Round 9 preview: Dolphin Donovan set to hit 50

Keep an eye out on QRL.com.au for more information about the round in the statewide competitions and community rugby league level.

Here is your Round 9 'stats pack' with all the numbers you need to know for this weekend's games, courtesy of Brad Tallon.

Hostplus Cup Round 9

Mackay Cutters v Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Head-to-head: Wynnum Manly Seagulls 13, Mackay Cutters 11
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #WYNvCUTTERS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Mackay Cutters kick off the round with another Friday night match
• The Seagulls have won the past four games played between these two sides
• The Cutters however have won three of the past five games played between these two sides in Mackay
• The Cutters have also won their past two, and three of their past four home games, giving them good confidence going into this match
• Wynnum Manly's 56-4 win last week was their was their most points against and equal biggest margin against the Ipswich Jets
• This will be the 50th game in Wynnum Manly colours for skipper Sam Scarlett. It will be his 109th match overall, having previously played with Souths Logan Magpies

PNG Hunters v Redcliffe Dolphins

Head-to-head: Redcliffe Dolphins 7, PNG Hunters 6, drawn 1
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #PHINSvPNG
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• PNG Hunters return home this week after posting a big morale-boosting win against Townsville Blackhawks last weekend where their forwards stood up to the challenge 
• However, the Hunters have lost seven of their past eight games at at Bycroft Oval and would be desperately keen to snap the losing streak for their home supporters at Runaway Bay
• The Hunters will also host a meet and greet with fans the day after the game on Sunday, May 22, at Bill Norris Oval at Beenleigh from 11am until 2pm. May 22 update - this event has been postponed 
• The Dolphins also posted a big win last weekend against Souths Logan Magpies and will have a spring in their step for this match
• Redcliffe have won the past five games played between these two sides
• However, the Dolphins have lost their past three, and five of their past six, away games
• This is set to be the 50th Cup game for five-eighth Bryce Donovan (main image) who returned to the Dolphins this year after starting the season at Norths Devils 

Ipswich Jets v Townsville Blackhawks

Head-to-head: Townsville Blackhawks 8, Ipswich Jets 6
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #JETSvTSVB
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• The Ipswich Jets are back at home this weekend and will be looking to press the reset button after losing their past seven games
• Fans will be hoping to see a similar effort to their last home game where they were unlucky not to claim their first win, after pushing defending premiers Norths Devils all the way in their 32-30 loss in Round 5
• Their opponents this weekend the Townsville Blackhawks come into the game also with a loss, but confident of bouncing back having won the past four games between these two sides
• The Blackhawks have won the past four games played between these two sides at North Ipswich Reserve
• In recent times, the Jets have lost their past four, and eight of their past nine, home games
• Townsville however are strong on the road and have six wins and a draw in their past eight away games
• Kyle Laybutt, named on the interchange bench this week, has now played 76 games to move past Maichael Parker-Walshe to have the second most games for the Blackhawks. Only Corey Jensen on 78 has played more
• Winger Kalifa Faifai-Loa plays his 73rd game for the Blackhawks this weekend to move to fourth on the all-time tally, passing Anthony Mitchell
• This weekend, the Jets will also be raising awareness for those living with a disability and the service providers who provide support for them. There will be stalls from Alara Queensland, Aruma Disability Services, Independent Living Specialists, Leap In! Plan Management and Queensland Wheelchair Rugby League. Head to the Ipswich Jets Facebook page for more information about the day.  

Northern Pride v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Head-to-head: Northern Pride 12, Sunshine Coast 12
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #PRIDEvFALCONS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Northern Pride are back at Barlow Park this weekend and would be keen to wipe away their last-round loss to Tweed Seagulls where they were held scoreless
• They come up against an in-form Sunshine Coast Falcons side who have won their past five games, including an entertaining clash against fellow Melbourne Storm feeder club Brisbane Tigers last weekend
• In the head-to-head stakes, the honours are currently even between the Pride and Falcons. However, the Pride won the last game played between these two sides, but the Sunshine Coast won on the previous three occasions
• The Falcons also have the recent upper hand at Barlow Park, winning two of the past three games between these two sides at the venue
• The Pride have also lost four of their past five home matches
• Young Sunshine Coast half Jack Wright will miss this match after an early guilty for a crusher tackle

Souths Logan Magpies v Tweed Seagulls 

Head-to-head: Souths Logan Magpies 19, Tweed Seagulls 18
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #MAGPIESvTWEED
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

UPDATE - this game has been postponed to June 25

• Souths Logan Magpies are at their Marsden State High School 'home' this week, taking on a Tweed Seagulls side who found form in their last match
• The Magpies have posted a win and a draw in the previous two games played at the venue
• Overall however, Souths Logan have won four of their past five home games against Tweed
• The head-to-head standings are tight, and while the Magpies won the last game, the Seagulls had won on the previous three occasions when the two teams had met
• In recent times, the Seagulls have lost three of their past four away games
• Magpies forward AJ Tuimavave played his 50th Cup game for the club last weekend against Redcliffe Dolphins
• Tweed skipper Lindon McGrady requires three points to become the 34th player to bring up 500 points in the Cup (all for Tweed)

Central Queensland Capras v Burleigh Bears 

Head-to-head: Burleigh Bears 37, Central Queensland 10
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #CAPRASvBEARS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• The top-of-the-table Burleigh Bears take on the fourth-placed Central Queensland Capras on Saturday night with both sides setting the early pace in the competition
• The Bears have won their past four games are are in formidable form. Their 28-8 win last week was their biggest ever margin over Mackay Cutters
• They have also won past six games between these two sides
• However, the Capras have won four of the past six, and six of the past nine games between these two sides at Browne Park
• The Capras have won their past three home games, while Burleigh have won their past three away games making this an even more intriguing contest
• In a blow for the Bears, in-form forward Tristan Powell will sit out this game after taking an early guilty plea for a dangerous contact charge
• This is the eighth Cup game at Emerald, with Central having played in all previous seven, winning two and losing five
• Burleigh won the only previous game they played in Emerald 42-26 on May 19, 2001

Norths Devils v Brisbane Tigers

Head-to-head: Norths Devils 24, Tigers 24, drawn 3
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #DEVILSvTIGES
Broadcast: Qplus.tv, 9Now, Kayo Freebies and Hostplus Cup Facebook

• These two top five teams are set to put on an entertaining show, with plenty of NRL experience sprinkled throughout both line ups
• While home ground advantage is usually a coveted asset, the last time a home team won a game between these two sides was in 2012 when Norths took the victory
• The past 14 games have been won by the away team, with the exception of a draw at Langlands Park in 2016
• The Tigers have won the past seven games between these two sides at Bishop Park
• However, the Norths have won their past two, and eight of their past nine games at Bishop Park, while the Tigers have lost their past two away games
• The Devils require seven points to bring up 15000 points in Cup and are aiming to become second to achieve this behind Redcliffe
• The Tigers are trying to avoid their 250th Cup loss in their 580th game. They have 311 wins and 19 draws
• Jack Ahearn kicked his eighth Cup field goal last week in the win over the Capras to move to equal second for all time with Matt Minto and Brad Davis. Shane Perry has the most with 17

QRL Match Review charges results - Round 8 Hostplus Cup

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