Hostplus Cup Round 20 preview

Hostplus Cup Round 20

Tweed Seagulls v Northern Pride

Head-to-head: Tweed 16, Pride 12, drawn 2

Last meeting: Tweed 24 def Pride 18 in Round 18, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Tweed have won two of their last three games while Pride have three losses and a draw from their last four games
• Tweed have three wins and a draw in the last four meetings between these two sides at Piggabeen
• Eight of the last 11 games between these two sides have been decided by a converted try or less
• Ty Williams is still aiming for his 50th win as coach of the Northern Pride
• Kyle Feldt will celebrate his 50th Cup game on Saturday when he runs out for Northern Pride while Will Brimson will play his 50th Cup game for Tweed - it is his 66th Cup game overall

A word from the coaches

Tweed Seagulls coach Dave Penna: "We’ve obviously had a few bumps and bruises and tried to manage through them over our two weeks off. We've had the boys back in and made them well aware of what they needed to do. It’s good to be back with a bit of purpose. Since day one we’ve planned for this time of the year, what it takes to win these games. It’s still something that we get better at each week in some areas and then drop off in others. It’s the main focus around what’s required at the business end of the year. The boys know what it takes to win those games, we’ve just got to get there. The Pride are a really good football side. They don’t make a lot of errors, they ask a lot of questions, and you’ve got to play solid footy for 80 minutes. We’ve got three weeks left where we’re playing teams that are all like that, so it’s a good challenge for us."

Northern Pride coach Ty Williams: "It's exciting for us that we're still in finals contention. That's the enjoyable bit of it. Moving forward, it's pretty basic - we have to keep winning. The Burleigh draw was really good for us. It's another big road trip to Tweed this week and we're under no illusions we have to keep pushing forward to be there in a month's time. With Julian Christian suspended, he plays a big part in our team and we know that's a key for us. But Daniel Woodhouse has filled that spot for us before and we've done a fair bit with Dantoray Lui... Jules is a big loss but someone else will get an opportunity and that's the way we've looked at it. Jules is around the playing group and helping. He's jumped into a coaching role with us, which is good to see. Now we turn our attention to Tweed. They're hitting the ground running and are a very impressive team. Lindon McGrady is crucial for them. He's been so consistent for such a big period of his career and it's no different this year. The Titans allocations is also a key part for them. I've also been impressed with young (Brent) Woolf - he's jumped into a bit of a new role at the moment as a ball-playing lock. For us, we want to build on the momentum from that second half against Burleigh so our focus is solely on ourselves and how we do that."

PNG Hunters v Redcliffe Dolphins

Head-to-head: Redcliffe 8, PNG 6, drawn 1

Last meeting: Redcliffe 30 def PNG 16 in Round 9, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Redcliffe have won the last six meetings between these two sides, including their last two games in PNG
• PNG have lost two of their last three home games
• Redcliffe have won four of their last five away games

A word from the coaches

PNG Hunters coach Stanley Tepend: Comments to come.

Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te'o: "The two weeks off have felt very long but the boys had a rest and got some good work done. Everyone is now pretty excited to get into the last three weeks of our season. With the situation we're in, we can only take it week by week. Our side changes a lot so it is hard to look ahead but we want to make sure the guys that are young and coming in to have a crack, they do their job. This week we're heading to Papua New Guinea and we have a great partnership with the Hunters at our Dolphins NRL level so we're quite familiar with their key players and they're very talented. We're excited to play at a great stadium with a great atmosphere. No one gets the type of support that they do so we're looking forward to it."

Western Clydesdales v Norths Devils

Head-to-head: Norths 11, Clydesdales 9, drawn 1

Last meeting: Toowoomba 42 def Norths 34 in Round 20, 2006

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• The Clydesdales have lost their last 11 games while Norths have won four of their last five games
• The Clydesdales have lost their last five home games while Norths have won their last two away games
• Norths winger Tony Tumusa scored his 50th Cup try last weekend against Ipswich - he now has 51 tries in 101 games

A word from the coaches

Western Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin: "I was pretty happy with the performance last weekend. I thought we competed really well. We're looking forward to playing Norths this weekend. They have to beat us to make the semi-finals and my boys are ready to go. We're looking forward to the game."

Norths Devils coach Dave Elliott: "Games like last week and this weekend are dangerous games. We were up 29-12 at some point last week against Ipswich and there was a big break in play for injury and we just didn't get going again but Ipswich did. But, a bit like the game against Wynnum Manly, we were able to find defensive resolve and close it out. We just want to keep building on our combinations moving forward. We're starting to put together some really nice footy and have good numbers on the ball. Kierran Moseley is starting at No.9 now and is very crafty. We're away this week to the Clydesdales and I'm expecting a gutsy performance. Watching their games against the Blackhawks and Capras, they were right in the contests. With this being their last home game, they'll have some support and be right up for a win at home. They're a real gutsy team determined to win."

Central Queensland Capras v Townsville Blackhawks

Head-to-head: Townsville 9, Central Queensland 2, drawn 1

Last meeting: Central Queensland 30 def Townsville 22 in Round 2, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Central Queensland have three wins and a draw from their last five games while Townsville have three wins and a draw from their last four games
• Central Queensland have won the last two meetings between these two sides but Townsville have won four of the last five games at Browne Park

A word from the coaches

Central Queensland Capras coach Lionel Harbin: "It was another tough game for us last week. We made things extremely hard for ourselves - we didn't complete high, our discipline let us down at times and the Clydesdales took full advantage of that and played really good footy. We have to turn it around this week. The Blackhawks will be desperate. They have to win their remaining games. We need to be better. We've been talking about it but it's about getting it done on the field this weekend. We're expecting a side that's playing for a spot in the finals. They're going to come, bring a lot of energy and they've got nothing to lose and that's always a scary prospect. We have to be ready for that and focus on what will help us."

Townsville Blackhawks coach Christian Quabba: "For us, it was a good win last week against Mackay and we're starting to get consistency with our team on the paddock. We're starting to build some combinations. For us as a team, it's about building consistency within games and that leads to generally getting the results you need and from there, the ladder takes care of itself. We just need to worry about ourselves and our performances. This week, we have the Capras and they are sitting high for a reason and they're a gritty, 80-minute team. You know they're always going to be in the fight. It's always a challenge going to Rockhampton as well and playing in front of their vocal home crowd, but it's something we look forward to."

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Ipswich Jets 

Head-to-head: Ipswich 13, Sunshine Coast 10, drawn 2

Last meeting: Sunshine Coast 56 def Ipswich 16 in Round 2, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Sunshine Coast have lost two of their lost three games while Ipswich have lost their last 20 games
• Sunshine Coast have five wins and a draw from the last six meetings between these two sides, including two wins and a draw in the last three at Sunshine Coast Stadium
• Ryan Papenhuyzen has played 19 Cup games for Sunshine Coast scoring six tries, 26 goals and a field goal for 77 points

A word from the coaches

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: "We’re hurting ourselves at the moment. We had a 62 per cent completion rate against a really good team in Wynnum Manly last week and it’s not good enough. We were good enough to score the same amount of tries but couldn’t build sustained pressure the way they did to us. This week we have Ipswich and the Jets have had a really tough year but you can see in the way they play that they’re so hungry. If they sniff blood in the water, they’ll grow a leg. We can't give them any opportunities. There’s three competition rounds to go and we need three good wins if we can even be in contention. At the moment, we try not to talk too long about it. I try not to heap too much pressure on the boys in terms of outcomes. It’s inevitable they understand what's going on and look at the table but it’s more about the individual challenge of, are you doing all you can? Have you prepared the best you can? If you have 17 guys doing that and who are in sync, we’re a good chance of winning. If not, we’ll get what we deserve. But I believe in this team wholeheartedly. We have what it takes to be a top four team and there's no time like the present to show that."

Ipswich Jets coach Ben Cross: "We had players playing in all different positions last week and the guys did really well to rally back within one point but a lack of experience didn't get us the two points against Norths. We showed some resilience at times and a lot of angst and displayed good attacking footy and I hope to see that again this week. This is like every other week to us. The inclusion of Ryan Papenhuyzen for the Falcons is a big one but with all three fullbacks they've got, they're fairly similar too each other. Ryan is a bit more explosive but Sua Faalogo plays similar. There's also 12 other players that could do damage to us. They're a fairly thorough side and have a lot of Storm players that go back there each week. There's a lot of cohesion... we know what we're expecting from their play a little bit. But we need to be really good ourselves and worry about our defence and get the attack right."

Brisbane Tigers v Souths Logan Magpies

Head-to-head: Brisbane Tigers 33, Souths Logan 14, drawn 2

Last meeting: Tigers 22 def Souths Logan 18 in Round 15, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Souths Logan have won 11 of their last 12 games while the Tigers have won four of their last five
• The Tigers have eight wins and a draw from their last 10 home games between these two sides
• Souths Logan playmaker Jack Campagnolo requires just one point to bring up 400 Cup points

A word from the coaches

Brisbane Tigers coach Matt Church: "I'm pleased we got the job done last week. I thought the Hunters were outstanding in the first half and we did well to contain them. They played with a lot of energy. If we goal kicked a little better last week, we would have jumped into the top four based on for-and-against, but that's how tight the competition is. It's a big match this weekend. Souths Logan are the ladder leaders for a reason. The key for us is to not beat ourselves. Building pressure is what we need to do to get on top so apply a bit of pressure on Souths Logan and not beat ourselves."

Souths Logan Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt: "It was a much-needed two weeks off. We gave the boys the first week off and then got back together in that second week. This week, we're looking towards Brisbane and the challenge ahead. They like to play an up tempo game, keep the ball alive and test you from edge to edge. We're really freshened up and ready to get into these last three weeks. To get the minor premiership, it would mean we're on the right track to our actual goal which is to win the competition. But that's an outcome of our processes and that starts with Brisbane Tigers this weekend. There's no talk or worrying about minor premierships but preparing as best as we can to get the win each week from here on out."

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Burleigh Bears

Head-to-head: Burleigh 30, Wynnum Manly 17, drawn 3

Last meeting: Burleigh 42 def Wynnum 18 in Round 20, 2022

Broadcast: Qplus.tv, Kayo Freebies, 9Now

• This is Wynnum Manly's 600th Cup game - they have 321 wins, 18 draws and 260 losses
• Wynnum Manly have won eight of their last nine games while Burleigh have two losses and draw from their last four games
• Burleigh have won seven of the last eight meetings between these two sides at BMD Kougari Oval
• Bears veteran Hayden Schwass moves to 146 Cup games for Burleigh this week, putting him in equal third for appearances for the club with Martin Griese and Luke Page
• Halfback Guy Hamilton will play his 50th Cup game for Burleigh this weekend - it's his 131st game overall

A word from the coaches

Wynnum Manly Seagulls coach Mat Head: "Last week was a good trip for us. It was a tight encounter and probably a game we didn't get off to the start we would have liked but we showed a lot of resilience to get ourselves back in the contest. When it was 12-10 at halftime, we thought we were lucky to be in that position and we kickstarted the second half a lot better. We haven't played Burleigh this year so that's one exciting part of the weekend. They're the team coming second and that's where we want to be on the ladder. We know it's a big contest and they haven't been performing as well as they would like in the last month. We want to start well and give ourselves every chance to win this footy game. Obviously when you start the year, you aim for top four and then start to re-evaluate as the year goes on. You want to win every game. Burleigh are in front of us and that's who we play this week. Every step up in the ladder is a bonus and a privilege to your footy team."

Burleigh Bears coach Luke Burt: Comments to come.

Bye: Mackay Cutters

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QRL match review charges Round 19 - Hostplus Cup