The nature of the 2026 Hostplus Cup means that with six games to go we have entered the part of the season where you don’t want to drop games, especially to teams that are around you on the table.
The Ipswich Jets and Wynnum Manly Seagulls are nearly on top of each other with the Jets in fourth on 23 points and the Seagulls in seventh on 21 points.
The Jets have scored 18 more points than the Seagulls, but the Seagulls have defended their line for 14 less points.
The scales may tip in Wynnum’s favour when you consider that this will be played at BMD Kougari Oval where Wynnum have won six of the last seven games against the Jets.
The Jets don’t have happy memories last time they travelled to Wynnum; the Seagulls bundled them out in the 2025 finals 34-12 with Wynnum hooker Cameron Bukowski schooling the Jets with three tries.
But the bright side might be that Jets have won two of their last three away games.
The Jets are hard to get a read on in 2026; they have used a massive 38 players which would normally be a metric of the bottom teams in any competition but somehow the Jets have defied normal football logic and are in fourth on the exact same wins as 2025 when they used 35 throughout the whole season.
It was from there that the Jets fell away in 2025 and only won one more regular season game to fall into the finals.
Titan Jaylan De Groot comes back into the Jets line up for his sxith game this year for the Jets.
De Groot has been on NRL duty for the Titans and has played four NRL games, but what he brings to the Jets is quick feet and quick mind.
De Groot thinks fast and moves fast and the defence struggles to counter either of them.
Despite only playing five games for the Jets, he has six tries and is still 40th most tries in Hostplus Cup and third for the Jets behind Francis and Ross.
De Groot favours the Jets right hand side in attack and will be dangerous all day.
If De Groot stays with the Jets for the next six games, he’s the type of player that wins games for you.
The Jets will be celebrating Ioane Seiuli’s 100th Hostplus Cup game across Magpies, Tweed, Tigers and Jets.
While Isaac Fa'auamaleaui will be notching up Hostplus Cup game number 50 across Burleigh, Tweed and Ipswich.
Wynnum have been patchy in 2026 and another team that just when you think you have figured them out they throw up something you didn’t consider.
The Seagulls beat the Hunters 54-0 but lost two games in a row to the Devils and Dolphins by more than 20 before that which can make them a bit of a head scratcher at times.
One Seagull that hasn’t found his feet yet in 2026 but is constantly threatening to be the Broncos NRL hooker is Cameron Bukowski.
To put it simply the longer Bukowski plays the better the Seagulls go.
Twice this year Bukowski has played 80 minutes, and the Seagulls have won those two games 54-0 and 36-10.
When Bukowski plays over 60 minutes the Seagulls look a lot better team and win more games.
Bukowski has played 23 Hostplus Cup game starting and scored six tries, compared to one try in 15 games off the bench- start him and watch him go.
Sunday's feature match, presented by National Storage, will be broadcast live and free on Qplus.tv, Kayo and 9Now.
Redcliffe Dolphins v Sunshine Coast Falcons:
* Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 20 Sunshine Coast 16
* Last match: 2026 Rd 5: Sunshine Coast 18 def Redcliffe 12 (Sunshine Coast Stadium)
* Sunshine Coast have won the last 5 games between these 2 sides
* Sunshine Coast have won the last 2, and 3 of the last 4, games between these 2 sides at Kayo Stadium
* Redcliffe have 3 wins and a draw in their last 5 home games
* Sunshine Coast have won their last 6, and 8 of their last 9, away games
Norths Devils v Northern Pride:
* Head-to-Head: Pride 18 Norths 12 Drawn 1
* Last match: 2025 Rd 20: Norths 31 def Pride 30 (Barlow Park)
* Pride have 3 wins and a draw in their last 4 games
* Norths have won the last 2, and 8 of the last 9, games between these 2 sides
* Norths have won the last 3, and 4 of the last 5, games between these 2 sides at Premiers Park
* Norths have won their last 2 home games
* Pride have won 2 and drawn 3 of their last 5 away games
* Norths are aiming for their 350th cup win in their 661st game - they have 21 draws and 290 losses
Central Queensland Capras v Tweed Seagulls:
* Head-to-Head: Tweed 28 Central 12 Drawn 1
* Last Match: 2026 Rd 7: Central 26 def Tweed 24 (Tugun)
* Central have won the last 4, and 5 of the last 6, games between these 2 sides
* Central have won the last 3 games between these 2 sides in Rockhampton
* Central have won their last 2 home games
* Tweed have lost 5 of their last 6 away games
* Lindon McGrady needs 3 goals to bring up 500 in the cup
Townsville Blackhawks v PNG Hunters:
* Head-to-Head: PNG 10 Townsville 7 Drawn 1
* Last Match: 2025 Rd 16: PNG 34 def Townsville 16 (Port Moresby)
* Townsville have won 4 and drawn 1 of their last 5 games
* PNG have lost their last 9 games, their worst ever losing run
* PNG have won 3 of the last 4 games between these 2 sides
* Townsville have won 2 of the last 3 games between these 2 sides at Jack Manski
* Townsville have lost 4 of their last 5 home games
* PNG have lost their last 6, and 7 of their last 8, away games
* 100th Cup game: Jack Campagnolo (Pride/WM/SL/Tsv)
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Ipswich Jets:
* Head-to-Head: Wynnum 29 Ipswich 21 Drawn 3
* Last Match: 2025 KO Final: Wynnum 34 def Ipswich 12 (BMD Kougari)
* Wynnum have won 3 of the last 4 games between these 2 sides
* Wynnum have won 6 of the last 7 games between these 2 sides at BMD Kougari
* Wynnum have 4 wins and a draw in their last 5 home games
* Ipswich have won 2 of their last 3 away games
* 100th Cup game: Ioane Seiuli (SL/TH/Tig/Ips)
* 50th Cup game: Isaac Fa'auamaleaui (Bur/TH/Ips)
