ROUND 17 PREVIEW
Ipswich Jets v CQ Capras
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, July 2 - 4pm
Referee: Nick Pelgrave
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 25 Central 12, Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvCAPRAS
The Jets will wear new-look jerseys against the Capras tomorrow to help celebrate their Indigenous Appreciation Round. Designed by students from Bremer High, the jerseys feature three red, blue and yellow circles which represents the three tribes of Ipswich meeting at the North Ipswich Reserve. The pre-game schedule will also feature Indigenous dancers, stalls and a game between Cherbourg Hornets and Kingaroy Red Ants. Both sides have won six games so far in an up-and-down season for 14 points, but the Jets sit two spots above the Capras due to their for-and-against record. The last time these two sides met in Round 3 it resulted in a victory to the Capras, with half Matt Minto orchestrating the 23-14 upset result. This weekend, he will again be the key for the visitors, while halves partner Maipele Morseau has grown into his position throughout the season. However, the CQ side have not been able to defeat the Jets at North Ipswich since 2006 – and have also lost their past five away games. On the other hand, the home record of the Jets at North Ipswich Reserve this season is also patchy and they have gone down in six of their past seven games played at the venue. Tomorrow’s game will also mark the first official home match for new Jets CEO Jason Cubit.
Follow all the Round 17 scores via QRL Live
Mackay Cutters v Sunshine Coast Falcons
BB Print Stadium Mackay on Saturday, July 2 – 6pm
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Head-to-Head: Mackay 13 Sunshine Coast 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvSCF
If Intrust Super Cup games lasted 70 minutes – it would be interesting to see where the Mackay Cutters would sit on the ladder. Once again last weekend, the Cutters let a promising first-half lead slip and lost to the high-flying Redcliffe after putting in a second-half defensive effort they would like to forget. This came one week after letting a match-winning lead against the Pride slide to record another loss. This week, they face the Sunshine Coast side who were also left to rue a poor Round 16 second half – with the Falcons going into the halftime break level with the Blackhawks 6-6 before eventually going down 22-12. Going into this game, the home side have won the last 11 games between these two sides – with the Sunshine Coast last enjoying success in Mackay back in 2009. However – in a difficult season so far – the Cutters have only managed to win one of their past 10 home games; a trend the Sunshine Coast will be looking to extend on Saturday night. Cutters fullback Liam Taylor – who kicked four conversions in their loss last weekend, only requires one more point to bring up 800 in the Cup – and also only needs to cross for one more try to bring up 50.
XXXX Rivalry Match of the Round
Redcliffe Dolphins v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Dolphin Oval on Saturday, July 2 – 7pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 26 Wynnum 16 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvWYN
Live Stream: Wynnum TV
A great rivalry will go on display on Saturday night, with the Dolphins hosting bayside rivals Wynnum Manly in the battle for the Herald Cup. With the Dolphins hosting a home Cup game under lights for the first time; it is sure to be a special occasion for fans to go out and cheer their team. The Seagulls – who are coming into this game off a bye – will aim to continue their recent successful run at the ground that has seen them win the last two games played between the sides. Redcliffe got the better of the Seagulls back in Round 3 with a resounding 38-6 victory at Kougari Oval – but Wynnum Manly are a much improved outfit from that showing and will be looking to spoil the Dolphins’ run of seven home wins from seven games. Last weekend, the home side were given an almighty scare by Mackay – who raced out to a 24-10 lead at halftime. It was a more committed Dolphins side that ran out for the second half, with their attack clicking into place to run over the top of the Cutters. While happy to get the win, coach Adam Mogg would have focused on improving key areas of his team’s performance – including their attitude. Dolphins forward Taylor Brown will miss this match following a dangerous contact charge.
Norths Devils v Easts Tigers
Bishop Park on Sunday, July 3 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Matt Noyen Assistant Referee: Tyson Brough
Head-to-Head: Norths 20 Easts 19 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvTIGES
Although they have both been named, two of the Devils big men in Francis Molo and Dylan Smith will be missing from this weekend’s TV match against the Tigers – with the two forwards taking early guilty pleas for shoulder charge offences. Molo, who will miss two weeks, will be a big loss and helped set up a key try for his side in their win against PNG last weekend. Halfback Todd Murphy however was the key driver of their victory and as well as his playmaking skills this year – his goal kicking has also been important to their overall performances and he now only required four more to reach 100 in the Cup. The Tigers are also coming into this game following a win – although theirs was a much tighter affair against the Northern Pride. In a seesawing match – it was the Tigers who came out in front at the 80-minute mark – with a penalty goal from Brodie Croft just inside the first half proving the difference in the end. The last time the Devils and Tigers met – nothing could separate them, with the sides positing a 14-14 draw at Suzuki Stadium (Langlands Park). However, the Tigers have a strong record at Bishop Park and have won the past three games at the venue.
Souths Logan Magpies v Townsville Blackhawks
Davies Park on Sunday, July 3 – 2pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head-to-Head: Townsville 2 Souths Logan 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvTSVB
Live Stream: Townsville TV
On Tuesday, Townsville coach Kristian Woolf kept faith with the 17 that overcame the Sunshine Coast last weekend – however, he will have to name someone in place of Lorenzo Maafu after the forward accepted his one-match ban by pleading guilty to a dangerous contact charge. The Blackhawks were made to work hard to earn their way back into the winners circle after the Falcons drew level with them 6-6 at halftime. The Magpies however burst out of the blocks against the Tweed Heads Seagulls last weekend and withstood a spirited second half comeback to go on to win 48-30. The Magpies have enjoyed a good patch of form of late and will be quietly fancying their chances of upsetting a Blackhawks side that have recorded a draw and two losses in their past three away games. This will be the Magpies 450th Cup game – they have won 163, drawn 14 and lost 272. In milestone news, Souths Logan skipper Phil Dennis is set to play his 225th Cup game this weekend. This sees him pass Brendon Lindsay to sit outright fifth on the all-time Cup appearances ladder. Blackhawks centre Davin Crampton – who made his debut for the club last weekend – requires one try to bring up 50 in the Cup.
Tweed Heads Seagulls v PNG Hunters
Piggabeen Sports on Sunday, July 3 – 2.05pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: PNG 4 Tweed 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSvPNG
The PNG Hunters travel to Piggabeen this weekend and will return to the scene of their biggest ever loss – a heavy 64-28 defeat back in 2014. That was the only time Tweed Heads have managed to defeat the Hunters in five encounters – however, the Seagulls came incredibly close to an upset back in Round 3 at the National Football Stadium, with only a late Noel Zeming conversion the difference. Tweed have had their own struggles on the field this season and have lost their past three home games. In recent weeks, the PNG Hunters have returned to their ‘bad old days’ in the competition where they struggled to win away from home. They rectified that last year – but this year they have again found it hard to defeat teams in Australian and have lost their past four away games. Although he was named by coach Aaron Zimmerle to line up in the centres earlier in the week; Karl Lawton has made the trip to New Zealand with the Titans and will make his NRL debut in the game against the Warriors. Lawton follows in the footsteps of his older brother Kane, and makes them the first brothers to play NRL for the Titans.
Northern Pride – bye
Burleigh Bears – bye
*Each week, the XXXX Rivalry Match of the Round will highlight a match that showcases a traditional rugby league rivalry. The storied histories of club battles, local derbies and bitter grand final combatants will take centre stage in this new promotion by XXXX that helps celebrate the heritage of the “greatest game of all”.
Statistics by Brad Tallon
