It’s taken six weeks, but the grand final rematch is here, and the Burleigh Bears and Norths Devils will shake Round six of the Hostplus Cup and bring your Sunday afternoon football-watching to life.
The Bears have had a strange season with two losses and a draw in their last three games and the Devils have gone two losses and a draw.
It would be a brave punter that would suggest the Bears and Devils will stay in their current position on the ladder.
The Bears and Devils have had a lot of disruptions in their line ups with the Bears using 25 players and the Devils using 24 by the end of round five.
Both clubs have tapped into their youth in 2026 and their squad depth; and there is plenty of fun to be had watching both teams’ youth.
This weekend will be no different for the Bears with Josh Rogers up at the Broncos and no Blake Mozer to call on following his injury while playing in the NRL last week.
But the Bears are still the home of some young Broncos that require examination. Jett Bryce has only played two Cup games for the Bears, and it was a long time coming with 26 Mal Meninga Cup games and six NRLQ games for the Broncos under his belt.
Bryce is a tireless worker; he has played 80 minutes in his two games for the Bears and has made 66 tackles.
What he gives up in size he makes up for in his Shaun Berrigan-like runs and defence. Bryce gets quick play the balls and between defenders and that allows the Bears arrow heads like Guy Hamiliton to attack.
Bailey McConnell is a second-generation Bear and last week made his Cup debut against Ipswich.
McConnell ducks, weaves and jumps out of the ground at the right time; his try on debut was evidence of his excellent reading of the play.
McConnell has that instinctive footballer feels about his game. He just knows where to be.
McConnell is another Bear that has waited for his shot with 24 Mal Meninga Cup games for the club.
The Devils only have Jack Ahearn and Matthew Milson in their backline from the ground final so there has been a period of adjustment with numerous personnel changes.
The Devils’ Kane Rushton has been scoring tries for fun; the winger has seven tries and leads the Hostplus Cup in 2026.
Ruston is only seven games into his career and has made over 100 metres every game this year. Helping his forwards out and scoring tries will see him play a lot more Cup games.
Zakaria Taibi is out there in the Devils outside backs that has found a home at Premiers’ Park this season after a long career at the Tigers.
Taibi has returned the ball with venom for the Devils and even on the losing side against the Capras last round made ground and broke tackles.
Sunday’s feature match, presented by National Storage, will be broadcast live and free across Qplus.tv, Kayo and 9Now.
Northern Pride v Sunshine Coast Falcons:
* Head-to-Head: Sunshine Coast 15 Pride 14 Drawn 1
* Last match: 2025 R18: Sunshine Coast 42 def Pride 4 (Sunshine Coast Stadium)
* Sunshine Coast have won their last three games
* The last four games between these two sides have been won by the home team
* Pride have won three of the last five games between these two sides at Barlow Park with one drawn
* Pride have lost three of their last five home games with one drawn
* Sunshine Coast have won three of their last four away games
PNG Hunters v Ipswich Jets:
* Head-to-Head: PNG 12 Ipswich 7
* Last match: 2025 R18: PNG 28 def Ipswich 22 (Port Moresby)
* Ipswich have won their last three games
* PNG have won four of the last five games between these two sides
* PNG have won the last three, and six of the last seven, games between these two sides
* PNG have lost their last two home games
* Ipswich have won two of their last three away games
* 50th game as coach: Paul Aiton (all PNG) - 26 wins, 23 losses
* Tony Francis requires one try to bring up 50 in the Cup
Brisbane Tigers v Wynnum Manly Seagulls:
* Head-to-Head: Wynnum 30 Tigers 26 Drawn 1
* Last Match: Wynnum 22 def Tigers 14 (BMD Kougari)
* Wynnum have won two of the last three games between these two sides
* Wynnum have won the last four games between these two sides at Totally Workwear
* Tigers have won their last three, and five of the last six, home games
* Wynnum have lost five of their last six away games
Townsville Blackhawks v Central Queensland Capras:
* Head-to-Head: Townsville 11 Central 3 Drawn 1
* Last Match: 2025 R5: Townsville 20 def Central 18 (Jack Manski Oval)
* Townsville have won the last two games between these two sides
* Townsville have won the last two, and seven of the nine games played between these two sides at Jack Manski with one drawn
* Townsville have won their last two home games
* Central have lost two of their last three away games
* Trey Brown requires four goals to bring up 200 in the Cup (all for Central)
Mackay Cutters v Tweed Seagulls:
* Head-to-Head: Tweed 15 Mackay 10 Drawn 4
* Last Match: 2025 R13: Mackay 26 def Tweed 12 (Piggabeen)
* Mackay have won two and drawn two of their last four games
* Mackay have won the last three, and four of the last five, games between these two sides
* Tweed have won four of the last five games between these two sides at BB Print Stadium
* Mackay have lost two of their last three home games
* Tweed have lost their last two, and three of their last four, away games
Western Clydesdales v Souths Logan Magpies:
* Head-to-Head: Clydesdales 18 Souths Logan 6 Drawn 1
* Last match: 2025 R10: Souths Logan 52 def Toowoomba 32 (Toowoomba Sports Ground)
* Clydesdales have 17 losses and 2 draws in their last 19 games
* Souths Logan have two losses and two draws in their last four games
* Souths Logan have won the last 5 games between these two sides, including the last two at Toowoomba
* Clydesdales have six losses and two draws in their last six home games
* Souths Logan have two losses and a draw in their last four away games
Burleigh Bears v Norths Devils:
* Head-to-Head: Burleigh 33 Norths 25
* Last Match: 2025 Grand Final: Burleigh 22 def Norths 8 (Kayo Stadium)
* Norths have two losses and a draw in their last three games
* Burleigh have won the last three, and five of the last six, games between these two sides
* Burleigh have won two of the last three games between these two sides at UAA Park
* Burleigh have won their last four, and seven of their last eight, home games
* Norths have won three of their last four away games
* Connor Broadhurst's 211th Cup game, passing Shane O'Flanagan and Tyson Lofipo (210) to move to outright 12th all-time cup games
* Connor Broadhurst and Matthew Milson each require one try to bring up 50 in the Cup
