Round 3 of the Intrust Super Cup saw some great rivalries continue, with some big results shaking up the competition.
This weekend, the Channel Nine cameras will be back at the home of the Wynnum Manly Seagulls who this Sunday will face off against the Mackay Cutters.
Below are the ‘Stats that Matter’ for each match up in Round 4.
Ipswich Jets v Northern Pride
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, March 30 – 3pm
Head-to-Head:Ipswich 12 Pride 12 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvPRIDE
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Jets 39% Pride 61%
- Gutsy Ipswich produced a stirring comeback against the Tigers last weekend, only to narrowly fall short of their first win of the season.
- The good news for Jets fans is that the last time they lost their first three games of the season (2012), they recovered to finish fourth on the ladder.
- Wynnum recruit Peter Gubb scored his first try for Ipswich in the thrilling clash, and he’ll look to add to his tally against the Pride.
- The Pride have won two of their opening three games to sit seventh on the ladder, but they do have some big ‘outs’ though with Ben Hampton and Jake Clifford selected in the Cowboys NRL team this weekend.
- In milestone news, Pride coach Ty Williams chalked up his 50th game as coach last weekend, while Ipswich mentors Ben and Shane Walker officially celebrate their 200th Intrust Super Cup game in charge of the Jets.
Ben and Shane Walker reflect on 200 games
Video by Queensland Rugby League - Bill Scurfield
Easts Tigers v PNG Hunters
Langlands Park on Saturday, March 30 – 4.05pm
Head-to-Head: Easts 3 PNG 3 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvPNG
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Tigers 91% PNG 9%
- The Hunters have a big ‘in’ this weekend – with premiership-winning captain Ase Boas named to play at halfback. Boas is back in PNG to address family matters after leaving the club at the end of last year to join Featherstone Rovers in England.
- The Hunters are looking for their first win of the season after falling just short in front of their home crowd last weekend against the Falcons 28-26.
- It will be a tough ask for them this weekend however as they have never beaten the Tigers in a game played at Langlands Park. They have had two losses and a draw at the ground.
- The Tigers’ Round 13 win last year was their first over PNG in four games.
- Easts have also been strong at home and have won seven of their past eighth home games.
- Interestingly, the last time Easts won their first three games of the season was in 2012, the last time they failed to make the finals.
Redcliffe Dolphins v Souths Logan Magpies
Dolphin Stadium on Saturday, March 30 – 6pm
Head-to-Head:Redcliffe 32 Souths-Logan 11 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvSLM
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Redcliffe 78% Souths Logan 22%
- Although in it for much of the game last weekend, Redcliffe's Round 3 loss to Wynnum Manly means this is now the worst ever start to a Cup season for the club.
- The 2018 premiers are missing plenty of key experience, especially in the forwards with NRL call-ups and retirements last year hitting hard.
- Souths Logan also suffered a loss last weekend and will be aiming to add to their list of wins at Dolphin Stadium.
- Their Round 1 victory there last year was their first over Redcliffe there in six games.
- The Souths Logan Magpies are also looking to bounce back after a heavy loss to Norths last weekend.
- In a promising sign for the visitors, the Magpies have won three of their past four away games.
- Souths Logan is also trying to avoid their 300th loss in their 508th Queensland / Intrust Super Cup game.
CQ Capras v Tweed Seagulls
Browne Park on Saturday, March 30 – 7pm
Head-to-Head:Tweed 23 Central 7 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvTWEED
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Capras 41% Tweed 59%
Livestream: Capras TV
- The Seagulls travel to Browne Park with the knowledge they have won 14 of the past 15 games between these two sides.
- The Capras last defeated the Gulls when the sides played at a curtain-raiser to a Gold Coast Titans game at Robina in 2017.
- Tweed have won the past eight games between these two sides played at Browne Park.
- The visitors however have recorded four losses and a draw from their past five away games.
- The Capras require 23 points to bring up 10000 in Cup football.
- With three more points, the Seagulls will bring up 15000 against, the first team to get to that mark.
- In a blow to the Capras, fullback Matthew Wright has been suspended for two games after an early guilty plea to a Dangerous Contact charge.
- Tweed however will welcome skipper Cheyne Whitelaw to their line-up, alongside half Christian Hazard while Treymain Spry (injury) and Mitch Rein (Titans reserves) are outs.
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Mackay Cutters
BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, March 31 – 12.10pm *(Live on Channel 9 QLD)
Head-to-Head:Mackay 11 Wynnum 10
Twitter:#intrustsupercup #WYNvMC
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Wynnum 88% v Cutters 12%
- Two of the best performed teams from last weekend’s fixtures clash at BMD Kougari Oval.
- The Cutters turned on the magic to put 42 points on the CQ Capras, while Wynnum grafted their way to a tight XXXX Rivalry Round win over the Redcliffe Dolphins.
- Mackay have won three of the past four games between these two sides, and three of the last four at BMD Kougari Oval.
- Rival coaches, Wynnum’s Adam Brideson (20W, 29L) and Mackay’s Steve Sheppard (15W, 3D, 31L), both bring up their 50th game as coaches in this match.
- It is also a half-century of Cup games for Yamba Bowie (all Mackay) and rival winger Richie Kennar (formerly Easts and Sunshine Coast).
Sunshine Coast Falcons v Norths Devils
Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday, March 31 – 3.30pm
Head-to-Head:Norths 11 Sunshine Coast 7
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvDEVILS
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Falcons 80% Devils 20%
- The Sunshine Coast come into this game having help off a spirited Hunters fightback to record an important XXXX Rivalry Round win in PNG last weekend.
- The Devils are also entering this game with good form, having posted a 42-16 win over South Logan Magpies last weekend.
- The Falcons have won four of the past five games played between these two sides, including two of the past three at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
- The Falcons also have been strong at home of late, and have won four of their past five home games.
- This match will be the 50th Cup match for Norths forward Nixon Putt who moved from the Hunters to the Nundah-based club in the off-season.
Townsville Blackhawks v Burleigh Bears
Jack Manski Oval on Sunday, March 31 – 4pm
Head-to-Head:Burleigh 4 Townsville 3 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvBEARS
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Townsville 75% Bears 25%
- The Bears appear to be one of Townsville’s “bogey teams” with the Blackhawks having only won one of their past six games against them (with one drawn result).
- Of the four games played between the two sides at Jack Manski Oval, the honours have been shared two apiece.
- However, in 2015 Townsville won 78-6 win over Burleigh at Jack Manski Oval – the club’s biggest Cup win. It was also Burleigh's biggest Cup loss.
- Last week was Townsville 100th Cup game – they have 65 wins, four draws and 31 losses.
- Two Townsville players will reach the 50th Cup games with half Kyle Laybutt (formerly with Mackay) and forward Jake Marketo (previously with Redcliffe Dolphins) named this weekend for their milestone matches.
- The Bears will be with a number of key personnel, with Sam Coster, Jacob Hind and Sami Sauiluma all falling foul with the QRL Judiciary following last weekend’s win over Tweed.
Statewide Competitions Judiciary Results - Round 3.pdf
*Statistics by Brad Tallon
**NOTE: The livestreams linked in this preview are not official QRL productions.
