Intrust Super Cup Round 21 preview

Author: QRL Media
Timestamp: Thu 2 Aug 2018, 05:39 PM

Plenty in the balance this weekend with key match ups across Round 21 of the Intrust Super Cup.

Norths Devils v Townsville Blackhawks
Bishop Park, Saturday, August 4 – 1.10pm*
Live on Channel 9 from 1pm
Head-to-Head: Townsville 6 v Norths 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvTSVB

After dropping out of the top six for only the second time this season, Norths Devils will be eager to hit back in Saturday’s Round 21 clash against Townsville.
The Devils went down 46-12 to the rampant Easts Tigers last weekend, slipping to eighth position on the ladder with four rounds to play.
The Kristian Woolf-coached Townsville Blackhawks are soaring along in outright top spot after a gritty win over Souths Logan last weekend.
After an unlucky run with injuries, Townsville speedster Carlin Anderson is getting back to his best form, with a brilliant solo try last weekend putting rival teams on notice.
Townsville won the first meeting between these teams earlier this year 30-16.

Carlin remains hungry as ever

Ipswich Jets v Sunshine Coast Falcons
North Ipswich Reserve, Saturday, August 4 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 12 Sunshine Coast 5 drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvSCF

These two sides meet for the first time since Sam Caslick nailed a long-range field goal to get the Jets over the line 17-16 on the Sunshine Coast in Round 7.
Caslick has made art of booting one-pointers in tight situations. With the game on the line against Redcliffe last weekend, he slotted his one and only attempt for the match through the posts.
It’s been an up-and-down season for both the Jets and Falcons. The Falcons seem to have momentum on their side though, after winning their past three games to be back in the top six for the first time since Round 5.
Marmin Barba (pictured below) is on the brink of breaking the Jets club record of 67 tries, a record he currently shares with Donald Malone.
Ryley Jacks, Matt Soper-Lawler and Dennis Sandow all have 28 tries for the Falcons.
According to local media reports; despite being named to play on Tuesday, Storm back Sador Earl is not expected to make the trip to Ipswich.

See the Round 21 Referees Appointments here

Northern Pride v CQ Capras
Barlow Park, Saturday, August 4 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: Pride 12 Central 7
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvCQC

The Capras have suffered a blow with Bill Cullen suspended for three matches for a dangerous throw.
Teammate Brad Lupi, who has previously played with both the Mackay Cutters and Northern Pride, will notch 50 Cup games.
In their only meeting this year, Central put in a spirited performance to down the Pride 15-8 in Emerald.
Pride have won eight of their nine games against Central at Barlow Park (Central win in 2011)
If the Capras happen to upset the home team, it will mark the Pride’s 100^th loss in their 259^th game.

See the Round 20 Judiciary Results here

Easts Tigers v Tweed Heads Seagulls
Suzuki Stadium, Saturday, August 4 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Tweed 16 Easts 14 drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvTHS

Easts Tigers playmaker Billy Walters (356) needs three more points to pass John Wilshere (358) into fourth spot on the club’s leading scorers chart.
Walters is a key plank in the Tigers push for a finals berth.
They have won five of their past six games to climb into the top six for the first time since Round 6.
Another Walters, Tweed’s Talor Walters, scored two tries as the Seagulls kept their finals hopes alive last weekend with a tight 24-22 win over Mackay.
Tweed is gunning for a second win over the more fancied Tigers this year, having beaten the Langlands Park club 24-12 in Round 7.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Mackay Cutters
Dolphin Stadium, Saturday, August 4 – 6pm
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 11 Mackay 8 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvMC

Mackay travel to Dolphin Oval this weekend and will be looking to sprung a huge upset against the second-ranked team.
The Cutters suffered a heart-breaking loss to Tweed Heads in Round 20; but their inability to covert more than one of their tries came back to haunt them in their 24-22 loss.
That loss consigned them to their 10^th straight loss - their worst ever Cup run.
The Dolphins come into this game after going down to a Sam Caslick field goal in last weekend’s game at Dolphin Stadium.
Named on the wing for this weekend; this will be the 50th Cup game for Redcliffe’s Josh Beehag (pictured below).

Burleigh Bears v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Pizzey Park, Sunday, August 5 – 2pm
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 22 Wynnum 16 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvWYN
Livestream: BEARS TV

After a tough trip to PNG last weekend where they lost to the Hunters; the Bears are back at home and will be looking for a win to help them secure a top two finish.
Wynnum Manly however have a spring in their step having found form in recent weeks and will be looking to take down a highly ranked scalp as they push for an unlikely finals berth.
However, the Bears have a good record against the Seagulls and have one two and three of their past four games against them.
Wynnum Manly on the other hand have a good record at Pizzey Park; and claimed the points in three of their past four games there.
The Bears have also lost three of their past four games at home and will be looking to snap that streak.

Intrust Super Cup Top 5: Round 20

Souths Logan Magpies v PNG Hunters
Davies Park, Sunday, August 5 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 8 Souths Logan 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvPNG

Another vitally important game in the context of the upcoming finals with both sides needing to win to keep their hopes alive.
When they met earlier this season, the Magpies became the first times to win in PNG this year when they recorded a 20-12 result in Round 7
The Hunters have only recorded one away win this year, so will be looking to keep their recent run at Davies Park alive where they have won their past four games.
Including their close loss against the Blackhawks last weekend; Souths Logan have lost seven of their past eight games and have dropped out of the top six for the first time since Round 4.
In the past few weeks, two Hunters players have recorded key milestones, with skipper Ase Boas now the top point scorer for the Hunters passing Noel Zeming (442) with 449 (including 10 points in NRL State Championship final). Last weekend, Adex Wera also became the first player to score 50 tries for the Hunters (including 1 in the NRL State Championship final).

*Statistics by Brad Tallon

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