Sunshine Coast Falcons (4) v Souths Logan Magpies (5)
Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday, September 3 – 1.30pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Chris Anderson
Assistant Referee: Nick Pelgrave
Head-to-Head: Souths Logan 12 Sunshine Coast 5 Drawn 1
Head-to-Head Finals: Sunshine Coast 1; Souths Logan 0
Finals: Sunshine Coast (played 7, won 4, lost 3); Souths Logan (played 12, won 5, lost 7)
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvSLM
Sudden death football begins this Sunday with the Falcons hosting the Souths Logan Magpies for the right to progress to Week 2 of the Intrust Super Cup finals. The last time the two sides met back in Round 2 was at the same venue; with the Magpies proving too strong, recording a 22-12 win at Sunshine Coast Stadium. That loss was only their second at home this year – the other coming at the hands of the Norths Devils. The Magpies have been equally strong away from home, having won nine of their 11 away games this year, with their losses being against the Hunters and Redcliffe. While this match is as big as it gets for both teams, there are also a number of milestones that will be reached, with Magpies skipper Phil Dennis set to play his 254th Cup game; passing Michael Roberts to third on all time Cup games list behind Troy Lindsay (270) and Danny Coburn (258). Falcons coach Craig Ingebrigtsen will helm his 50th game in charge of the Sunshine Coast (29 wins 2 draws 18 losses). In team news, while it was hoped this year’s Rookie of the Year Brandon Smith would make his long-awaited return from injury for the Falcons having been named on Tuesday, he has since been ruled out.
Easts Tigers (3) v Townsville Blackhawks (6)
Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Sunday, September 3 – 2pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Assistant Referee: Jarrod Cole
Head-to-Head: Easts 2, Townsville 2, Drawn 1
Head-to-Head Finals: Townsville 1; Easts 0
Finals: Easts (played 33, won 15, lost 18); Townsville (played 4, won 2, lost 2)
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvTSVB
Live Stream: QRL Livestream
The in-form Easts Tigers are at home against Townsville this weekend and they will have the result of last year’s same game firmly in mind. The Blackhawks (then the third-placed team) put on a clinic against Easts, posting a 46-4 victory at Jack Manski Oval. Shane Neumann scored the Tiger's only points in that loss last year and he is Easts leading Cup try scorer with 72. The big centre, who brought up 150 games for the Tigers last week, has 87 tries overall, two short of 10th in the all-time try scoring list behind Reggie Cressbrook. The Blackhawks have been struck a cruel blow before his game with this year’s Leading Point Scorer Carlin Anderson ruled out for the rest of the season after injuring his arm in the loss to the Falcons last weekend. Paul Byrnes has been named at fullback in his place. Townsville winger Jonathon Reuben became just the second player to top the Leading Try Scorers list in successive years having finished this regular season with 26. Aaron Douglas achieved this in 1999 / 2000 with Burleigh (equal with Brook Martin in 2000). The Tigers beat the Blackhawks when they met in Round 5, proving too strong 35-22 in Townsville. The key to victory this weekend for the Tigers will be centred around award-winning halves Billy Walters and Brodie Croft, whose combination with hooker Tommy Butterfield has been instrumental to the strong showing of the side so far this season.
*Statistics provided by Brad Tallon
