Intrust Super Cup Round 23 preview

Author: by QRL Media
Timestamp: Fri 11 Aug 2017, 05:01 PM

Burleigh Bears v Mackay Cutters
Pizzey Park on Saturday, August 12 - 4pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 9 Mackay 8 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvMC

Both of these two teams are arguably in the best form of the competition – but unfortunately for their fans have left their run too late to play finals football this season. Both the Cutters and Bears are undefeated in four of their past five games – Mackay with three wins and a draw against the Hunters in PNG and Burleigh with four straight wins. They have also been playing some attractive attacking football, scoring four or more tries in their undefeated matches. The last time these two sides met it was a high scoring affair, with the Bears earning a 34-28 win in Mackay, thanks to a two-try effort to Paterika Vaivai. The Cutters travel to Pizzey Park with the weight of history against them – their last win at the Gold Coast ground was back in 2013. They have also lost all but one of the past seven games played between the two sides. The Bears will also have extra motivation to win, with veteran forward Darren Griffiths will be playing his last home game this weekend before retiring at the end of this season.

Townsville Blackhawks v PNG Hunters
Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, August 12 – 4.05pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Assistant Referee: Jarrod Cole
Head-to-Head: PNG 4 Townsville 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvPNG
Live Stream: QRL Live Stream

The PNG Hunters should expect a much harder encounter this time around compared to their meeting with the Blackhawks in Round 12 where they posted a lopsided 42-4 win. Talented fullback Stargroth Amean was on fire that day, scoring a hat-trick, while the ever-reliable boot of skipper Ase Boas netted them seven goals in total. That result was Townsville's biggest ever loss and the most points they scored against them. Their lone try scorer that was fullback Carlin Anderson, who currently on 210 points, requires just five more to overtake fellow back Jonathon Reuben as the Blackhawks all-time leading point scorer. However, as the competition’s leading try-scorer so far with 24 – Reuben will have plenty to say about that! As the last home game for retiring stalwarts Anthony Mitchell and Michael Parker-Walshe; the Blackhawks will have plenty to play for; however – the Hunters will be looking for a major lift on their last game played on Australia soil where they lost to Redcliffe. Despite that disappointing 28-12 result, they have been strong away from home this season, winning seven of their nine away games this year.

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Norths Devils
Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday, August 12 – 4.30pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head-to-Head: Norths 10 Sunshine Coast 6
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvDEVILS

Despite sitting in third space on the ladder, consistency has been an issue for the Falcons who have not recorded back-to-back wins since Round 13-Round 14. The come into this game following a 30-26 loss to the Mackay Cutters last weekend, where a second-half comeback came too late to save them. Winger Matthew Soper-Lawler scored a double in the loss, bringing his season tally so far to 14, putting him in fifth spot on the Intrust Super Cup leading try scorers ladder. The Falcons have a strong recent record at home (they have won the past seven games played at Sunshine Coast Stadium) and also have the better of the recent results against the Devils, claiming three win from their past three matches. The Devils suffered a loss last weekend against finals-bound Redcliffe and were on the back-foot early, trailing 32-6 at halftime. However, three tries in the second half, coupled with Haydan Lipp’s accurate kicking boot saw them add some respectability to the scoreboard, going down 44-24.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Tweed Heads Seagulls
Dolphin Oval on Saturday, August 12 - 7pm
Referee: Ben Watts
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 21 Tweed 9
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvTHS

While some fans many look at the relative positions of these two teams on the ladder and expect a foregone inclusion; stranger things have happened – just ask the Dolphins! They were in a similar position when the two sides met at Piggabeen in Round 12; with the Seagulls managing to mount an ambush to win 21-4 as they celebrated the anniversary of their 2007 premiership win. Despite the Dolphins boasting a far superior head-to-head record; the Seagulls have actually enjoyed a strong recent run against the Phins, winning three of the past four games. However, Tweed Heads will need to put in a vastly improved performance this week if they are to trouble the second-placed Dolphins. They were outplayed 44-4 by the Easts Tigers last weekend, while Redcliffe also scored 44 points in their win over the Devils. Although he was named in their line-up earlier this weekend, they do have an injury cloud over in-form forward Nick Slyney.

Souths Logan Magpies v Easts Tigers
Davies Park on Sunday, August 13 – 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Tim Roby
Assistant Referee: Belinda Sleeman
Head-to-Head: Easts 29 Souths Logan 13
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvTIGES

The only Sunday game in a shortened round; this one is set to be a cracker with two top-of-the-table teams looking to gain an early advantage before the finals series kick off. Brisbane rivals Easts Tigers and Souths Logan are four and five on the ladder and both sides will be looking to build their way into September football with strong performances on the field. The Magpies took the honours 19-12 when they two sides met at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park in Round 12; with the Magpies claiming two from two in recent encounters. Last weekend, the Magpies scraped home against the Northern Pride 28-24 with Sam Scarlett scoring a double; while the Tigers had a much easier time of it against Tweed Heads, with a Jarrod McInally punctuating a dominant 44-4 win for Easts. This will be the 100^th Cup game for Tigers forward Mat Pitman, who spent the early part of his career carting the ball up for the Souths Logan Magpies.