Anzac weekend Round 8 Preview

The Anzac weekend Round 8 matches kick off tomorrow in Mackay, with commemorations being held to honour the occasion across the competition. 

Mackay Cutters v Tweed Heads Seagulls 
BB Print Stadium, Mackay on Saturday, April 28 
Live Channel 9 QLD broadcast from 1pm
Head-to-Head: Tweed 10 Mackay 5 Drawn 4
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvTHS 

• After a slow start, Tweed Heads have strung together back-to-back wins and will be hoping to add to their away game winning tally on Saturday. Their victory over Wynnum Manly in Round 6 was their first win on the road in nine games.
• Mackay have won the past two games played against the Seagulls; and they will be aiming claim their third in a row to improve on their recent home record where they have only won one of their past five games.
• Over the years, the results have been close between the two teams and they are the only two sides to have played out four draws against each other.
• These two teams have drawn three times in 10 games in Mackay.
• Tweed Heads will have Gold Coast Titans halfback Kane Elgey playing in their side as he works on his confidence.

Ipswich Jets v Redcliffe Dolphins
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, April 28 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 28 Ipswich 15
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvPHINS 

• Seb Pandia plays his 50^th game for the Jets and his 71^st overall after joining the Ipswich club from the PNG Hunters.
• Redcliffe have won the past three games between these two sides, although the Jets have enjoyed some recent success against the Dolphins at the North Ipswich Reserve.
• Sam Caslick was the man of the moment for the Jets after booting a stunning 40m field goal to pilot the side to a thrilling win over the Sunshine Coast last weekend. Caslick may get more responsibility to show his attacking skills with gun fullback Michael Purcell ruled out for an extended period due to a broken arm.
• Redcliffe is the form team of the competition after winning five-straight games to surge into third spot on the ladder.
• Jonus Pearson scored two tries in Redcliffe’s 38-10 win over Mackay, with his speed a big factor in the result. 

See the Round 8 Referees Appointments here

Easts Tigers v Norths Devils at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park
Saturday, April 28 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Easts 21 Norths 21 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvDEVILS 

• Devils halfback Todd Murphy requires six points to bring up 500 in the Cup. Murphy added to his tally last week with two goals against Townsville, who came away with a 30-16 win.
• It was only the Devils’ second loss of the season, with Rohan Smith’s team still nicely placed in fourth spot heading into this weekend’s Anzac Round.
• Interestingly, Norths have won only one of their past six games against Easts with one drawn match, but the Tigers have won only one of their last eight games against the Devils at Langlands Park, Suzuki Stadium (with one draw).
• Easts are sitting just outside the top six after their 24-12 loss to Tweed Heads at Piggabeen in Round 7.
• Sam Tagataese will play with Norths Devils this weekend, having dropped out of the squad due to Wynnum’s Payne Haas making his debut for the Broncos.   

See the Round 7 Judiciary Results here (updated)

Northern Pride v Sunshine Coast Falcons
Barlow Park on Saturday, April 28 – 6pm
Head-to-Head: Pride 10 Sunshine Coast 9
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvSCF 

• Pride forward David Murphy plays game number 50 for the club this weekend.
• The Sunshine Coast have won the three of the past four games between these two sides.
• Impressive Falcons speedster Matt Soper-Lawler now has 22 Cup tries, equal fourth for the club with Rowan Klein.
• Both teams will be determined to return to the winners’ circle after Round 7 defeats. The Falcons went down to the Jets by one point, while the Pride came up short against the Central Queensland Capras in Emerald.
• Rising Sunshine Coast hooker Harry Grant has moved into third sport on the Courier Mail Medal leader board with his consistent performances. 

CQ Capras v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Browne Park on Saturday, April 28 – 7pm
Head-to-Head: Wynnum 30 Central 9 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvWYN 
Livestream: Capras TV 

• The Capras were rewarded for taking their game out to Emerald last weekend, scoring their second win there in five visits with a close result over the Northern Pride.
• Dave Taylor scored the game-sealing try in the 78^th minute of the match, his second try in as many weeks.
• The head-to-head statistics do not make for good reading for the Capras, with the Seagulls also having won six of the past seven and 10 of the past 12 games between the two sides.
• CQ have won only one of the past 13 games between these two sides at Browne Park with one drawn result
• Wynnum Manly powerhouse Payne Haas will make his NRL debut tonight for the Broncos as he has not been named for the Gulls this week.
• One of the older clubs in the competition, this will be Wynnum's 500th cup game - they have won 259, drawn 18 and lost 222. 

Burleigh Bears v Papua New Guinea Hunters
Pizzey Park on Sunday, April 29 – 2pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 6 Burleigh 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvPNG 
Livestream: Bears TV

• This is an important game for both clubs who will be facing off this Anzac Round for the Kokoda Cup.
• The Hunters have won the past three and six of the past seven games between the two sides.
• This will be the fifth Anzac weekend game between the two clubs; they have won games each; Burleigh in 2014 and 2016; and PNG in 2015 and 2017. Three of these results have been decided by a converted try or less.
• Burleigh are in great form and have won their past four, and six of their past seven home games.
• The Hunters however have lost their past three games, and their past three away games. Their worst-ever losing run was four in 2014.
• If he plays this weekend (he is currently listed a 19^th man), this will be the 100th Cup game for Hunter Willie Minoga (who spent a season with the Blackhawks). He has scored 31 tries. 
• (updated April 27) Skipper Ase Boas has been omitted for this weekend's game as he recovers from injury, and the Hunters will also be without experienced hooker Wartovo Puara who is also on the injured list.

>>> QRL Media’s Living League crew will be out at Pizzey Park this weekend – before sure to have your opinions ready for HearSay. See last week’s video below:

 Townsville Blackhawks v Souths Logan Magpies 
Jack Manski Oval on Sunday, April 29 – 2.30pm
Head-to-Head: Townsville 2 Souths Logan 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvSLM 

• The Magpies will be on a high having secured their first-ever win over the PNG Hunters last weekend.
• Souths Logan are in good form and have won the past two games against Townsville.
• However, both sides have won one game each at Jack Manski.
• Magpies halfback Sam Scarlett now has 30 Cup tries for the club and is equal third for the club with Tristan Brady-Smith and Luke Archer.
• Townsville flyer Jonathon Reuben has moved to 258 points last weekend after scoring two tries, surpassing the injured Carlin Anderson (254) as Townsville's leading point scorer. 

*Statistics by Brad Tallon

NOTE: The livestreams linked in this preview are not official QRL productions.