Intrust Super Cup preliminary finals preview

Author: Colleen Edwards
Timestamp: Thu 19 Sep 2019, 08:29 PM

A blockbuster weekend awaits with two huge games taking place to see who will progress to the Intrust Super Cup grand final on Sunday, September 29 at Dolphin Stadium.

The action kicks off on Saturday afternoon in Townsville where the Blackhawks will host a Wynnum Manly side that held on to knock out Redcliffe last weekend.

It will be followed up on Sunday with the 3pm Channel 9 Queensland game between the Burleigh Bears at home against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

In an interesting quirk, clubs with feeder arrangements from all four QRL-aligned NRL clubs (Brisbane Broncos with Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Gold Coast Titans with Burleigh Bears, NQ Cowboys with Townsville Blackhawks and Melbourne Storm with Sunshine Coast Falcons) will feature in the action this weekend.

Below are the ‘Stats that Matter’ for each match up in Finals Week 3 – thanks to Brad Tallon.

Finals Week 3 - Finals Week 3 - Saturday 21 Sep

Full Time

Blackhawks

WM Seagulls

Venue: Jack Manski Oval, Townsville

Highlights Latest

Townsville Blackhawks v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, September 21 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: Townsville Blackhawks 6, Wynnum Manly 1
Head-to-Head finals results: first clash
Overall finals record: Townsville (played 7, won 3, lost 4); Seagulls (played 26, won 12, lost 14)
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvWYN #tsvblackhawks #lesscro #UptheGulls

This Saturday’s match up is shaping up as a beauty with two strong teams facing off in their knock out match.
The last time the two sides met in Round 22, Townsville came out on top 22-18 in a close one at Jack Manski Oval, while earlier in the season, it was the Seagulls claiming the win; proving too strong 28-12 at BMD Kougari Oval.
Overall this season, the Blackhawks have proven hard to beat at home and have won 11 of their past 12 games. They their only loss came against the Sunshine Coast in Round 10.
Their home base has also proven to be a lucky charm for the Blackhawks so far against the Seagulls, having won all four games they have played against Wynnum Manly at the venue.
The Seagulls have had solid success on the road this season and have claimed win in six of their 10 away games this year.
In team news, the Blackhawks are set to welcome back forward Jake Marketo and Cowboys centre Murray Taulagi into their 17.
Prop Corey Jensen has been named to feature in his 71^st game for the Blackhawks, passing Jon Reuben to move to third place for games for Townsville (behind Michael Parker-Walshe on 75 and Anthony Mitchell with 72).
This will also be the 100th Cup game for fellow prop Joe Boyce who previously played with the Souths Logan Magpies.
For the Seagulls, five-eighth Patrick Templeman (on 182 points) requires 11 more to set a new record for most points in a Cup season for the club. Damien Quinn with 192 is the target to beat.

Townsville's Intrust Super Cup 100 gamer Joe Boyce. Photo: QRL Media

Finals Week 3 - Finals Week 3 - Sunday 22 Sep

Full Time

Bears

Falcons

Venue: Pizzey Park, Gold Coast

Highlights Latest

Burleigh Bears v Sunshine Coast Falcons
Pizzey Park on Sunday, September 22 – 3.05pm*
Watch Live: Channel 9 Queensland
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 13, Sunshine Coast 8
Head-to-Head finals results: first clash
Overall finals record: Sunshine Coast (played 13, won 8, lost 5); Burleigh (played 24, won 13, lost 11)
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvSCF #BackYourBears #OurTeamOurTown

The last time the Burleigh Bears hosted the Sunshine Coast this season, they came close to an upset, going down 20-14 in Round 22; but when they faced off in Round 12, it was a convincing win for the Falcons at Sunshine Coast Stadium 32-16.
The Bears come into the match having had a week off, which has also allowed them to welcome back strike back Tyronne Roberts-Davis from injury.
The Falcons line-up is unchanged following last weekend’s knockout win over the Easts Tigers.
The Sunshine Coast have won the past three and five of the past seven games played against the Bears; including the past four at Pizzey Park.
The Bears however have an otherwise formidable record at home and have won nine of their 11 home games this year.
To counter that, the Sunshine Coast have won all of their 11 away games this year.
Burleigh are aiming for their 300th Cup win in their 524th cup game. In their time in the competition, they have recorded 19 draws and 205 losses.
Gun halves Todd Murphy (Falcons) with 834 points and Jamal Fogarty (Bears) on 825 points are 10th and 11th respectively for all time Cup point scorers. Liam Taylor is ninth on 843.