NORTHERN PRIDE v BURLEIGH BEARS
Barlow Park on Saturday, August 1 – 5.30pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: Pride 9 Burleigh 5 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvBEARS
The Pride sit within touching distance of a top-six spot on the competition ladder with only their points differential keeping them behind fellow northerners the Mackay Cutters. The first step towards forcing their way into finals contention will be to defeat a Burleigh side who have been consistently inconsistent this year.
The Bears put a stop to their four-game losing streak last weekend with a win over Souths Logan. This week, Titan Christian Hazard returns from a foot injury at five-eighth for Todd Seymour, while Connor Broadhurst replaces an injured Anthony Don on the wing. Tom Rowles and Ayden Lee come onto the bench for Jenan Parrish and Brad Tighe (hamstring).
The Pride come into this game from a bye and have named an unchanged line-up following their Round 19 win over Tweed Heads. The club have also teamed up with Sea Swift to raise funds for the family of James Ackerman via a $1 ticket raffle, with the winner receiving airline tickets, transfers and game day tickets for Pride’s Round 22 visit to Mackay August 8. Tickets will be sold at the game and funds raised will also go to the Reach Out for Ravenshoe Appeal. Head to the Pride website for more details.
CQ CAPRAS v NORTHS DEVILS
Browne Park on Sunday, August 2 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9/Win/NBN)
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head-to-Head: Norths 25 Central 10 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvDEVILS
The Central Queensland Capras will look to the future by potentially blooding teenager Bailey Butler in Sunday’s match at Browne Park. A strapping lock forward, Butler played for the Capras in this year’s Mal Meninga Cup (Under 18) semi-final. He has been named on an extended bench and may get his chance to impress against the Devils in this weekend’s Round 21 television match.
Changes for the home team see Nathan Young and Ian Webster return from knee injuries, providing some key experience. Dean McAdam moves to an extended bench while Josh Johnston has been omitted due to concussion.
Both teams are anchored at the foot of the table, but there is a lot more to play for than meets the eye. A Norths victory would almost certainly see the Devils avoid the wooden spoon, while a Capras victory would give the Rockhampton club a fighting chance of climbing off the foot of the ladder before the season’s end.
Dale Copley has been named in an extended Broncos NRL squad, meaning he may yet slide back and play in this match. Other changes on the team sheet from coach Mark Gliddon sees Matt Mizzi, Will McNee and Rhett Webster come in for Ethan Richards, Jake Cannon and Dylan Galloway.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Davies Park on Sunday, August 2 – 2pm
Referee: Nick Pelgrave
Head-to-Head: Souths Logan 11 Sunshine Coast 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvSCF
After a week off following their match against the Hunters, the Falcons will travel to Davies Park to take on Souths Logan. The trek out to West End has been a difficult one in the past, with the side having never beaten the Magpies there in five attempts. However, they will be feeling upbeat about their chances after pushing PNG all the way in Round 19, before eventually going down 24-20 at Kokopo.
Team-wise, there has only been one change, with Travis Robinson moving from the wing to fullback for Ben Hampton and Jon Platt coming into the starting line-up at prop. This will be his 50th game in the Cup (all for the Sunshine Coast). Forward Jacob Samoa will also play his 50th club game and his 80th overall (including Norths).
The Magpies let a first half lead slip in their loss to the Bears last weekend and will be looking to atone for that by keeping their recent strong record over the Falcons (eight wins from the past nine games) intact.
For this match, Dallas Anderson comes onto the bench and winger Tim Brooks is omitted. Five-eighth Rhys Jacks is another player celebrating 50 Cup games with his club. It will be his 60th overall following past stints with Ipswich and Easts.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v MACKAY CUTTERS
Piggabeen Sports on Sunday, August 2 – 2pm
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Head-to-Head: Tweed 8 Mackay 3 Drawn 4
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSvMC
Playing at home again, Tweed Heads will still by buoyed by their upset win over fellow Seagulls Wynnum Manly. While Dave Taylor enjoyed his time at Piggabeen scoring two tries; it was a strong performance all-round for the Gulls, including Kalifa Faifai-Loa who returned from his father’s funeral in Samoa and went straight from the airport to the ground to play.
This week, Taylor has been named on an extended Titans bench, while Matt Srama is out with an injured shoulder. However, Jamal Fogarty has been named to make his return from a long-term ankle injury via the bench.
Mackay coach Kim Williams has made a handful of changes to his side following last weekend’s heavy 40-18 loss to Redcliffe. Cameron Cullen returns to the side and will wear the number 7 jersey in honour of his brother, a talented halfback who passed away last week. Jordan Pereira (wing), Pulou Vaituutuu (prop) and Ryan Kinlyside (bench) are the other inclusions. Blake Atherton, Joss Boyton, Rex Johnson and Cowboys Under 20 Cowboy Braden Uele have not been named.
This will be Liam Taylor’s 100th Cup game (all Mackay) – and he also only requires one more point to bring up 100 points in a season for the fifth year in a row.
In an interesting quirk, 10 of the 15 games between these two sides have been decided by a converted try or less including a competition high four draws.
PNG HUNTERS v EASTS TIGERS
Kalabond Oval, Kokopo on Sunday, August 2 – 2.30pm
Referee: Jarrod Cole
Head-to-Head: Easts 2 PNG 0 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvTIGES
The Hunters are unchanged for this Sunday’s heavily-anticipated match against Easts. It will be the last game at Kalabond Oval this year with the remaining home games (against Wynnum Manly in Round 23 and Burleigh in Round 25) being played in Port Moresby’s Sir John Guise Stadium. Earlier this season PNG hosted the Magpies there in front of a capacity crowd.
Last weekend, the Hunters held off a fast-finishing Townsville side 28-26 and they will have to be on their game if they are to back up that performance against an in-form Tigers. Easts hold a rare advantage over the Hunters as the only club who remain undefeated, with their three games so far producing two wins and a draw.
After a slow start where they let the Capras out to a 12-0 lead last weekend, the Tigers roared into action to claim a 56-22 victory, with Shane Neumann scoring twice. This moved him to the second highest Cup try-scorer for Easts with 55 tries behind Wade Liddell on 65.
Felise Kaufusi will come in as prop for Foisa Peni this weekend, while Billy Walters has replaced Brenton Horwood on the bench. Richie Kennar is at wing pushing Maeli Seve to fullback (Donald Malone omitted).
The man they call ‘Fridge’ Matt Zgrajewski will play his 100th Cup game (all Easts).
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, August 2 – 3pm
Referee: Peter Gough
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 25 Wynnum 15 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #WYNvPHINS
Livestream: Seagulls TV
The rivalry between Wynnum Manly and Redcliffe is one to be savoured and there is plenty to play for when the two sides meet in the final match of Round 21.
The Seagulls posted back-to-back losses for the first time this season and will be keen to label that a blip rather than a habit, while the Dolphins have hit impressive form and need a win if they are to pursue their goal of finals football.
Redcliffe impressed against top-six side Mackay last week running up a 40-18 result and will be eyeing off their chances against Wynnum who were downed in an upset by Tweed Heads.
Broncos-contracted back Greg Eden returns to the wing for Mitchell Lollback for Wynnum Manly; while Stephen Coombe also returns via the bench for Aaron Rockley. Matt Seamark sustained a leg injury in last week’s loss, but has been named to start in this important match.
Redcliffe coach Troy Lindsay named an unchanged line-up for the match, but will need to replace key forward and last weekend’s XXXX man of the match Anthony Cherrington who has been handed a one-match ban.
The sides will also be playing for the Herald Cup with the Gulls hoping to retain the silverware for the second straight year having won their earlier encounter 22-12 back in Round 12.
