Round 9 preview: Party time at North Ipswich

PNG Hunters v Townsville Blackhawks
Head-to-head: PNG Hunters 6 | Townsville Blackhawks 4
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PNGvTSVB
Broadcast: Kayo Saturdays via Kayo Freebies

• After an impressive start to the season, the Hunters have lost their past four games - mostly recent going down 24-12 to Redcliffe last Saturday, despite a much improved second half. 
• Townsville have won the past two games played against the Hunters - their last meeting a dominant 48-18 performance at home.
• The Hunters have won two of four games at their temporary home ground at Runaway Bay and will be hoping to capitalise on Townsville's worst ever away run which has seen them lost their past three games away from Jack Manski Oval.
• Townsville flyer Carlin Anderson requires two more points to bring up 300 for the Blackhawks, while halfback Shaun Nona requires 14 points to bring up 750 in Cup.
• This game is set to be Joe Boyce's 50th game for Townsville, with the prop lining up for game number 107 after starting his Intrust Super Cup career at Souths Logan Magpies. 
• Hunters coach Matt Church has made only one forced change to his team that played last round. Experienced PNG Kumul Stanton Albert will start in place of Epel Kapinias who has succumbed to an ankle syndesmosis injury.

Tweed Seagulls v Norths Devils
Head-to-head: Norths Devils 15 | Tweed Seagulls 14 | drawn 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #TWEEDvDEVILS

• Tweed have five wins and a draw from their past six games; their most recent a 54-12 win against the Tigers which was their biggest win and most points ever against the Tigers.
• Norths have won their past two games; enjoying a week off after toppling the fourth-placed Sunshine Coast Falcons at Bishop Park.
• Norths have won their past five, and seven of their past eight away games.
• The Devils are trying to avoid their 250th Intrust Super Cup loss in their 546th game - they have 278 wins and 18 draws.
• Lindon McGrady's 22 points for Tweed last week was the most ever Intrust Super Cup points in a single game for the Seagulls, passing 20 scored by Nat Barnes (in 2005) and Brad Davis (in 2008).
• Jayden Campbell, son of Preston, is one of three Seagulls named to play against Melbourne Storm, with edge forward Joe Vuna set to make his Titans debut while prop Jai Whitbread has been rewarded for his consistent form.
• The Seagulls have also been bolstered by the announcement of a $1.4 million three-year extension of funding by Norths Collective, parent company of The Seagulls Club. More information can be found at the Tweed Seagulls website. 

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Mackay Cutters
Head-to-head: Wynnum Manly Seagulls 12 | Mackay Cutters 11
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #WYNvCUTTERS

• Wynnum Manly remain the only undefeated team in the competition following the conclusion of Round 8's BHP Indigenous Round matches. 
• Mackay have lost their past four games, most recently, agonisingly going down by a nail-biting two points against Northern Pride.
• The Seagulls have won the past three games between the two sides, but the head-to-head over the journey has been extremely close.
• Wynnum Manly have won their past 10, and 15 of their past 16 home games at BMD Kougari Oval - their last loss was to the Burleigh Bears in Week 1 of 2019's finals series.
• Mackay have lost their past two and five of their past six away games.
• Hat-trick hero Ben Farr has been named to feature again for the Seagulls following Sewlyn Cobbo's Brisbane Broncos debut, as is his brother Tom Farr who will line-up on the wing.
• Cutters hooker Sean Mullany has been a shining light in an otherwise tough season for the tropical north club - featuring in the Petero Civoniceva Medal top 10 after eight rounds.

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Redcliffe Dolphins
Head-to-head: Redcliffe Dolphins 15 | Sunshine Coast 9
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvSCF

• Both teams will play for the James Ackerman Cup - honouring the late prop who tragically passed away in 2015.
• The Falcons are the current holders of the silverware after a 30-6 win over Redcliffe in Round 2, 2019; a Ryan Papenhuyzen double paving the way to victory.
• Redcliffe have won their past three games; whereas Sunshine Coast have lost their past three games.
• Redcliffe have won the past two, and four of the past five games between these two sides; as well as the past two games played at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
• Halfback Todd Murphy requires only five more points to bring up 400 for the Falcons.
• A horror run with injury has hampered former NRL star Jarrod Mullen's return season to competitive rugby league, but in good news for the half, he is set to line up as five-eighth, the first time he has been named in the starting 13 since his arrival to the Coast.

Burleigh Bears v Central Queensland Capras 
Head-to-head: Burleigh Bears 36 | Central Queensland 10
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvCQC

• Burleigh have won their past four games; last week coming from behind to defeat Townsville Blackhawks 22-18 at Pizzey Park.
• Central Queensland have lost their past six games and have 29 losses and two draws in their past 31 games - their last win against Souths Logan Magpies in Round 1, 2019.
• This match will be Rick Stone's 219th as coach (all with Burleigh), equalling the Intrust Super Cup record held by former Ipswich Jets duo Ben Walker and Shane Walker. He also passes Jimmy Lenihan's 218 Cup games coached for Burleigh, though he remains one behind his predecessor with Lenihan coaching in two NRL State Championship finals.
• Stone also brought up his 150th win last weekend, the first coach to do so in the competition.
• Luke Page passes Robert Apanui (135) to move to fifth in all Cup games played for Burleigh.
• Kurtis Rowe (62) has passed Nick Shaw (61) to become the Bears' fourth top Cup try scorer.
• Jack Gibbons is set to make his Intrust Super Cup debut for the Capras - the 24-year-old previously playing Ron Massey Cup in New South Wales before making the move to the beef capital.

Ipswich Jets v Souths Logan Magpies
Head-to-head: Ipswich Jets 26 | Souths Logan Magpies 19 | Drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #JETSvSLM

• Ipswich have lost their past three games, including their last home game against Tweed 32-26.
• The Jets' only win under new coach Keiron Lander was in Round 5 against the Capras - played at North Ipswich Reserve.
• Souths Logan have won their past two games - both by more than 12 points.
• Brisbane Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford has been named to start in the halves alongside 18-year-old livewire Ezra Mam, who is fresh from scoring three tries on debut in a Hastings Deering player of the match performance in Round 8.
• Rhys Jacks has returned to the Jets from a stint at Easts Rugby after last playing for Ipswich in 2010 when he played seven games for them. This week will be his 86th Intrust Super Cup game, having also played for the Magpies, Tigers and Falcons.
• The Jets will be hosting a tailgate party at North Ipswich Reserve with fans being given the opportunity to park up and enjoy the game in an exclusive area. More information can be found at the Ipswich Jets website. 

Northern Pride v Brisbane Tigers
Head-to-head: Northern Pride 15 | Tigers 13
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvTIGES
Broadcast: Intrust Super Sundays via Kayo Freebies, 9Now, QRL.com.au, Intrust Super Cup app and Intrust Super Cup Facebook

• The Pride have two wins and a draw in their last three games, with Grant Anderson scoring the match winner in their last round clash against Mackay.
• The Tigers have lost their last two games; 14-12 against the Dolphins and 54-12 against Tweed.
• The North Queensland side won the last clash between these two sides in 2019, though the Tigers won the previous seven.
• Tigers forward Mitch Frei only requires one try to bring up 50 in the Intrust Super Cup.
• Tigers five-eighth Brayden Torpy will line up against his former club - the 26-year-old previously playing for the Pride in 2016 and 2019, as will Tigers forward Jack Svendsen, who played there for three seasons. 

*Statistics by Brad Tallon

Main image: Jayden Conners, Kierran Moseley and Todd White from Ipswich Jets are excited for the tailgate party at North Ipswich Reserve. Photo: Ipswich Jets