The Mackay Cutters and Central Queensland Capras may be separated by more than 300km, but they will get a lot closer to each other on Sunday when they clash in the Hostplus Cup.
The Cutters are currently in sixth place with six wins and two draws from 12 games while the Capras are just on the outside of the top eight in ninth place with six wins.
Head-to-head it’s all Mackay with 22 wins compared to the Capras’ 12. It was the Cutters last time winning 24-10 with leading try scorer Jimmy Ngutlik scoring two tries to give the Cutters the dream start required.
The Cutters have some talented Cowboys in their ranks and it will be the young Cowboy outside backs that fill the Cutters with hope as they try and make finals for the first time since 2013.
The first back lining up for clean attacking ball will be try scoring machine Ngutlik.
Ngutlik has now progressed to 12 tries and still leads the Hostplus Cup. He is the competition’s leading line breaker with 15.
Ngutlik is a weapon that the Cutters go to often.
James Walsh has come back from injury and played two games for the Cutters. The Cowboys-contracted centre had shoulder surgery in February and that was supposed to be on ice until 2027, but he’s made his way back to Mackay and has been outstanding.
The recent new Perth Bear signing, Mason Barber, has been playing fullback for the Cutters and making an impact when the Cutters need him.
He’s caught Immortal Mal Meninga’s eye and won a spot at the Bears.
Barber’s last three games have been at fullback, and he’s been injecting himself with gusto from the back, creating tries and using his speed.
The Capras are coming off a close win over the Souths Logan Magpies 14-12, which was hanging in the balance for a lot of the game.
The Capras led 10-6 at half time and fullback Banjo Walker was strumming along making line breaks. He went on to score his first try in the Hostplus Cup.
Clermont junior Walker is a classic Capra, having played Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga for the Capras.
At 10-6 with 23 minutes to go last weekend, the Capras launched a bomb across field through captain Blake Moore, which is caught and offloaded by Tane Kiriona to his fullback, who was out lurking out on the wing and scored his first Hostplus Cup try.
Charlie Dickson was another Capra on debut that came off the bench. Dixon was one of the first players signed by the Dolphins in 2022 and has progressed through the Dolphins’ Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga to NRLQ and Hostplus Cup.
Dickson was man of the match in the Dolphins’ Cyril Connell Mal Meninga Grand Final win and the proud Moreton Bay Raider is now playing Cup.
Dickson made 26 tackles against Souths Logan and will be looking to consolidate his debut with a good performance against the Cutters.
Sunday's feature match, presented by National Storage, will be broadcast live and free on Qplus.tv, Kayo and 9Now.
Round 15 statistics courtesy of Brad Tallon
Burleigh Bears v Tweed Seagulls:
* Head-to-Head: Burleigh 26 Tweed 15 Drawn 3
* Last match: 2026 Rd 3: Tweed 28 drew Burleigh 28 (Piggabeen)
* Burleigh have won six and drawn two of the last eight games between these two sides
* Burleigh have won the last three, and eight of the last nine, games between these two sides at UAA Park
* Burleigh have lost their last two home games
* Tweed have lost their last five, and six of their last seven, away games
* Lindon McGrady (1150) is now equal 4th all-time Cup points scorer with Greg Bourke
Northern Pride v Townsville Blackhawks:
* Head-to-Head: Townsville 11 Pride 10
* Last match: 2026 Rd 3: Pride 20 def Townsville 8 (Jack Manski Oval)
* Townsville have won their last three games
* Pride have won the last two, and seven of the last eight, games between these two sides
* Pride have won the last three games played between these two sides at Barlow Park
* Pride have lost two and drawn one of their last four home games
* Townsville have won their last three away games
Brisbane Tigers v Ipswich Jets:
* Head-to-Head: Tigers 32 Ipswich 26 Drawn 1
* Last Match: 2026 Rd 3: Ipswich 48 def Tigers 6 (Goodna)
* Ipswich have won the last three games between these two sides
* Ipswich have won three of the last four games between these two sides at Totally Workwear Stadium
* Tigers have lost their last three home games
* Ipswich have won two and drawn one of their last four home games
Redcliffe Dolphins v Wynnum Manly Seagulls:
* Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 36 Wynnum 24 Drawn 2
* Last Match: 2026 Rd 3: Redcliffe 36 def Wynnum 16
* Redcliffe have won three of the last four games between these two sides
* Redcliffe have won the last seven games between these two sides at Kayo Stadium
* Redcliffe have won two and drawn one of their last four home games
* Wynnum have lost two of their last three away games
Western Clydesdales v Sunshine Coast Falcons:
* Head-to-Head: Sunshine Coast 4 Clydesdales 1
* Last Match: 2026 Rd 4: Sunshine Coast 20 def Clydesdales 18 (Sunshine Coast Stadium)
* Sunshine Coast have won the last two games between these two sides
* Clydesdales won the only game between these two sides at Toowoomba Sports Ground
* Clydesdales have nine losses and a draw in their last 10 games at Toowoomba Sports Ground
* Sunshine Coast have won their last five, and seven of their last eight, away games
* 100th game as coach: Brad Henderson (SCF) - 60 wins, 2 draws, 37 losses - 25th cup coach to reach this milestone
Central Queensland Capras v Mackay Cutters:
* Head-to-Head: Mackay 22 Central 12
* Last Match: 2026 Rd 3: Mackay 24 def Central 10 (BB Print Stadium)
* Mackay have won the last two games between these two sides
* Central have won the last four games between these two sides in Rockhampton
* Central have lost two and drawn one of their last four away games
* Mackay have won two and drawn two of their last five away games
* 150th Cup game: Nixon Putt (PNG/Nor/Cen)
Souths Logan Magpies v Norths Devils:
* Head-to-Head: Norths 34 Souths-Logan 21 Drawn 3
* Last Match: 2026 Rd 3: Norths 24 def Souths-Logan 24 (Bishop Park)
* Norths have won eight and drawn two of the last 11 games between these two sides
* Norths have won the last four games between these two sides at Davies Park
* Souths Logan have two losses and two draws in their last five home games
* Norths have lost their last three, and four of their last five, away games
* 100th game for Norths: Connor Broadhurst (inc NRLSCF in 2022). He requires one try to bring up 50 in the cup - it is now 23 games since he scored a try with his last for Wynnum in 2024.
