehand; the Cutters need a win to ensure they maintain their spot in the top six. A loss and other results falling against them could see Mackay drop as low as eighth on the ladder.
For this match, prop Sam Hoare has been included in the NQ Cowboys side to play the Dragons, while Coen Hess is also out of the side as he is preparing to face NSW as part of the Queensland Under 20 side on Wednesday night. Aleki Falepaini is also out, with Zach Walker, Ryan Kinlyside, Gavin Bennion and Mitch Day the new additions to the line-up.
*James Ackerman Trust Fund details:
Butler McDermott Lawyers Trust Account
Bank of Queensland, 255 Queen Street, Brisbane
BSB: 124001
A/C: 11500777
Please quote reference: 151181
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v PNG HUNTERS
Dolphin Oval on Sunday, July 5 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: PNG 3 Redcliffe 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvPNG
The Hunters landed in Australia yesterday and are riding the crest of a club record nine-game winning streak. Their most recent loss came way back in mid-April to Wynnum Manly, coincidentally the last time they featured on Channel 9 and coach Michael Marum will be after an improved showing in front of the cameras this time around.
Marum has made one change to his starting side – Lawrence Tu’u earning a promotion to lock while Oti Bland Tony is the new addition on an extended bench.
Home side the Dolphins got past Norths 32-22 in their match last weekend, but have only won one from their last four.
In a somewhat surprise move, regular backrower Trent Richardson has been selected to partner Luke Capewell in the halves. Despite not being named, ex-Central Queensland Capras flyer Marlon Doak is in line to make his Dolphins debut. The former Australian touch football representative has set the Brisbane Rugby League competition alight this season, scoring 16 tries for affiliate club Gaters.
There are three potential milestones to be reached this weekend for the Hunters with Noel Zeming requiring only two more points to bring up 100 for second consecutive season; while Thompson Teteh and skipper Israel Eliab have both scored 23 tries for PNG, one less than Garry Lo who is top with 24.
IPSWICH JETS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday, July 5 – 2pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 21 Souths-Logan 17 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvSLM
The celebrated annual Indigenous Appreciation game between the Ipswich Jets and Souths Logan takes place at North Ipswich Reserve this weekend.
The two clubs have already staged a successful match at Cherbourg earlier this year which also highlighted the contributions made by Indigenous people to rugby league. This weekend, the Jets will wear one of a kind Indigenous jerseys that has been designed by a local artist Jahmayne Coolwell.
In that last match a Jack O’Chin Oval, the Magpies could not match the try-scoring abilities of the Jets, going down 50-20; however chief destroyer on that day Marmin Barba (who scored a hat-trick) is still out with suspension.
This weekend, the Jets have named an unchanged side to the one that lost to the Northern Pride last weekend, including forward Liam Capewell (formerly with Burleigh) who brings up his 50th game in the Cup competition.
After making his Cup debut last weekend, George Fai is out of the Magpies side this weekend and is instead in Queensland Under 20 camp, while Paul Rokolati and Hansel Semau are also out of the line-up.
His boot proved crucial in Souths Logan’s 24-22 win over the Tweed Heads Seagulls last weekend, and one more successful conversion kick will wee Magpies centre Scott Doyle bring up 100 for the season.
NORTHS DEVILS v WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
Bishop Park on Sunday, July 5 – 2.30pm
Referee: Jarrod Cole
Head-to-Head: Wynnum 20 Norths 17 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvWYN
The Wynnum Manly side will welcome back three key troops ahead of their trip across the river to Bishop Park this Sunday.
Winger Peter Gubb and second rower Aaron Rockley return from injury, while Brendon Gibb makes his comeback from suspension.
Despite missing the trio last round, coach Jon Buchanan was able to call on the club’s strong depth to secure a hard-fought 26-16 victory against the Cutters in Mackay. Brad Mana (who made his Cup debut last weekend), Matthew Smith and Stephen Coombe all return to the WM Redland City side for their BRL match against Easts Tigers.
The fourth-placed Seagulls have won seven from their past nine matches, with the two losses coming by a mere point against both Burleigh and Northern Pride.
The Devils last win came in Round 9 against the CQ Capras, but have made steady improvements on the field since their heavy losses in Rounds 11 and 12.
Coach Mark Gliddon appears to have settled on the halves combination of Dan Murphy and former Tiger Liam Tyson to guide his team around the park.
This weekend he has named an unchanged 1-17 following their 12-point loss to Redcliffe last round.
While the head-to-head status of these clubs is quite close, the Seagulls have enjoyed success in recent seasons and have won the past nine games played between the two sides.
