Regional Queensland - and for the first time, Lae in PNG - will have the chance to experience Intrust Super Cup action this weekend with 'Get in the Game' Country Week matches hitting the road.
Redcliffe Dolphins v Easts Tigers
Gilbert Oval, Goondiwindi, Saturday, July 21 – 1.10pm
Live on Channel Nine QLD – broadcast from 1pm
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 29 Easts 17 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvTIGES #CountryWeek
- This is the first Cup game at Goondiwindi since 1999 when the Logan Scorpions defeated the Toowoomba Clydesdales 28-18.
- The Toowoomba team that day included future State of Origin players Dane Carlaw, Ashley Harrison, Brad Meyers, Lote Tuqiri and Carl Webb.
- Redcliffe is flying high under Adam Mogg, having won their past four games, and seven of their last eight, to occupy top spot.
- Easts are also on a roll, with last weekend’s win over Mackay their fourth in succession.
- Easts centre Shane Neumann is now the 10th most prolific Cup try-scorer with 90 after passing Reggie Cressbrook (89) last weekend.
Burleigh Bears v CQ Capras
Eskdale Park, Maryborough, Saturday, July 21 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 32 Central 9
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvCQC #CountryWeek
- Maryborough’s Eskdale Park welcomes the Bears and Capras in this intriguing Round 19 clash.
- While Central have won only two of the first 29 games between these sides, they have won eight of the last 14.
- Jimmy Lenihan’s Bears hold down third position on the ladder, an ideal platform to launch into September finals action.
- They travel to Maryborough without injured representative duo Jamal Fogarty and forward Blake Leary, two players who hold the key to the Bears’ prospects of emulating their 2016 premiership feats.
- Former Origin and Test forward Dave Taylor spearheads a CQ team looking for win number six this year.
Sunshine Coast Falcons v Mackay Cutters
Denison Park, Bowen, Saturday, July 21 – 4pm (updated time)
Head-to-Head: Mackay 15 Sunshine Coast 4
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvMC #CountryWeek
- Sunshine Coast thumped Mackay 32-4 in their first encounter this year at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
- This game will be a whole new ball game though for a Falcons team laced with young Melbourne Storm talent, many of whom will be travelling to Bowen for the first time.
- Mackay have the talent to post an upset, but they will need to improve after eight-straight losses.
- An upset win would see the Cutters notch a century – they currently sit on 99 wins, 10 draws and 137 losses overall.
- Sunshine Coast speedster Matt Soper-Lawler now has 26 tries for the Falcons, two behind their try-scoring leader Dennis Sandow, and one behind Ryley Jacks who has been named for the Round 19 clash.
Northern Pride v Ipswich Jets
John Street Oval, Cooktown, Saturday, July 21 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 12 Pride 11 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvJETS #CountryWeek
- Cooktown will provide a spectacular backdrop when these teams meet for the second time this year, with the Jets having prevailed in their first meeting 16-12 at home.
- Ipswich have lost five of their past seven games and are now very much playing to keep their finals hopes alive.
- In contrast, the Pride have won five of their last seven games, and are travelling well enough to figure in the top six by season’s end despite two recent losses.
- Marmin Barba has moved to 64 tries for the Jets – he is now equal second for the Jets with Ricky Bird. Donald Malone is the leader on 67.
- Javid Bowen has moved to 42 tries for the Pride – he is now equal third for the Pride with Hezron Murgha. Brett Anderson leads on 75, with Davin Crampton on 45.
- This will be the 100th match for Graham Clark (Pride / Wynnum Manly), and the 50th for Ipswich star Michael Purcell.
Souths Logan Magpies v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
John Henry Memorial Oval, Normanton, Saturday, July 21 – 6pm
Head-to-Head: Wynnum 29 Souths Logan 13 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvWYN #CountryWeek
Livestream: Seagulls TV
- The Souths Logan Magpies will be aiming to build on their drought-breaking win last weekend when they take on the Seagulls in Normanton.
- The win over Tweed Heads saw them snap a five-game losing streak.
- After posting a Round 17 victory, Wynnum Manly Seagulls were brought back down to earth by the Falcons and have now lost three of their past four games.
- The Magpies have won the last two games played between the two sides and claimed a big 40-6 victory in Round 5 when they faced off at Davies Park.
- There’s a huge day of rugby league planned at John Henry Memorial Oval with Battle of the Gulf finals also taking place.
Tweed Heads Seagulls v Townsville Blackhawks
Flinders Sports Ground, Hughenden, Sunday, July 22 – 2pm
Head-to-Head: Townsville 6 Tweed 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvTHS #CountryWeek
- The two Woolf brothers go head-to-head once more with the 11th-placed Tweed Heads Seagulls (Ben Woolf) hoping to upset the second-placed Townsville Blackhawks (Kristian Woolf).
- When the two sides met at Jack Manski Oval in Round 5; the Blackhawks proved much too strong, posting a 38-4 win.
- That win was Townville’s sixth against the Gulls who have never been able to topple the Blackhawks.
- Townsville have won their games against the Gulls by an average of 35 points. The smallest winning margin has been 28.
PNG Hunters v Norths Devils
Lae Football Oval, PNG, Sunday, July 22, 3pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 4 Norths 4
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvDEVILS #CountryWeek
- After undergoing a thorough approval process; regional fans in PNG will have their first opportunity to take part in Country Week with Lae Rugby League Ground to host the historic event.
- Hunters players arrived in Lae today and have a full program of community engagements leading up to game day.
- The Hunters will be hoping to avenge their 34-22 loss to the Devils earlier this year with a win at the Lae ground.
- The Hunters have won seven of nine games played in PNG this year.
- The Devils have won four of their nine away games this year and are in good form as well; having claimed victory in their past three games.
- Norths forward Guy Williams is set to play in his 233rd game; passing Matt King to move to sixth position for all time Cup games played.
- Hunters veteran Adex Wera requires one more try to become the first player to score 50 tries for the Hunters.
- This will also be the 50th Cup game for Norths forward Sam Tagataese who has also previously played for the Jets.
*Statistics by Brad Tallon
NOTE: The livestreams linked in this preview are not official QRL productions.
