XXXX Rivalry Round preview
Round three of the Hostplus Cup has a traditional rivalry pencilled in with the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Redcliffe Dolphins facing off.
The ladder after two games shows both the Seagulls and Dolphins on one win; and both would love to record win number two over their arch nemesis.
The Seagulls were coming off the back fence against the Hunters when they were behind 20-4 at half time.
The Seagulls left hand side was exposed by the Hunters with the first three tries coming down the Hunters right with Myles Banam scoring two tries in the first 10 minutes.
Then when Graham Rex scored off a fumbled kick it was looking grim.
Wynnum gathered themselves at half time and produced one of the great Cup comebacks with four second-half tries, while holding the Hunters scoreless.
The Seagulls fought up until the 80th minute when Joshua Coric dived over from near the line to complete the second half carnage.
Cameron Bukowski was vital to the Seagulls taking flight, keeping the middle tight with 30 tackles.
All the Hunters tries were scored out wide and if they’d been able to score a few closer to the posts, the Seagulls could have been chasing too much in the second half.
Ben Farr was tremendous for the Seagulls with three-line breaks and two tries when the Seagulls needed it most.
It will be the trio of Bukowski, Farr and Coric that will form a triangle the Dolphins won’t want to swim into.
The Dolphins will be after a consolidating win after taking the two points against the Townsville Blackhawks.
The Dolphins had a startling first half as well and led 22-0. Things were looking dark for the Blackhawks after having lost 30-0 in round one and down 22-0 in the first half of round two.
The Dolphins were only able to score one try in the second half and the Blackhawks showed plenty of resilience to get back in the contest.
Riley Price was sensational in his second game for Redcliffe with a try and 34 tackles, with his forward mate Sam Elliot carrying a heavy load of 200m and two-line breaks.
Redcliffe’s forward press was a thing of beauty as they made ground every set, forcing the Blackhawks back and allowing Josh James to launch an abundance of attacking kicks.
The Dolphins discipline will be the thing that will need fixing; they gave the Blackhawks nine chances through penalties and five ruck infringements.
The Seagulls won’t need that many chances.
Sunday’s feature match, presented by National Storage, will be broadcast live and free across Qplus.tv, Kayo and 9Now.
What the numbers say; statistics courtesy of Brad Tallon
Townsville Blackhawks v Northern Pride:
* Head-to-Head: Townsville 11 Pride 9
* Last match: 2025 R15: Pride 28 def Townsville 14 (Barlow Park)
* Townsville have lost their last 5 matches, their worst ever losing run
* Pride have won 6 of the last 7 games between these 2 sides
* Pride have won 4 of the last 5 games between these 2 sides in Townsville
* Townsville have won 4 of their last 5 home games
* Pride have won 2 of their last 3 away games
* 50th Cup game: Ed Hampson (all Townsville)
Tweed Seagulls v Burleigh Bears:
* Head-to-Head: Burleigh 26 Tweed 15 Drawn 2
* Last match: 2025 R15: Burleigh 46 def Tweed 30 (Piggabeen)
* Burleigh have 7 wins and a draw in their last 8 games
* Burleigh have lost only 1 of their last 14 games (to Central)
* Burleigh have won the last 6 games between these 2 sides
* Tweed have won only 1 of the last 9, and 2 of the last 18 games between these 2 sides with 1 drawn
* Burleigh have won the last 3 games between these 2 sides at Piggabeen
* Tweed have won only 1 of the last 9 games between these 2 sides at Piggabeen with 1 drawn
* Tweed have won 2 of their last 3 home games
* Burleigh have won 5 of their last 7 away games with 2 drawn
* Burleigh require 1 more try to become the 4the team bring up 3000 in the cup - they have 2435 against
* 50th game as Coach: Joe O'Callaghan (Pride / Tweed) - he has 26 wins and 23 losses
Mackay Cutters v Central Queensland Capras:
* Head-to-Head: Mackay 21 Central 12
* Last Match: 2025 R15: Mackay 32 def Central 12 (BB Print Stadium)
* The last 5 games between these 2 sides has been won by the home team
* Mackay has won the last 2, and 7 of the last 8, games between these 2 sides in Mackay
* Mackay have lost their last 2 home games, after winning the previous 3
* Central have lost 2 of their last 3 away games
* 50th Cup game: Valentine Richard (PNG / Central)
Norths Devils v Souths Logan Magpies:
* Head-to-Head: Norths 34 Souths-Logan 21 Drawn 2
* Last Match: 2025 R15: Souths-Logan 24 def Norths 12 (Bishop Park)
* Souths Logan have won only 1 of the last 10, and 2 of the last 14 games between these 2 sides with 1 drawn
* Norths have won 4 of the last 5 games between these 2 sides at Bishop Park
* Norths have won 3 of their last 4 home games
* Souths-Logan have won 3 of their last 4 away games
* 50th Cup game: James Flack (Red/Nor)
* Connor Broadhurst requires 1 try to bring up 50 in cup
* 50th game for Norths (inc NRL SCF): Matt Milson
Ipswich Jets v Brisbane Tigers:
* Head-to-Head: Tigers 32 Ipswich 25 Drawn 1
* Last Match:2025 R15: Ipswich 26 def Tigers 16 (CBus Super Stadium)
* Ipswich have won the last 2 games between these 2 sides after Tigers won the previous 5
* Tigers have won the last 7 games between these 2 sides in Ipswich
* Ipswich have lost 2 of their last 3 home games
* Tigers have won 3 of their last 4 away games
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Redcliffe Dolphins:
* Head-to-Head Qld Cup: Redcliffe 36 Wynnum 24 Drawn 2
* Head-to-Head last 5 years: Wynnum 5 Redcliffe 5 (all home team wins)
* Last match: 2025 Round 15: Wynnum 18 def Redcliffe 10 (BMD Kougari)
* The home team has won the last 14 games between these 2 sides - Redcliffe last won at Wynnum in 2018
* Redcliffe biggest win over Wynnum - 58-4 Round 4 1999
* Wynnum biggest win over Redcliffe - 59-0 Round 21 2010
* Longest winning streaks head to head: Redcliffe 6 1996-99 (10 without loss 1996-2001); Wynnum 4 2014-2015
* Wynnum have won 5 of their last 6, and 9 of their last 11 home games
* Redcliffe have lost 3 of their last 4 away games
Western Clydesdales v PNG Hunters:
* Head-to-Head: PNG 5 Clydesdales 0
* Last Match: 2025 R20: PNG 48 def Clydesdales 12 (Port Moresby)
* Clydesdales have 15 losses and 2 draws in their last 17 games
* PNG has won both previous games between these 2 sides in Toowoomba
* Clydesdales have 6 losses and a draw in their last 7 home games
