Round 16 preview: Half-century and community celebrations

Head-to-head: Townsville Blackhawks 6, Redcliffe Dolphins 5
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #TSVBvPHINS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• Two teams in solid form in the Townsville Blackhawks and Redcliffe Dolphins head to Ayr for 'Activate! Queensland' Country Week this weekend in a game that is sure to feature plenty of attacking flair
• This will be the third Cup game to be played in Ayr. In 2003, the North Queensland Young Guns defeated Wests 42-6, with Townsville coach Aaron Payne scoring a try in this game. The other game was in 2006, again featuring a Young Guns victory. The side beat Townsville 42-36
• Heading into this game, Redcliffe have become one of the teams to beat in the competition and have won seven and drawn one of their past eight games
• This will also be Redcliffe's 600th Cup game. They will become the first team to reach this milestone, and in their time, they have secured 380 wins, 16 draws and 203 losses
• Fresh from moving into the all-time top 10 for points scored, Blackhawks halfback Shaun Nona, currently on 292 points, requires eight more points to bring up 300 for the Blackhawks and 19 more to pass Carlin Anderson (310) to become their highest ever scorer

Brisbane Tigers v PNG Hunters

Head-to-head: Tigers 6, PNG Hunters 3, drawn 2
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #TIGESvPNG
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• This is the first time Hostplus Cup action will hit Cunnamulla
• The Tigers had into this game in good form and have won their past two matches - last week stealing a late win from the desperate Magpies
• This weekend, Tigers coach Jon Buchanan is aiming to claim his 100th win in his 199th game
• There are more milestones to celebrate for the Tigers, with winger BJ Aufaga Toomaga (formerly with Central Queensland and Sunshine Coast Falcons) set to feature in his 50th Cup game
• It is also set to be the 50th Cup game for PNG Hunters back Brandon Nima  (pictured below) who has played all his matches with the club
• The side need his experience this week, with co-captain Keven Appo, Junior Rop and Rodrick Tai all charged and set to be suspended for this match
• The Queensland match officials are also getting into the spirit of the round and will be assisting local league referees at junior fixtures taking place during the "Activate! Queensland' Country Week Round

Tweed Seagulls v Ipswich Jets

Head-to-head: Tweed Seagulls 24, Ipswich Jets 14
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #TWEEDvJETS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• Springsure will host their first ever game of Hostplus Cup this weekend when Tweed Seagulls and Ipswich Jets head to town
• On the field, both teams come into the match in opposite form, the Seagulls the have lost their past two games, with Ipswich have won three of their past four matches
• In team news, Jets skipper Nat Neale has been named to make his return to the front row, while Tweed are again set to have the services of Titans back Brian Kelly who claimed the side's players' player honours last weekend
• The Jets will wear special jerseys for this match, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Ipswich Box Flat mine disaster. Springsure and the surrounding towns are mining communities, prompting the Jets to play in their high-vis design

Central Queensland Capras v Sunshine Coast Falcons 

Head-to-head: Sunshine Coast 14, Central Queensland Capras 10, drawn 1
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #CAPRASvFALCONS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• What a clash awaits the crowd at Monto this weekend for the first Cup game in the town, with two ladder-leading teams in Sunshine Coast Falcons and Central Queensland Capras facing off
• The Capras have won their past two games and their 62-24 win last week was their biggest win and most points scored against the Hunters
• This will also be their 550th Cup game. In their time in the Cup, the Capras have 154 wins, 19 draws and 376 losses
• Their opponents the Falcons also come into this match in winning form, securing a hard-fought victory against Tweed Seagulls last weekend
• The Queensland match officials will assist local league referees at junior fixtures during "Activate! Queensland' Country Week Round and there will also be a community coaching workshop happening on the day of the game

Northern Pride v Souths Logan Magpies

Head-to-head: Northern Pride 17, Souths Logan Magpies 10
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #PRIDEvMAGPIES
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Northern Pride head back to Thursday Island this weekend, having played in the only other previous Cup game to be played at Ken Brown Oval. The side will be keen to reverse the result from their last visit where they went down to Ipswich Jets 22-12
• This weekend, the Pride will head into the match with plenty of confidence, having secured an upset win against Wynnum Manly Seagulls last weekend
• While their opposition Souths Logan Magpies have lost their past nine games, there will be plenty of fire in the bellies of the players who had a win taken from their grasp late last weekend when the Tigers were able to get-out-of-jail late, thanks to a Top five play from Tony Pellow and Jayden Nikorima
•  In team news, Shawn Bowen is out for the Pride after being charged in last weekend's match for a crusher tackle
• On game day, Ken Brown Oval will host some junior Under 10 and Under 12 round robin games and a women's match in the lead-up to the Cup game

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Mackay Cutters

Head-to-head: Wynnum Manly 14, Mackay Cutters 11
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #WYNvCUTTERS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Mackay Cutters head to Sarina for their 'Activate! Queensland' Country Week game gunning for a victory after both sides suffered upset losses last weekend, with the Seagulls going down to Pride and the Cutters losing to the Jets
• In fact, both teams have lost their past two games after setting the pace at the start of the season
• This will be the second Cup game to be played in Sarina. The last match there was in 2004 where the North Queensland Young Guns defeated Tweed Seagulls in a close match 18-16
• There have been some minor changes named for both side in their 'Team List Tuesday' submissions, with young half Max Plath named to return to the Seagulls side along with forward Epel Kapinias
• Ray Edwards Oval will host a 'Sarina Super Saturday of rugby league' with fans being treated to a huge day of games

Norths Devils v Burleigh Bears

Head-to-head: Burleigh Bears 27, Norths Devils 23
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #DEVILSvBEARS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv, 9Now, Kayo Freebies and Hostplus Cup Facebook 

• The only Sunday match of the round features to heavyweights of the competition with the ladder-leading Burleigh taking on defending premiers Norths
• This will be the third Cup game to be played in Roma. Back in 1999, Toowoomba were too good for Redcliffe, winning 32-12. In that game, five former Maroons featured, with Dane Carlaw, Ash Harrison, Brad Meyers, Carl Webb and Adam Mogg taking to the field
• In the other match in 2013, Central Queensland Capras defeated Redcliffe Dolphins 24-18 and the match again saw Maroons players involved with both Cam Munster and Petero Civoniceva playing in this game
• Burleigh are undeniably the team to beat in the competition at the moment and have won their past two games, while Norths will be aiming to bounce back this weekend following a heavy loss last weekend 
• QRL match officials will provide updates to local referees as part of the 'Activate! Queensland' Country Week game day engagements

QRL Match Review charges results Round 15

You can watch all Hostplus Cup games via QPlus.tv.