Friday night football kicks off Round 17 with the Mackay Cutters looking to upset the Ipswich Jets at BB Print Stadium.
Mackay Cutters v Ipswich Jets
BB Print Stadium Mackay on Friday, July 6 – 7.30pm
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 12 Mackay 8
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvJETS
- In Round 6 this year Mackay 28 defeated Ipswich 18 at North Ipswich Reserve.
- The Cutters have won three of the past four games played between the two sides.
- Ipswich however have won seven of the past 10 games between the two side when played in Mackay.
- The Cutters are looking to find some form as they have lost their past six games, including their past four at home.
- Ipswich too will be aiming to arrest a losing streak of their own, having lost their past three and four of their past five away games.
- In milestone news; this will be the 100th Cup game for Cutters skipper Tom Murphy (pictured below). The backrower has also previously played for Redcliffe and the Sunshine Coast.
Tweed Heads Seagulls v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Ron Stark Oval, Stradbroke Island on Saturday, July 7 - 1.10pm
Live on Channel 9 QLD – broadcast from 1pm
Head-to-Head: Wynnum 20 Tweed 16
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSVWYN
- To help celebrate NAIDOC Week and give recognition to Indigenous cultures – particularly the Quandamooka people - Wynnum Manly will host Tweed Heads at Dunwich on Stradbroke Island this Saturday, July 7.
- Both teams will be looking to bounce back after suffering Round 16 losses last weekend, with Tweed Heads slipping out of the top six as a result.
- While Tweed Heads will be without popular figure Konrad Hurrell who has earned himself an NRL recall, they will still feature plenty of Gold Coast Titans talent including Kane Elgey and Brendan Elliot.
- Wynnum Manly too will be missing one of their stars in Patrick Carrigan after the hard-working backrower was named in the Queensland Under 20 side to play next Wednesday night against NSW.
- However, they still have some key experience in their side and will look to their halves Michael Dobson and Shaun Nona to provide spark.
- Wynnum have won all three games played between these two sides at venues that are not their traditional home grounds; the 2011 grand final, in 2014 at Kingaroy and 24-18 last year at Dunwich.
Straddie - The place to be for Round 17
See the Round 17 Referees Appointments here
Burleigh Bears v Norths Devils
Pizzey Park on Saturday, July 7 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 24 Norths 20
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvDEVILS
Livestream: Bears TV
- The Norths Devils had a great start to the season and secured a 20-4 win over the Bears when they met at Bishop Park back in Round 6.
- The Devils also took the win at Pizzey Park last year - only their second there in 10 games.
- The Bears have a strong home record and have won six of their past eight games played at Pizzey Park this year.
- Both sides come into this game having claimed wins in Round 16 – the Bears a satisfying derby win against Tweed Heads; while the Devils came out on top in a close one against Souths Logan.
See the Round 16 Judiciary Results here
Easts Tigers v Northern Pride
Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Saturday, July 7 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Pride 14 Easts 10
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvPRIDE
Livestream: www.tigertv.net
- Both sides squeaker their way to Round 16 wins last weekend; with the Pride claiming a 13-10 result over the Blackhawks in their NQ derby, while the Tigers held on against the Jets 26-24.
- The Pride will be hoping to turn the tables on their rivals at Suzuki Stadium this weekend after the Tigers claimed a 14-4 win at Barlow Park.
- Including that past result, Easts have won the past four games against the Pride; including the past three played at their home ground.
- The Pride however are in good form and have won their past five and seven of their past eight games; including three of their past four away games.
- Easts centre Shane Neumann (pictured below) is set to play his 157th Cup game for the club, passing Isaac Kaufmann (156) for third for the Tigers. He will be behind Scott Sipple and Wade Liddell.
- Following his four pointer last weekend, he also only requires one more try to move to 89, equal 10th all-time Cup try scorer with Reggie Cressbrook.
Townsville Blackhawks v Sunshine Coast Falcons
Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, July 7 – 5pm
Head-to-Head: Townsville 5 Sunshine Coast 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvSCF
- This will be the 100th Cup game for Townsville hooker Krys Freeman (pictured below) who moved to the club from the Capras last year. He has also previously played with the Norths Devils.
- Earlier this year, the Blackhawks scored a tight 20-18 win when they faced off against the Falcons at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
- Coming into this game after a three-point loss against the Pride; Townsville will be hoping to build on their recent form against the Sunshine Coast, having won two of their past three games against them at Jack Manski Oval.
- Overall, the Blackhawks have built a strong record at home where they have won their past seven games.
CQ Capras v Souths Logan Magpies
Barcaldine on Saturday, July 7 - 6pm
Head-to-Head: Souths-Logan 23 Central 18 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvSLM
- The CQ Capras and Souths Logan Magpies are headed to Barcaldine this weekend; making it the second time a Cup game has been held in the town.
- The first one also featured the Magpies who defeated the Norths Devils 32-24 there as part of Country Week in 2016.
- These two teams don’t mind travelling and have played 11 times away from Brisbane or Rockhampton previously, with the Magpies winning eight of them.
- The Magpies have the upper hand against their CQ rivals and claimed a 36-4 win when they last met at Davies Park in Round 6.
- The have also won the past three, and nine of the past 10 games played against the Capras.
PNG Hunters v Redcliffe Dolphins
National Football Stadium on Sunday, July 8 - 3pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 6 Redcliffe 3 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvPHINS
- The Redcliffe Dolphins head up to PNG off the back of a confidence boosting win over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls last week where they were able to post 50 points.
- However, they will be without stand-out performer Kotoni Staggs who has be recalled to the Brisbane Broncos side to face the Titans.
- When the Dolphins last met PNG back in Round 6, they were able to secure a 20-6 win at Dolphin Stadium.
- The Dolphins have never won consecutive games against the Hunters, and lost all five games in PNG (two of them by two points, two of them by four points and one by seven points).
- The Hunters have hit some form of late and have won their past four home games.
- They have one six of their seven home games this year; with the loss coming at the hands of Souths Logan.
- Moses Meninga has been named in the starting line-up for match to replace Ila Alu who suffered an ankle injury.
*Statistics by Brad Tallon
NOTE: The livestreams linked in this preview are not official QRL productions
