The pointy end of the Intrust Super Cup season is here, with teams battling it out for finals berths with only four games of the regular season to go.
The top eight is far from locked in and teams are determined to make the cut.
Three games kick off Round 20 on Saturday at 6pm, and there are four big games Sunday including Mackay Cutters versing Sunshine Coast Falcons in the TV game on 9GEM at 1.10pm.
Below are the 'stats that matter' for each match up in the round, thanks to Brad Tallon.
Redcliffe Dolphins v Easts Tigers
Dolphin Stadium on Saturday, August 10 at 6pm
Head-to-head: Redcliffe 31 Easts 18 Drawn 1
Twitter: #IntrustSuperCup #PHINSvTIGES
Tipping % via QRL Tipping: Dolphins 64% Tigers 36%
Match: Dolphins v Tigers
Round 20 -
home Team
Dolphins
8th Position
away Team
Tigers
7th Position
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe
- Redcliffe is on a roll, with last weekend’s 20-14 victory over top four fancy the Burleigh Bears their fifth win from their past six games
- Izaia Perese was one of Redcliffe’s best, crossing for two tries to put the Bears away. He again shapes as the biggest threat to Easts, who have one win and a draw to show from their past five games
- There is no love lost between these two powerhouse clubs, and with only three points separating them on the ladder heading into the Round 20 clash, it is shaping as an important match up for both teams as September approaches
- Former Canterbury Bulldogs flyer Jarrod McInally requires two more tries to move to equal ninth on the all-time try-scorers’ list alongside Shane Perry and Shane Neumann, both on 95
- In other milestone news, it will be the 50th game for Redcliffe’s Nathan Watts, a member of last year’s premiership-winning team and this year's Queensland Residents squad
Northern Pride v Norths Devils
Barlow Park on Saturday, August 10 at 6pm
Head-to-head: Pride 17 Devils 5 Drawn 1
Twitter: #IntrustSuperCup #PRIDEvDEVILS
Tipping % via QRL Tipping: Pride 12% Devils 88%
Livestream: PrideTV
Match: Pride v Devils
Round 20 -
home Team
Pride
12th Position
away Team
Devils
5th Position
Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
- The Northern Pride hold a dominant head-to-head advantage over the Devils, having won 17 previous encounters compared to the Devils’ five (one draw)
- However, Norths seemingly hold all the aces leading into this game, having beaten the Pride 32-16 earlier this year
- Rohan Smith’s Devils are also well placed to make a return to finals footy this year, while the Pride have seemingly given away too much start
- The Devils will look to emerging Brisbane Broncos guns Sean O’Sullivan and Troy Dargan to steer them around the park, while another Bronco, exciting winger Herbie Farnworth, will add strike power from kick returns
- The Pride have won nine of the 11 games between these two sides at Barlow Park with one draw
- Both teams will go in fresh after enjoying a spell during the second week of the split round in Round 19
TOP FIVE: Intrust Super Cup Round 19
Central Queensland Capras v Townsville Blackhawks
Browne Park on Saturday, August 10 at 6pm
Head-to-head: Capras 0 Blackhawks 7 Drawn 1
Twitter: #IntrustSuperCup #CQCvTSVB
Tipping % via QRL Tipping: Capras 6% Blackhawks 94%
Match: Capras v Blackhawks
Round 20 -
home Team
Capras
14th Position
away Team
Blackhawks
4th Position
Venue: Browne Park, Rockhampton
- The third Saturday night fixture of the round will be played out of Browne Park, where the Capras will go in search of a breakthrough victory against the Blackhawks
- The home team will need to improve drastically on their first encounter against Townsville earlier this year, a game which saw Aaron Payne’s men get the job done to the tune of 40-4 at Jack Manski Oval
- While Central are in the midst of a long run of outs, Townsville is looming as a genuine premiership threat on the back of seven-straight wins. Their best ever Cup winning run was eight in 2015
- Zac Santo, one of the real speedsters of the Intrust Super Cup, takes the field for his 50th game with Townsville
Mackay Cutters v Sunshine Coast Falcons
BB Print Stadium on Sunday, August 11 at 1.10pm LIVE on 9GEM
Head-to-head: Cutters 15 Falcons 6
Twitter: #IntrustSuperCup #MCvSCF
Tipping % via QRL Tipping: Cutters 4% Falcons 96%
Match: Cutters v Falcons
Round 20 -
home Team
Cutters
10th Position
away Team
Falcons
1st Position
Venue: BB Print Stadium, Mackay
- The first of four big Sunday afternoon matches will get underway in Mackay with the Cutters up against premiership favourites the Sunshine Coast Falcons
- While the Falcons have set a new benchmark in the Intrust Super Cup, they go up against a Mackay team that has won eight of the 10 games between these two sides in Mackay
- Mackay have lost their last three home games, but the signs are good following a stirring 30-16 win over Tweed in Round 19
- While the big money games are yet to come, it’s been a year to remember for Falcons fans, who have lapped up some sparkling attacking footy
- Jon Reuben has been at his electrifying best, and he now requires one more try to beat the Falcons' season try scoring record of 19 held by Ryley Jacks in 2016
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Souths Logan Magpies
BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, August 11 at 2pm
Head-to-head: Seagulls 31 Magpies 13 Drawn 1
Twitter: #IntrustSuperCup #WYMvSLM
Tipping % via QRL Tipping: Seagulls 93% Magpies 7%
Livestream: SeagullsTV
Match: WM Seagulls v Magpies
Round 20 -
home Team
WM Seagulls
2nd Position
away Team
Magpies
11th Position
Venue: BMD Kougari Oval, Brisbane
- After a sluggish start to the year and with a top eight berth seemingly out of reach, Souths Logan are set to play the role of giant-killer
- They’ve won four of their past five matches, arming coach Jon Buchanan with much needed confidence for the showdown with the second-placed Seagulls
- It won’t be easy though, with Wynnum Manly having won nine of their last 11 games at home, recapturing some of their best form in front of the boisterous Chook Pen
- Matt Soper-Lawler requires one more try to beat the Magpies' season try-scoring record of 19 held by Quentin Laulu-Togagae in 2008
- Soper-Lawler scored one of the Magpies’ four tries in their 24-20 win over the Pride in Round 19
Ipswich Jets v Tweed Seagulls
North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday, August 11 at 2.50pm
Head-to-head: Jets 14 Seagulls 21
Twitter: #IntrustSuperCup #JETSvTWEED
Tipping % via QRL Tipping: Jets 64% Seagulls 36%
Livestream: JetsTV
Match: Jets v Seagulls
Round 20 -
home Team
Jets
9th Position
away Team
Seagulls
6th Position
Venue: North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
- It’s simply ‘make or break’ for the Ipswich Jets, who must win to stay in reach of the top eight
- If they do get the job done, it will be extra sweet for key forward Huskie Teutau, who is turning out for his 100th game for Ipswich
- Tweed have lost six of their last seven games, including their last three away games, slipping from fourth to seventh
- However, a Seagulls win over the Jets would steady the ship and could potentially see them leapfrog Easts into sixth position on the ladder
- Tweed enforcer John Palavi will play his 50th Cup game, with his battle against Jets skipper Nat Neale set to be a beauty
- There will be lots of emotions running through the Ipswich dressing room, with co-coach Ben Walker this week having announced it will be his last season with the Jets before pursuing new opportunities
PNG Hunters v Burleigh Bears
Oil Search National Football Stadium on Sunday, August 11 at 3pm
Head-to-head: Hunters 7 Bears 4
Twitter: #IntrustSuperCup #PNGvBEARS
Tipping % via QRL Tipping: Hunters 8% Bears 92%
Match: Hunters v Bears
Round 20 -
home Team
Hunters
13th Position
away Team
Bears
3rd Position
Venue: PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
- Burleigh announced itself as one of the teams to beat in 2019 with a thumping 56-4 win over the Hunters at Pizzey Park in Round 8
- The Bears will however need to break a run of outs in PNG if they are climb back into the winners’ circle following a last-start loss to Redcliffe, as the Hunters have won all five games between these two sides on PNG soil
- While PNG have a draw and four losses in their last five games, they showed some nice touches against Townsville last weekend, with a long range try to Terry Wapi one of the best fans will see this season
- Sunday’s game will be the 50th Cup appearance for dashing winger Troy Leo
- Leo’s teammate Jamal Fogarty requires 13 more points to bring up 800 Cup points