Round 12 preview: Junior's major milestone

Head-to-head: Burleigh Bears 26, Tigers 22, drawn 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvTIGES

• The Burleigh Bears will host Brisbane Tigers in a rare Friday night game in the Intrust Super Cup and will be keen to turn around the result from the last time the teams met when the Tigers clicked into gear at home and stunned the visiting Bears 50-10.
• Since that game however, the fortunes of the two teams has diverged, with the Bears winning their past three games, while the Tigers have lost their past seven games to be in the midst of their worst ever Cup losing run.
• In the Tigers favour this weekend however is the fact they have won five of the past seven games between the two sides at Pizzey Park.
• Always strong at home, Burleigh have won their past eight home games and will aiming to inflict the fourth straight away loss on the Tigers.
• Sami Sauiluma has been named in the centres for the Bears in what is set to be his 98th Cup game and his 100^th game for the club, a tally which also includes his two NRL State Championship appearances.
• Match official Dan Munroe was in the middle for his 50th Cup game last weekend in the Activate! Queensland Country Week match in Atherton.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Northern Pride

Head-to-head: Wynnum Manly Seagulls 12, Northern  Pride 12
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #WYNvPRIDE
Broadcast: Kayo Saturdays via Kayo Freebies

• Wynnum Manly Seagulls lost back-to-back games for the first time this season and will keen avenge that against the visiting Northern Pride.
• This weekend, the Seagulls are taking their game to Pinklands. There has been one previous Cup game at Pinklands with Wynnum defeating Sunshine Coast 23-10 in 2015.
• While the Pride have lost their past three games in a row, they have only lost one of their past six away games, with two drawn results.
• Last weekend, the Pride played their game in Atherton for Activate! Queensland against PNG Hunters, but the local crowd could not help push them to a win.
• Atherton Roosters junior Rod Griffin missed last weekend’s game, but has been named to return for this match against the Seagulls.
• The last time the two sides met in Round 3 this year, the Seagulls posted a 36-6 win at Barlow Park.
• Wynnum Manly have won the past two and three of the past four games played between these two sides.

PNG Hunters v Mackay Cutters

Head-to-Head: PNG Hunters 6, Mackay Cutters 2, drawn 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PNGvMC

• Powerful PNG Hunters winger Junior Rau (main image) has been named to play his 50^th Cup game this weekend, fresh off the back of scoring in his side’s drought-breaking victory over Northern Pride last weekend.
• The last time the Hunters and Mackay met, it was the Hunters who came out on top at BB Print Stadium, posting a 26-14 win.
• Mackay have found the going tough against the Hunters in the past and have only won one of the past eight games played between these two sides. There have also been two drawn games.
• While the Hunters posted an away win last weekend, they have lost their past two game at their 2021 home of Bycroft Oval where they will host the Cutters this weekend.
• However, Mackay have won only one of their past eight away games and will be working hard to change up that pattern.
• In team news, PNG Hunters skipper and lock Alu suffered a head knock last weekend and has not been named to play this weekend. Five-eighth Ase Boas will captain the Hunters in his absence. Jordan Pat, who was a late addition to the squad at their Runaway Bay camp a month ago, will make his first appearance for the season after playing well in the Gold Coast A-grade competition.
• The Cutters have included two new faces in the side with former Canberra Raiders Kai O’Donnell and Adam Cook who returned to Queensland in recent times being named to play their first games for their new club.

Central Queensland Capras v Redcliffe Dolphins

Head-to-head: Redcliffe Dolphins 37, Central Queensland Capras 7, drawn 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #CQCvPHINS

• Capras fans will be forgiven for still celebrating their side’s hard-fought and drought-breaking win last weekend, their first of the season after coming oh-so-close on so many occasions this year.
• One of those occasions was in Round 2 when they travelled to Moreton Daily Stadium to take of this week’s opponents the Dolphins, going down 24-22 after Hayze Perham kicked a late penalty goal for Redcliffe.
• Overall, Redcliffe have won the last 11 games between these two sides, while the Capras have won one of the past 20 games played between these two sides, with games drawn.
• this weekend’s game is set down for Rugby Park in Rockhampton, however, Redcliffe have won six and drawn one of the past seven games played between these two sides at Central Queensland’s traditional home ground of Browne Park.

Ipswich Jets v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Head-to-head: Ipswich Jets 13, Sunshine Coast 7, drawn 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #JETSvSCF

• The Ipswich Jets come into this game following yet another close loss – this time they were leading the match right up until mid-way through the second half before the Dolphins ended up claiming a 26-22 come-from behind-win in Quilpie.
• The Falcons too are coming off a loss, with Tweed seagulls proving too strong 40-18 in Murgon.
• The last time these two sides met, it was an entertaining 36-20 win to the Falcons, despite the home side rushing out to an early lead, scoring six tries before the Jets scored three in quick succession at the back end of the game to make it a contest.
• Tyson Smoothy featured strongly for the Sunshine Coast in that match and he has been named to return to the side this weekend after spending time with Melbourne Storm.
• While the Jets have had the better of the contests overall, the Sunshine Coast have two wins and a draw in the past three games played between these two sides and they have also won two of the past three games played against the Jets at North Ipswich Reserve. The last time the Falcons came to Ipswich was in 2019 when Harry Grant and Nicho Hynes both scored tries, with both players going on to feature in this year’s State of Origin series.
• The Jets have lost five of their past six games at home at North Ipswich Reserve.

Townsville Blackhawks v Norths Devils

Head-to-head: Townsville Blackhawks 6, Norths Devils 3
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvDEVILS

• In their last encounter, the Norths Devils came out on top in a close game, claiming a 30-22 win at Bishop Park.
• In fantastic form this year, the Devils have won their past seven games and have established a four-point buffer at the top of the Intrust Super Cup ladder. They have also won their past six away games; seven wins is their best ever away run and was achieved in 2013-2014.
• Townsville are also in fine touch and have won their past five games.
• When it comes to head-to-head results, the Blackhawks are in front, but Norths have won the past three games between these two sides after Townsville won the first six.
• However, Townsville have won all four games between these two sides played at Jack Manski Oval.
• Unfortunately for the Devils, they will be without strong centre Tony Tumusa who suffered a leg injury in his side’s win over the Cutters last weekend.

Souths Logan Magpies v Tweed Seagulls

Head-to-head: Souths Logan Magpies 18, Tweed Seagulls 18
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #SLMvTWE
Broadcast: Intrust Super Sundays via Kayo Freebies, 9Now, QRL.com.au, Intrust Super Cup app and Intrust Super Cup Facebook

• This weekend, Souths Logan Magpies will be aiming to get back on track following two losses on the trot when they take on the high flying Tweed Seagulls who are aiming for their 200th Cup win in their 402nd game. The club have 14 draws and 189 losses.
• The Magpies have produced some up-and-down form this season and while they are second in attack, they are sitting ninth in defence this season.
• However, the Seagulls will be without in-form half Will Brimson for this weekend’s match after he was suspended after taking an early guilty plea for a crusher tackle made in last week’s win against Sunshine Coast Falcons. Second rower Joshua Patston was also suspended for a crusher tackle.
• The Magpies too have been hit by the judiciary, with second rower Jacob Alick to miss this game, also for a crusher tackle charge.
• The last time these two sides met, Tweed posted a strong 40-26 win in Tugun after the Magpies originally led 14-12 at halftime.
• While the head-to-head for these two teams are even at 18 each, Tweed have won three of the past four games between these two sides.
• However, Souths Logan have won four of the past five games played between these two sides at Davies Park.

* Statistics by Brad Tallon