Hostplus Cup Round 10 preview

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v PNG Hunters

Head-to-head: PNG 8, Wynnum Manly 5

Last meeting: PNG 36 def Wynnum 22 in Round 14, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Wynnum Manly have lost their last two games
• PNG have won three of the last four meetings between these two sides at BMD Kougari Oval. However, they currently have three losses and a draw from their last four away games

A word from the coaches

Wynnum Manly Seagulls coach Mat Head: Having the bye was really good for us. Byes can come at good times or bad times, but it was a good time for us. We got to work on the basics over the last six training sessions... went back to the basics and focused on what we do, so it's been a good week and a half leading into this weekend. The Hunters are coming off a result they wouldn't have been after and we're fully aware of that. We're expecting them to come out guns blazing so we've got to be up for that. Their fullback Morea Morea is dangerous and we're aware of that. We've got to be ready for him. They're going to come to our home ground, wanting a win. We just need to match their first 15. Because we're coming off a couple of losses and a bye, we've worked on things individually and what we bring as a team. We really need a team performance this weekend to give us the best opportunity to win.

PNG Hunters coach Stanley Tepend: The loss to the Blackhawks was a real wake up call for our team. Losing by a huge margin reflected our mental preparation. We just have to have a care factor in games and preparation leading into matches. We know we are way better side, it's just playing the way we can is becoming an issue which we must fix before too late. The whole club felt the pain losing in that way. We have to put that loss behind us and move on for our next challenge. It's important to refocus and perform well this game. We trained well this week and we get another opportunity. They obviously are very good side. Having NRL experience in there team will boost them... we expect another tough game... we want to do well in this game after last week.  

Burleigh Bears v Western Clydesdales

Head-to-head: Burleigh 12, Clydesdales 8

Last meeting: Toowoomba Clydesdales 26 def Burleigh 4 in Round 17, 2006

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• This match will be the Clydesdales' 250th Cup match. They have 146 wins, 6 draws and 97 losses
• Burleigh have won their last four games and now sit on top of the Hostplus Cup ladder while the Clydesdales have lost their last two games
• Burleigh's 42-6 win over Mackay last week was their biggest margin ever over the Cutters

A word from the coaches

Burleigh Bears coach Luke Burt: We're very happy with our position as we approach the halfway mark of the season. But the best thing is, there's still improvement in us. There's areas we're still working on. We haven't hit our straps but we're in a really good position. We're still working on our compounding errors and penalties. We're putting pressure on our defensive systems by giving away back-to-back sets which we need to cut out of our game. It will hurt us sooner or later. From what I've seen of the Western Clydesdales, they compete very hard and move the ball around and like to offload the football. We're expecting a tough task. They're coming off a tight loss to the Pride, which would have brought them a lot of confidence. 

Western Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin: After last week's loss, it's fair to say we've just got a lot to learn in ourselves and the only way to learn is by doing things that are not right. The Pride deserved to win but for us to become better and to know where we're at, we have to learn. The only way to learn is to do the wrong things and we did a few of those on the weekend. They showed us how we should play. We'll just move on again and we'll go again. I'm expecting that we know what we're going to get this week against Burleigh. They're the competition leaders and have been up there for years. Everyone knows Burleigh. They're a big, mobile side, their bench is good and they're well-coached. We'll turn up and won't take anything for granted. We'll turn up to play. They're a good side and a good club. We'll improve on the little things that we should have done against the Pride and make it a contest against Burleigh.

Central Queensland Capras v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Head-to-head: Sunshine Coast 14, Central Queensland 11, drawn 1

Last meeting: Central Queensland 16 def Sunshine Coast 10 in Round 16, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• After going seven rounds undefeated, Central Queensland have lost their last two games
• Central Queensland's loss to Redcliffe last week was their first in six games at Browne Park
• Capras hooker Trey Browne needs one goal to bring up 100 in Cup

A word from the coaches

Central Queensland Capras assistant coach Dave Faiumu: Getting off to a better start is key for us this weekend. We got off to a really bad start against Redcliffe and our mindset to start the game wasn't where it needed to be. We've reviewed that and rectified a few things. It's a mentality thing. When we did get it right, we did some good things. Just can't give a side like a head start. It was a good game in patches, especially in the second half... we went toe-to-toe and got points on the board. Hopefully the boys can rectify that against the Sunshine Coast. Start fast and hard and let the Falcons know they're in a contest. We need to be a bit more dominant in the middle and let our halves weave their work and do what they do. It will be very much contested in the middle this week. They have a strong forward pack and we need to match that. Guys like Bailey Butler, Val Richard, Zev John, Sam Yegip, Nixon Putt... really take it to them. Lachlan Hubner has been really consistent in his role. Wherever he plays, he's been very consistent for us, which is what we need from Lachy. He had a good pre-season with the Dolphins NRL side and brought that back to the Capras. Hopefully we can put on a solid performance for our fans at home and come up good result this weekend. 

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: Last week's bye was timely for a couple of injuries... we're a little bit busted but hopefully we can get a few players back in the coming weeks. Our captain Patrice Siolo has done his MCL and ACL and can't have surgery on the ACL for another six weeks. It's unfortunate for him but he's got his head around it now. Elsewhere, we are hoping to have Louis Geraghty back from a hamstring issue but we will be missing Jack Gibbons with a fractured thumb and it looks like Kane Jackson as well, with bursitis of the knee. Outside of our injuries, we've got a block of nine games in front of us now, which will be testing. The most we've done so far this year is four in a row but it will be nice to get stuck into some footy. The block starts with the Capras, who have been really powerful this year. They've kept things really simple and get up the field quite easily. Bailey Butler has been enormous for them and they get JJ Collins back from the Dolphins. Lachlan Hubner has been enormous for them as well. They've got a really powerful pack and then you add the edges, with Nixon Putt who has been a standout for them for how many years now. They're a really well-coached team and get to their sets, get to their kicks and build pressure. If we don't do the same, we wont have enough football to beat them. We have to be really good to take care of those areas.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Mackay Cutters

Head-to-head: Redcliffe 14, Mackay 9, drawn 2

Last meeting: Redcliffe 34 def Mackay 32 in Round 11, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• This is the first Cup game at Suncorp Stadium since the 2021 preliminary finals. Redcliffe's last game at Suncorp was the 2018 Cup grand final, which they won 36-22 over the Tigers. This is the Cutters' first game at Suncorp Stadium
• Redcliffe have won their last three games while Mackay have lost their last 11 games, which is now their worst ever losing run
• Redcliffe winger Brayden McGrady brought up his 50th Cup try last weekend in his 54th game

A word from the coaches

Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te'o: We had a really good attitude last week against the Capras. We travelled well and we prepared for all aspects that were going to be challenging and we executed it. It just shows us that we're a good footy side but attitude is about respect too. There's tough teams in this competition and anyone can beat anyone. So that respect, it leads into this week. We respect the Cutters. They've had a tough run but they will present a challenge for us. They're going to come down and put in a performance and look to kickstart their season. We'll be prepared for what's coming. 

Mackay Cutters coach Michael Comerford: The first half an hour against Burleigh was pretty good footy from both teams, to start the game. It was 6-6 for a majority of the first half. We were looking pretty comfortable and composed and then either side of half-time - they got two tries just before and one after to take it to 22-6 in a short amount of time. From that, it was hard going. There was a disallowed try and a couple of penalties that put us in a tough spot. We took a fair bit of confidence out of the first 30 minuets but very disappointed with how it finished. Defensively we need to have a bit more resilience off back of our own errors or good play from our opposition. Last week, this let us down. We're really good when things are going our way. One thing went wrong and we didn't react well, which took away any chance of winning the game. We take confidence from putting ourselves in the position to be competitive, but we need to keep doing that week to week and have more resilience when things do go against us. We've got a young forward pack so we need some of the leaders, the guys who have been around for a while, to step up. Hiale Roycroft is a real presence for us... we need him to lead by example. Him and Sean Mullany in the middle set the tone for the rest of the pack. We'll be leaning on those two to lead the way, particularly physically.

Northern Pride v Souths Logan Magpies

Head-to-head: Pride 18, Souths Logan 10

Last meeting: Pride 16 def Souths Logan 10 in Round 16, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Prior to this year these two teams have played in Tully in 2015 and 2022 with one win each
• Souths Logan have won their last three games while the Pride have won their last two games
• Injured Pride skipper Chris Ostwald is sitting on 99 Cup appearances. He missed last week's win over the Clydesdales and is not named for this week's clash with Souths Logan
• Stand-in Pride captain Ash Little will this week celebrate his 50th Cup game, notching up his appearances at the Tigers and Pride

A word from the coaches

Northern Pride coach Ty Williams: We were very happy to get out of Toowoomba with the two points last week considering the road trip we had to endure to get there. It was a fairly long day. We departed Cairns at 8.30am and didn't play until 5pm. The toll of that showed when they got us at the jump but we showed some character to get back in the game. It's the Northern Pride way. It's part of our DNA. It's something we speak about a fair bit. Those little effort areas, it's non-negotiable and I hope to see that again this week against Souths Logan. They're going really well. K's got them shaped up well. Their engine room is young, enthusiastic and bringing a fair bit of meterage. Tristan Sailor has been exceptional for them and their young backs (Jack) Smith and (Jordan) Pereira are carrying big numbers. We're conscious of that. Jack Campagnolo is also doing a really great job. He's a former Pride player and you can tell he's got experience from a few NRL clubs. We're expecting a big game in Tully but it's something we're looking forward to.

Souths Logan coach Karmichael Hunt: For me, there’s some lessons out of the contest against Tweed last week. It’s one of the toughest battles we’ve had this year and it was a game of two halves in terms of how we went about it. Tweed didn’t give us anything cheap but I don't think we stuck to our game plan as well in the second half. For me, it’s understanding what our best footy looks like and what underpins that. We’re expecting a tough contest as always against the Pride, especially in their territory up north. We went to Tully last year and they got the win. They’ll be up and about as well after a close victory against the Western Clydesdales. They’re in eighth on the ladder and have the ability to play really good football. It’s also our second trip away. In our first against Townsville, the boys were switched on and the preparation was great so it’s just making sure our preparation is the same, if not better.

Norths Devils v Townsville Blackhawks

Head-to-head: Norths 6, Townsville 6

Last meeting: Norths 36 def Townsville 28 in Round 20, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Norths have lost their last two games but have the upper hand over Townsville, having won the last six meetings between these two sides, including the last four at Bishop Park
• Norths have three losses and a draw in their last five home games while  Townsville have seven losses and a draw in their last nine away games
• Townsville's 54-4 win over PNG last week was their biggest margin ever over the Hunters

A word from the coaches

Norths Devils coach Dave Elliott: The biggest takeaway from our loss to the Tigers was we need to learn if we keep hurting ourselves with our incompletions and seven tackle sets and so forth, we're making it very difficult for ourselves to come out on top at the end of the game. We had 53 per cent completion in the second half. That's the biggest thing. This week we're just trying to simplify things, which is not normally the Norths way, but we're hurting ourselves the most at the moment. If we can simplify things, we give ourselves a chance.

Townsville Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne: The win over PNG was our best game of the season and the scoreline suggests that. But more importantly some things we've been working on came to fruition. We'll definitely take a lot of confidence out of it. There were a lot of pleasing signs. Hopefully that's the catalyst for the rest of our season. From an attacking point-of-view we've been encouraging our blokes to play to our strengths. It's something we've been discussing and working on this week. Coming up against Norths now we want to develop that consistency, especially against a side that will ask a lot more questions defensively. Our attack was good so we need to maintain that and defensively, we need to be good. PNG didn't ask a lot of questions of us but no doubt Norths will ask a lot more. They like to play some pretty enterprising attack.

Bye: Brisbane Tigers

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