IPSWICH JETS v NORTHS DEVILS
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, July 25 – 3pm
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Head-to-Head: Norths 23 Ipswich 13 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvDEVILS
Ipswich has received an unexpected boost heading into this match with classy hooker Matt Parcell returning from NRL duties with the Brisbane Broncos. Parcell’s presence provides the Jets with an embarrassment of riches in the hooking role following the emergence of Colts young gun Landon Hayes.
The talented pair will share the dummy-half duties against the Devils, who will be without Dale Copley and Kodi Nikorima – two of their best performers in last weekend’s 28-28 draw with the Souths Logan Magpies. Nikorima regularly threatened the Magpies line, while Copley posted two of the Devils’ five tries. Both players have been selected to play off the bench for the Broncos in their NRL clash against the Titans.
After a tight 16-12 win over Wynnum Manly last weekend, the Jets are buoyed by the return of speedster Marmin Barba. Ipswich has won its past four matches at home, while the Devils have lost their last eight on the road. Devils pair Dylan Smith and Kristian Wanka chalk up their 50th Cup matches.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v MACKAY CUTTERS
Dolphin Oval on Sunday, July 26 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9/Win/NBN)
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: Mackay 8 Redcliffe 6 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvMC
The Dolphins have found some great form and will be out to claim their third win on the trot when they host Mackay. The peninsular side could be going for their fifth win in a row if it were not for a 28-28 draw in Round 17 against the Hunters – another TV game that had its fair share of excitement.
Last weekend, the Phins put in an impressive defensive performance to hold the Capras to one try in their 28-4 win in Gladstone. However, they will find the going tougher against a Cutters side who come into this match following a dominant display against Burleigh in Round 19.
Impressive rake Josh Chudleigh scored two tries in their 46-4 victory and will be hard to stop close to the line. The win maintained the Cutters foothold in the top six on the competition ladder – something they will be looking to hold on to on their trip south this weekend.
Redcliffe will field an unchanged line-up for this match, while the Cutters have made two changes, with Steve Rapira on the bench for Ryan Kinlyside and Zack Walker at wing for Buchanan Rawhiti.
CQ CAPRAS v EASTS TIGERS
Browne Park on Sunday, July 26 – 2pm
Referee: Tyson Brough
Head-to-Head: Easts 27 Central 9 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvTIGES
Easts Tigers hooker Tom Butterfield will notch a major milestone on Sunday when he takes the field for his 150th Intrust Super Cup game. Butterfield’s move from Redcliffe to Langlands Park seems to have reinvigorated the PNG international, who this year secured his first XXXX Queensland Residents cap.
Recent form suggests the Tigers will win this game comfortably. After a confidence boosting 18-16 win over Ipswich, Craig Ingebrigtsen’s Tigers fought right to the end to snatch a 40-40 draw against competition leaders Townsville last weekend. A semi-final berth now appears a formality for the fifth-placed Tigers.
But for that to happen, they must be clinical and win the games they are expected to win – starting against the Capras in Rockhampton this weekend. The Capras have struggled since their Round 1 victory over the Burleigh Bears, with last weekend’s 28-4 loss to Redcliffe their 16th successive defeat this year.
BURLEIGH BEARS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Pizzey Park on Sunday, July 26 – 2pm
Referee: Jarrod Cole
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 20 Souths Logan 11 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvSLM
The Bears suffered another heavy loss last weekend – but had seven new faces in their team, including three teenagers on debut. Despite the defeat, coach Jim Lenihan was happy with his side’s application and has kept last round’s line-up mostly intact, with prop Josh Ailaomai in for Louie Fanene the only change. However, Titan Brad Tighe is recovering well from injury and could return to the field with the Bears this weekend, while Kierran Moseley could also be a surprise inclusion.
Souths Logan got out of jail against the Devils last weekend, launching an extraordinary comeback in the second half to secure a 28-28 draw. Trailing 28-6 early in the second half, they then ran in four unanswered tries to claim their share of the competition points. Daniel Tamou has been named to start in the second row in place of Dan Russell in the only change to last weekend’s 17.
This Sunday, the Bears will be hosting a Family Fun Day which will include carnival rides, face painting, food stalls and more. Kids get a pass for $20 ($25 at the game) which entitles them to all the rides and a parent gets in free, with money raised going to the juniors.
PNG HUNTERS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Kalabond Oval on Sunday, July 26 – 2.30pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: PNG 1 Townsville 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvTSVB
It’s a top-of-the-table clash we have all be waiting for this weekend with the second-placed PNG Hunters at home to the ladder-leading Townsville Blackhawks.
Hunters fans have had one eye on this highly-anticipated clash in recent weeks and will be willing their team on to repeat their performance against the Blackhawks in Round 11 when they become the first (and so far, only) side to defeat them in Townsville.
Coach Michael Marum has moved Lawrence Tu’u from forwards to the centres to for Thompson Teteh who has a hamstring injury. Adam Korave has once again been named on the bench in a bid to return to the team following a long suspension.
The Blackhawks come into this game following a high-octane and high-scoring 40-40 draw against the Tigers last weekend. Glenn Hall and Robert Lui have both not been named to make the trip, with Nathan Norford and Lenny Magey the new faces. Mosese Pangai is set to miss the next few weeks due to suspension and will need to be replaced. Forwards Ricky Thorby and Neville Costigan will both have to pass a number of tests after suffering concussions last weekend.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
Piggabeen Sports on Sunday, July 26 – 3pm
Referee: Nick Pelgrave
Head-to-Head: Wynnum 16 Tweed 14
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSvWYN
Livestream: Seagulls TV
The two Seagulls sides will battle it out this weekend in a match that has affectionately become known as the ‘flockbuster’. Tweed Heads have endured a lean run of late, but will be keen to make sure they compete with one of the leading sides in the competition. They will be aided in their cause by the inclusion of giant Titan Dave Taylor who will have a point to prove as he aims for an NRL recall.
“I got to coach him once before (in Round 6 in 2013) and he was outstanding, so I look forward to him joining the squad,” coach Aaron Zimmerle said when asked about his inclusion into his line-up.
However, the side will be without Kalifa Faifai-Loa for personal reasons, while Matt White has been named in the Gold Coast side to take on the Broncos. Will Bugden will start at prop.
For the green, white and red Gulls – their enviable consistency on their team sheet continues with Jon Buchanan naming the same 17 who narrowly went down to the Jets in last week’s entertaining game.
It will be a special game for centre Matthew Grieve who is notching his century for Wynnum Manly and his 125th overall, having previously played with the Sunshine Coast.
Halfback Mathew Seamark is also only four goals away from a major milestone and is on track to become the first Cup player to kick 500 goals.
