The Norths Devils are entering yet another weekend unbeaten, and they’ll return to Kayo Stadium with fond memories as they look to repeat their heroics from last year’s Hostplus Cup Grand Final against the Redcliffe Dolphins.
The Dolphins will be desperate to correct their recent form slump, losing three in a row after a three-game winning streak to begin the season.
Halfback Joshua James has been a shining light during the Dolphins slide, so too fullback Zaccariah Miles, who currently leads the competition in kick return metres.
If the Dolphins are to break their losing streak, it will likely be one of the aforementioned players leading the way.
It would be a substantial upset if the Dolphins were to beat the Devils, with the men from North Brisbane being in red-hot touch, recently putting away the Western Clydesdales 34-12 in their last match.
The Devils are without club stalwart Kierran Moseley this week, as Zac McGuire steps into the vacant dummy-half role.
Returning to the postponed Round 1 matches thanks to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the Hostplus Cup ventures north to Cairns, as the Northern Pride look to continue their winning ways against the Brisbane Tigers at Barlow Park.
Nabbing their first win of the season in scintillating fashion against the Ipswich Jets, the Pride held their opposition to naught while notching up 32 points.
The Pride’s current win loss record of 1 win to 5 losses is somewhat misleading, as three of their losses have been by four points are less – showing that they’re a much better side than the ladder would have you believe.
Since Tom Duffy was demoted from the NRL, he’s been in great form, proving his selection as last year’s halfback of the season was no fluke.
Similarly, Braidon Burns has been a true strike centre as of late, as the former Cowboy scored and assisted a try, while running for 180 metres against the Ipswich Jets.
For the Tigers, their rollercoaster season suffered another downhill last week, falling by 14 points to the Central Queensland Capras.
The Tigers’ inconsistency is not at all reflected by their burgeoning star centre Josh Smith, who currently leads the competition in all runs as well as post contact metres.
Smith is trailed by Stimson in all runs, with the former Storm player leading from the front as he continues providing metal through the middle week in week out.
Coming in fresh off a bye, the Souths Logan Magpies will be looking to give the Davies Park faithful something to cheer about, as they take on the Western Clydesdales.
The Magpies are boosted by the appearance of star NRL five-eighth Ezra Mam, who returns through the Hostplus Cup as he looks to eventually rejoin the Broncos starting side.
The other former Broncos half for the Magpies, Anthony Milford, has been in vintage form to begin the season, racking up six line break assists to go along with his five try assists.
One of the beneficiaries of Milford’s play is Israel Leota, as the winger sits sixth amongst try scorers, coming off a hat-trick in his last outing against the Capras.
The Clydesdales are currently sitting on the bottom of the ladder after seven games played, though with a bye in hand a win could go a long way to propelling them off the bottom of the table.
Clydesdales hooker Kai Duggan has been as reliable as it gets around the ruck, leading all receipts by a staggering 300, as well as racking up the second most runs from dummy-half.
Another bright spot for the Clydesdales is outside back Corey Fenning who is coming off a near man of the match performance in a losing side, scoring a try, breaking the line twice and notching seven tackle breaks against the Seagulls.
The final match of the weekend is in Ipswich, as both the Jets and Blackhawks look to bounce back from unexpected defeats the weekend prior.
The Jets stole all the headlines entering last round, as FOG #200 David Fifita suited up in the white and green following his demotion from the Gold Coast Titans.
Fifita’s debut didn’t go to plan, as a nagging ankle injury limited his output and the Jets failed to score a point in a resounding defeat.
The Jets will have extra motivation coming into this match, as club favourite Blake Lenehan will run out for his 100th game in the Hostplus Cup.
Despite the lack of positives to gain from last weekend’s performance, the Jets still remain in sixth position on equal points with the top four.
The Blackhawks will enter this weekend frustrated after letting last week’s game slip through their hands, as unforced errors, ill discipline and an intercept try against them all contributed to Townsville losing their five-game unbeaten streak.
After being out-muscled by a Falcons forward pack including Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Lazarus Vaalepu, Townsville’s forwards will be eager to regain their stride.
Prop Josh Stuckey will look to lead the Townsville pack, as the hulking forward has quietly developed a taste for rugby league meat-pies, scoring four tries in his six games to start the year.
All games this weekend will be exclusively available on QPlus.TV, with monthly passes starting from less than $2.50 a week for full access for every statewide competition within Queensland.
Alternatively, a 7-day pass is only $4.99, which allows you to catch the double header of the Mal Meninga Cup Grand Final and the Redcliffe Dolphins v Norths Devils this Saturday.
