Intrust Super Cup Round 20 preview

History will be made this weekend in the Intrust Super Cup, with Souths Logan Magpies skipper Phil Dennis set to break the record for most games played.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Ipswich Jets
Dolphin Stadium, Saturday, July 28 – 1.10pm
Broadcast Live on Channel 9 QLD from 1pm
Head-to-Head:  Redcliffe 28 Ipswich 16
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvJETS

• Ipswich let a good lead slip last weekend and will be looking to make amends when they travel to Redcliffe to take on the in-form Dolphins.
• The Jets won their clash against the Dolphins back in Round 8 22-8; their first over Redcliffe in four games.
• However, it will be a tough task for the Jets to go back-to-back this season with the Dolphins sitting near the top of the table having won their past five matches; including a close one against the Tigers in their Country Week match at Goondiwindi.
• Redcliffe coach Adam Mogg is aiming for his 50th win with Redcliffe in his 70th game as coach there.
• After crossing the line for the opening try in their loss to the Pride last weekend, Jets flyer Marmin Barba now has 65 tries for the club (including one in the NRL State Championship final), two short of the club record of 67 held by Donald Malone.
• Fellow Ipswich back Wes Conlon (on 469 points) requires six more points to overtake Brendon Lindsay to move to second on the Jets points scoring list behind Steven West (594).

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v CQ Capras
BMD Kougari Oval, Saturday, July 28 – 5pm
Head-to-Head: Wynnum 31 Central 9 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #WYNvCQC
Livestream: Seagulls TV

• The Seagulls sprung an upset against the Souths Logan Magpies last weekend in Normanton, with that result keeping the race for the final spot in the top six in the Intrust Super Cup very much alive.
• While they have been judged to be out of the running; the win showed just what they can do when they are on, and was their second win in three weeks.
• The Capras will also be playing for pride and will be aiming to put in another good performance this weekend.
• The CQ side came out of the blocks strongly last round to lead the front-running Burleigh Bears at halftime only to be run down in the second half.
• The Seagulls have the upper hand in this contest and have won six of their past seven encounters against the Capras.
• CQ’s win at BMD Kougari Oval last year was their first there in seven games.
• Wynnum Manly have won only one of eight games at home this year; while the Capras have lost their last 12 away games.

See the Round 20 Referees Appointments here

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Northern Pride 
Stafford Park, Hervey Bay, Saturday, July 28 – 6pm
Head-to-Head: Pride 11 Sunshine Coast 9
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvPRIDE

• Following on from last weekend’s Country Week games, the two teams will go head-to-head in Hervey Bay this weekend in the second Cup game to be played in the area. Ipswich defeated Sunshine Coast 20-6 when they took a game there in 2016.
• This will be the 150th games as coach for Falcons mentor Craig Ingebrigtsen (previously with Easts Tigers). He has won 88, drawn five and lost 56.  He is the eighth coach to reach this milestone and his 60.7% record is third in that group behind Rick Stone and Neil Wharton.
• This will also be the 150th Cup game for Falcons skipper Dane Hogan (formerly with the Pride, Mackay and Easts) (pictured below).
• After they both got on the score board last weekend; Ryley Jacks with one try and Matt Soper-Lawler with a double; the Falcons pair have both moved to 28 tries for the club; equal most for the team with Dennis Sandow.
• The Pride will again be without star half Jake Clifford this week after the Queensland Under 20 representative made his NRL debut with the Cowboys last weekend. 

See the Round 19 Judiciary Results here

Tweed Heads Seagulls v Mackay Cutters
Piggabeen Sports Complex, Sunday, July 29 – 1.15pm
Head-to-Head: Tweed 11 Mackay 5 Drawn 4
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSvMC 

• Tweed Heads will aim to put last weekend’s heavy loss in Hughenden behind them as they chase a top six finish with a win against the Cutters.
• The Cutters also have plenty to play for and will be aiming to finish their season strongly to push themselves off the bottom of the Intrust Super Cup ladder.
• The Seagulls have the upper hand in the head-to-head stakes; but these two teams interestingly are the only two side to have recorded four draws.
• Mackay will be aiming to avoid adding to their worst ever losing streak during this trip. They have lost their past nine games (equal to their worst ever Cup losing run in 2009 and 2016 and are still searching for their 100th Cup win.
• While the Seagulls have lost their past four games; they have a strong record at home and have won five of their six games at Piggabeen this year; whereas the Cutters have lost their last five games away from home.

Norths Devils v Easts Tigers 
Bishop Park, Sunday, July 29 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: Norths 22 Easts 21 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvTIGES
Livestream: DEVILS TV 

• In their first meeting earlier this year, Norths snuck home 18-16.
• The past 10 games between these two sides has seen Easts win five, Norths four and a draw. In these games, the Tigers’ average winning margin is 30, while the Nundah club’s is three.
• Norths biggest hurdle could perhaps be the travel factor, having returned this weekend from Lae in PNG where they went down to the Hunters in hot conditions.
• Easts were also on the wrong end of the scoreboard after a tight loss to Redcliffe at Goondiwindi.
• Storm young guns Billy Walters and Brodie Croft have been named in the halves for the Tigers.

PNG Hunters v Burleigh Bears 
National Football Stadium, Sunday, July 29 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 6 Burleigh 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvBEARS 

• After a slow start, defending premiers the PNG Hunters are building momentum.
• They took down the Norths Devils last weekend, the ninth win of their season putting Michael Marum’s team within striking distance of a top six berth.
• Burleigh beat the Hunters 34-18 in their first match at Pizzey Park in 2018, but the Hunters boast a formidable home record against the Gold Coast team with four-straight wins.
• The Hunters have won eight of their 10 home games this year. They have also unearthed a new crowd favourite, with fullback Edene Gebbie starring last week with two brilliant tries.
• Burleigh is sitting nicely in third place, with Jim Lenihan’s team pulling out all stocks to fend of the Capras last weekend 24-14.
• They are edging closer to full strength, with Jamal Fogarty making his return in that game. 

Souths Logan Magpies v Townsville Blackhawks
Davies Park, Sunday, July 29 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: Townsville 3 Souths-Logan 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvTSVB 

• All eyes will be on Magpies skipper Phil Dennis, who becomes the competition’s most capped player. It will be his 271^st game, eclipsing Dolphins great Troy Lindsay (270).
• In their first meeting this year, Townsville got home 38-14 at Jack Manski Oval.
• Dennis’ personal milestone coincides with a massive afternoon for the club. Not only is it Old Boys Day, but it is the club’s 500^th Cup game; they have won 192, drawn 14 and lost 293.
• The Magpies are in a worrying slump, having lost six of their past seven games.
• Townsville in contrast are on a roll, winning six games over the same period to be one of the favourites for this year’s premiership.
• Jaelen Feeney, Jonathon Reuben and Kalifa Faifai-Loa all posted doubles in the big win over Tweed Heads last weekend.

*Statistics by Brad Tallon

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