Intrust Super Cup Round 21 preview

Author: Michael Hillier & Colleen Edwards
Timestamp: Thu 15 Aug 2019, 07:12 PM

This weekend’s Round 21 match will see the Intrust Super Cup join with the NRL in celebrating the Harvey Norman Women in League round.

There are plenty of key games set to take place during the round – with all eyes set to turn to Sunshine Coast Stadium where the Falcons will host the Townsville Blackhawks in the 9Gem TV game on Sunday.

Below are the ‘stats that matter’ for each match up in Round 21, thanks to Brad Tallon.

Burleigh Bears v Northern Pride
Pizzey Park on Saturday, August 17 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Pride 13 Burleigh 7 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvPRIDE
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Bears 97% Pride 3%
Livestream: Bears TV

Burleigh will host a big day of festivities with club legends on hand to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of their 1999 premiership win.
The pride and emotion on display at Pizzey Park will be another obstacle for the visiting Pride to overcome. However, the Cairns club has won the past two games between these sides at Pizzey Park.
Burleigh had to fight hard for their 24-6 win over the Hunters in PNG last weekend, with Troy Leo’s two tries enough to see the Bears home.
The Pride have lost their past eight away games and will be eager to hit back after a below-par defensive effort against Norths Devils last weekend.
Burleigh’s Jamal Fogarty requires one more point to become the 11th player to score 800 in the Cup.

Redcliffe Dolphins v CQ Capras
Dolphin Stadium on Saturday, August 17 – 6pm
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 35 Central 7 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvCQC
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Phins 96% CQ 4%

Redcliffe can all but secure their spot in the top eight with a home victory over the Capras.
While Central have gone 19 games without a win (and one draw), they’ve unearthed some bright young local talent who are on the up and saw a number of their Hastings Deering Colts players make their Intrust Super Cup debuts in recent weeks.
Redcliffe have won their past four games at Dolphin Stadium and were simply ruthless as they soundly beat Easts 43-0 last weekend at home.
This will be 50^th Cup game for Dolphins forward Nathan Watts.
The Dolphins will be without gun back Izaia Perese after it was confirmed by Broncos coach Anthony Seibold that he would be making his NRL debut this weekend.
The Phins will be celebrating the round by wearing their special pink Women in League jerseys for this game.

Mackay Cutters v Norths Devils
BB Print Stadium, Mackay on Saturday, August 17 – 6pm
Head-to-Head: Norths 13 Mackay 11
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvDEVILS
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Cutters 12% Devils 88%

Norths captain Jack Ahearn takes the field for his 100^th game. The creative fullback has previously played with Redcliffe and Souths; however, he has found a new lease of life at Bishop Park.
The Devils raced away to a convincing 42-18 win over the Cutters in their first encounter at Bishop Park this year.
While Mackay will be a much tougher proposition at home, they have lost their past four games at BB Print Stadium – although they pushed the Falcons all the way in their match last weekend.
Herbie Farnworth's 34 points last week was the most by a Devil in a Cup game, beating the previous record of 28 held by Marty Turner and Anthony Zipf.
Saturday’s Round 21 clash will be Cooper Bambling’s 50^th Cup match in Mackay colours.
The Cutters will have to play without rising young star Reuben Cotter, with the hooker named to play for the Cowboys.

Ipswich Jets v Souths Logan Magpies
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, August 17 – 6pm
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 26 Souths Logan 18 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvSLM
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Jets 84% Magpies 16%

Ipswich have won six of the past seven games between these two sides.
The last four losses for the Jets have been by six points or less, effectively ruling them out of the 2019 finals series.
Souths Logan are aiming for their 200th Cup win in their 525th match in Queensland’s premier statewide competition.
In setting the Magpies' season Cup try-scoring record of 20 last week, Matt Soper-Lawler also brought up his 50th try in the competition.
Magpie Guy Hamilton requires 14 more points to bring up 500 in the Cup. He is now the Magpies' second highest Cup scorer after reaching 263 last week, passing Brett Kelly (258). Leader Scott Doyle has 326.

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Townsville Blackhawks
Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday, August 18 – 1.10pm* (Live on 9Gem)
Head-to-Head: Townsville 6 Sunshine Coast 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvTSVB
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Falcons 89% Townsville 11%

Two of the competition’s in-form teams face off in what is set to be a fantastic game of rugby league – one that some fans of the competition are predicting could be a preview of the 2019 Intrust Super Cup decider.
In Round 10, the Sunshine Coast defeated Townsville 34-10 at Jack Manski Oval, however, the Blackhawks have won three of the past four games against the Falcons played at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The Sunshine Coast have won their past five and 19 of their past 20, games, including eight of their past nine at home.
Townsville too have impressed and have won their past eight games, as streak that equals their best Cup winning run set in 2015. They have also won their past three and four of their past five away games.
Falcons half Todd Murphy brought up 250 points for the season last week. He is only the fourth player to reach this milestone in a regular season. Liam Georgetown with 300, Darren Nicholls on 258 and Steven West with 254 are the other three.
Falcons flyer Jon Reuben is now on 91 Cup tries (from 88 games), just four short of the top 10 all time.
Townsville half Shaun Nona requires five more goals to bring up 300 in Cup football.
This will be the 100th Cup game for the Sunshine Coast for forward Martin Cordwell and his 124th overall counting his past appearances for Souths Logan and Redcliffe.

Tweed Seagulls v Easts Tigers
Piggabeen Sports Complex on Sunday, August 18 – 2pm
Head-to-Head: Tweed 17 Easts 15 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TWEEDvTIGES
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Tweed 70% Easts 30%

The Tweed Seagulls secured an important win last weekend that puts them on track for finals – but they will be hoping to press forward in their efforts to secure a home semi final with a win over Easts. “We want to stay sixth and play a home semi-final, and to ensure that happens that we pretty much have to beat Easts,” coach Ben Woolf said.
The Tigers have plenty to play for and will be looking to wipe away the memory of last weekend’s big 43-0 loss against Redcliffe last weekend.
Easts however have struggled against the Gulls in recent outings and lost in Round 10 at Langlands Park 16-4.
They would also have to overcome a record that has seen them only win one of the past nine games they have played against the Seagulls (back in 2017) at Piggabeen, with one drawn game.
This will be the 550th Cup game for the Tigers, making them the second club to reach this mark. In that time, they produced 301 wins, 17 draws and 231 losses.
Tigers back Jarrod McInally is on 93 Cup tries, just two short of the top 10 all time in the competition.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v PNG Hunters
BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, August 18 – 2.05pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 7 Wynnum 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #WYNvPNG
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Seagulls 97% PNG 3%
Livestream: Seagulls TV

It will be a tough ask for the PNG Hunters to upset Wynuum Manly this weekend if they are to avenge the 28-4 loss they suffered against the Seagulls in Port Moresby in Round 10.
The Gulls are one of the in-form teams of the competition and have won five of their past six games.
On the other hand, the Hunters have found the wins hard to come by and have five losses and a draw from their past six games.
The Seagulls have been strong at home and have won eight of their past nine games at BMD Kougari Oval, while the Hunters have lost their past five and nine of their past 10 away matches.
After making their returns last weekend, the Hunters have again named familiar faces Garry Lo, David Loko and Willie Minoga in their side.
In other team news, Terry Wapi has been released to play in the Digicel Cup this weekend in a sudden-death final, while Ase Boas and Justin Yoka will miss the game due to injury.
This will be the 50th game for Hunters for forward Stanton Albert (including the National State Championship game he played on NRL grand final day against Penrith.)