Round 5 preview: Anzac Round a special occasion

Head-to-head: Ipswich Jets 30, Central Queensland 13, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #JETSvCQC
Broadcast: Kayo Saturdays via Kayo Freebies

• The Jets come into this game following a 35-14 loss against the Brisbane Tigers while the Capras went down 20-28 in another lost loss, this time against Mackay Cutters.
• Both sides are yet to register a win for the 2021 season, with Ipswich having had five losses and a draw in their past six games, while the Capras have had 25 losses and two draws in their past 27 games.
• In this matchup, Ipswich have the wood over the Capras in recent times, winning the past two games, as well as five of the last six.
• Home ground advantage hasn’t guaranteed an extra boost for Ipswich in recent times, having lost nine out of the 10 games played at North Ipswich – but Central Queensland’s away record isn’t much better, losing 11 of their last away games.
• However, Ipswich have won the past six games against the Capras at North Ipswich Reserve.

Northern Pride v Norths Devils
Head-to-head: Northern Pride 17, Norths Devils 6, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvDEVILS

• Pride secured a 30-26 win against Townsville Blackhawks in a classic XXXX Rivalry Round match last weekend, while the Devils remain undefeated with a 22-39 win over rivals Souths Logan Magpies last weekend.
• The Devils have won their past five games and have the edge over Pride in recent times as well, winning three out of their past four encounters.
• Barlow Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Pride, losing three out of the past four games there. The Devils however have strong away form and have won five out of their past six away games, so Pride need to be at the top of their game.
• After scoring a try last weekend, Pride winger Javid Bowen moved ahead of Davin Crampton into second place for all-time Cup tries scored for the Pride with 49 tries, including a hat-trick in the 2014 NRL State Championship Final.
• With Danny Levi signing with the Brisbane Broncos this week and slotting straight into this week’s team, Michael Sio has moved into the starting hooker role.

Mackay Cutters v Souths Logan Magpies
Head-to-head: Souths Logan 18, Mackay Cutters 4, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #SLMvMC

• Last weekend, Cutters pulled off a 28-20 victory against the Capras, while the Magpies went down 22-39 to Norths at a packed Davies Park.
• The Cutters have only won one of the past 13 games against the Magpies, including one draw.
• The Magpies have lost their past three games, as well as two of their last three away games
• Mackay have also lost their last eight home games including winning only one out of the last six games against the Magpies in Mackay.
• In team news, Anthony Milford has again been named to partner Albert Kelly in the halves for the Magpies, with Creedence Toia returning to the side in place of Tesi Niu.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Tweed Seagulls
Head-to-head: Redcliffe 25 Tweed 9
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvTWE

• Tweed secured a gritty 16-12 win over the Burleigh Bears in Round 4 in a rare victory over their derby rivals, while Redcliffe went down 28-34 against Wynnum Manly Seagulls in a classic match.
• Redcliffe have certainly got the wood over Tweed when playing at home, winning the past four games between the two sides at Redcliffe, as well as five out the last six.
• Redcliffe’s good track record at home goes beyond clashes with Tweed, winning their past eight, including nine out of their 10.
• Tweed do play well away from home though, winning two of the past three away games.
• There are a number of changes to both teams this week, mostly influenced by their NRL feeder clubs. For the Dolphins, Hayze Perham has left the New Zealand Warriors, while Reece Walsh and Tom Ale have been named in their extended squad. Jarrett Subloo has been named in the halves to make his first Dolphins appearance.
• For Tweed, lock Sam McIntyre has been elevated into the Gold Coast Titans team for this weekend, with Braden Robson named in the 13.

Burleigh Bears v PNG Hunters
Head-to-head: PNG Hunters 7, Burleigh Bears 5
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PNGvBEARS
Broadcast: Intrust Super Sundays via Kayo Freebies, 9Now, QRL.com.au, Intrust Super Cup app and Intrust Super Cup Facebook.

• This weekend, the two clubs will play for the Kokoda Cup, which they have contested since 2014. So far, the Bears have won this match played on the ANZAC weekend four times and the Hunters have won it twice.
• Both sides have one player each featuring this weekend that played in the inaugural Kokoda Cup; Bears skipper Luke Page and experienced Hunters rake Wartovo Puara.
• In this match, Puara is set to pass Adex Wera and play in the most games for the Hunters, a total that includes 115 Cup games, plus the NRL State Championship Final in 2017.
• However, he will have to overcome an ankle injury to ensure he is fit to take part in this important match against the Bears.
• This will be PNG's 150th Cup game, they have won 87, drawn 5, and lost 57.
• In great form to start the season, the Hunters have won their past three games – and have also have won their past three away games. Their most consecutive wins away is four, which was achieved in both in 2015 and 2017.
• The Bears will be looking to maintain their recent dominance over the Hunters which has seen the Bears claim the past two, and three of the past four wins against them. They have also won the past two and three of the past four games between these two sides at Pizzey Park.
• Skilful Bears fullback Kurtis Rowe has passed Aaron Douglas to become Burleigh's fifth-highest Cup try scorer with 60.
• This will be the 100th game for Burleigh for backrow star Hayden Schwass, with his total including the club’s two NRL State Championship finals.

Townsville Blackhawks v Sunshine Coast Falcons
Head-to-head: Townsville Blackhawks 7, Sunshine Coast 4
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvSCF

• Both Townsville and Sunshine Coast went down in Round 4, but in contrasting style with Blackhawks losing 26-30 at the death against the Pride, while the Falcons were on the back foot for much of the game in their 32-12 loss against the Hunters.
• Sunshine Coast have won two of the past three games between the two sides, while Townsville have won two of the past three games against the Falcons at Jack Manski Oval.
• The Blackhawks’ recent home-ground performances provides hope for the Falcons, with them losing two of the past three home games.
• This weekend’s game will be the 50^th Cup game for Blackhawks prop Jordan Kenworthy, who previously played with Mackay.
• Blackhawks centre Carlin Anderson, who kicked a goal for his side last weekend, needs four more points to bring up 750 in Cup.

Brisbane Tigers v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Head-to-head: Tigers 24, Wynnum Manly Seagulls 24, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvWYN

• This weekend marks the 50^th Cup game between the two sides, with the Tigers and Wynnum Manly sitting on 24 wins each, as well as one draw.
• The Tigers are coming off a 36-14 victory over the winless Jets, while Wynnum Manly won their battle of the bayside clash against Redcliffe 34-28, marking their fourth win in a row this season.
• Wynnum Manly have shaping up nicely for this weekend, winning three out of their last four away games, as well as three out of last four games against the Tigers.
• The Tigers have won two out of the last three games between the two sides at their Langlands Park base and have turned around the home-ground performances, winning two of their last three games, after losing the previous four.
• Wynnum Manly winger Edward Burns brought up his 50^th Cup game last week in the win over Redcliffe.

*Statistics by Brad Tallon