PREVIEW: Intrust Super Cup QLD - 2016 Round 6

A full preview of Round 6 of the QRL's Intrust Super Cup.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Ipswich Jets 
South Pine Sports Complex on Saturday, April 9 - 2pm
Referee: Clayton Sharpe
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 25 Ipswich 15
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvJETS

Intrust Super Cup action comes to the South Pine Sports Complex for the first time and it's a match up that shouldn't disappoint. A tremendous rivalry has developed over the years between two clubs who represent proud sporting cities. They went head to head in the 2002 Cup grand final and while that year may now seem like an eternity ago, there will be no love lost in Saturday afternoon's Round 6 clash. Redcliffe will go in as favourites after a gritty 16-12 win over the Sunshine Coast Falcons saw them climb into fifth place last weekend. The Jets are yet to hit top gear despite patches of brilliance in the opening five rounds. They again showed promise by shooting out to a 10-0 lead over the Northern Pride last Saturday, only to be overrun 26-24 in a thriller at the North Ipswich Reserve. The Jets have won five of the past six encounters against the Phins, who will again look to their classy halves pairing of Zach Strasser and Darren Nicholls to guide them home.

Mackay Cutters v Norths Devils 
BB Print Stadium Mackay on Saturday, April 9 - 6pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: Norths 9 Mackay 8 
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvDEVILS

The Cutters have a big ‘in' this weekend with Cowboy Tautau Moga set to make his return from an ACL injury. Named in the centres, Moga went down while playing for Samoa in the Pacific Test last year. Mackay coach David Simpson has made a number of changes to his team that let a first half lead against the PNG Hunters slip last weekend, consigning them to their fifth straight loss to open the season. The experienced duo of Liam Taylor (normally fullback) and Regan Verney have been moved into the halves for this match, while Matthew Wright takes over the custodian role. The Devils are also coming off a loss and like the Cutters, lost their direction in the second half to go down to a Cameron-Cullen inspired Bears 26-6. Lachlan Maranta was a late addition for the Devils last week and is against named to play at fullback. Rogan Dean has been named to make his return to the side on the wing, while other changes see Billy Solah and Harry Pondekas on an extended bench. Both teams will have to overcome so poor recent form if they are to claim the match, with the Devils not having won in Mackay since 2010 - while the Cutters have not been able to claim a victory in their past 11 matches.

CQ Capras v Sunshine Coast Falcons 
Brown Park on Saturday, April 9 - 6pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head-to-Head: Sunshine Coast 8 Central 6 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvSCF                     

The Central Queensland Capras failed to get their timing right against the Easts Tigers last weekend, but club officials have certainly got things in order this weekend. With the Sunshine Coast in town, the Capras are promoting a beach party theme on Saturday with fans encouraged to wear their best beach attire. There's even a mechanical surfboard for those up for some more fun. The focus will turn to the footy at 6pm however, when referee Tim Rutherford gets proceedings underway. The Capras concede they were outplayed by the Tigers in last weekend's 30-10 loss and coach Kim Williams will be looking for more commitment and enthusiasm against a dangerous Falcons outfit. The Falcons are coming off a tight loss to the Redcliffe Dolphins, but could consider themselves unlucky after scoring three tries to two in the James Ackerman Cup clash. Former Wynnum outside back Matt Grieve returns at centre for the Falcons, who currently sit in seventh spot on the Intrust Super Cup ladder.

*XXXX Rivalry Match of the Round
Easts Tigers v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Sunday, April 10 - 1.40pm* 
(Live on Channel 9 / WIN / NBN) 
Referee: Nick Morel Assistant Referee: Liam Kennedy
Head-to-Head: Easts 21 Wynnum Manly 20 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvWYN

Powerhouse Wynnum Manly winger Peter Gubb will play his 100th match for the Seagulls in Sunday's local derby. The Seagulls desperately need a lift after slumping to their fifth-straight loss - and Gubb's milestone might be just the tonic the team needs to get the monkey off the back. Wynnum halfback Matt Seamark (1148) also requires two points to draw level with Greg Bourke (1150) as third highest point scorer in Cup history. Seamark and co would gladly swap any personal milestones for a breakthrough win, as another loss here could wave goodbye to their semi-final aspirations. Scott Sipple's Tigers have been travelling under the radar with three wins and a draw so far. They scored five tries to two in last weekend's comfortable 30-10 victory over the Central Queensland Capras in Gladstone. Brandon Downey comes in at fullback for the Tigers, while former Titan Matt White has been named on the interchange bench for the Channel 9 clash.

PNG Hunters v Townsville Blackhawks 
National Football Stadium on Saturday, April 10 - 3pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: PNG 2 Townsville 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvTSVB

The Hunters are back home for only the second time so far this season and will host the Blackhawks in what is expected to be one of the matches of the round. The undefeated Townsville are set to face their hardest test yet against a Hunters side who, despite still figuring out their best 17, have managed to win four of their five opening matches. Although they got off to a poor start against the Cutters last weekend they were able to put in a dominant second-half performance to claim their first win in Mackay. This game will also see the homecoming of former PNG Hunter Willie Minoga who has impressed so far for his new club making a strong impact from the bench and scoring his first try last weekend in the Blackhawks 42-8 victory over Tweed Heads. Townsville forward Rhyse Martin has also represented PNG in international football and is also sure to have local fans casting a keen eye on his performance. The Hunters have won all four of their games played in Port Moresby, and their last 17 games in PNG. Their last home loss was in Round 17 of 2014 to Easts in Kokopo.

Souths Logan Magpies v Burleigh Bears 
Davies Park on Sunday, April 10 - 3pm
Referee: Jarrod Cole
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 21 Souths-Logan 11 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvBEARS

The Magpies stole a win from the desperate Wynnum Manly last weekend when forward Leon Panapa stepped up late in the game to boot an unlikely field goal for his team to secure them their second win of the season. The Magpies have had a mixed bag of a start so far which also includes two close losses and two heavy defeats, while their opposition the Bears have had a dream start to sit it second spot on the ladder with four wins from their five games. They will provide stern opposition for the Magpies this weekend - but have lost a lynchpin of their attack in Cameron Cullen who has been called up to make his NRL debut for the Titans. Young half Hayden Schwass has been named to take his place at five-eighth. Coach Jim Lenihan has called on his side to do the same job they were able to do against Norths where they held them scoreless in the second half and continue to work on being an 80-minute defensive team. For the Magpies, centre Scott Doyle was named by coach Josh Hannay earlier in the week, but has pleaded guilty to a Dangerous Throw charge and will miss the next two games.

Northern Pride v Tweed Heads Seagulls
Barlow Park on Sunday, April 10 - 3pm
Referee: Nick Pelgrave
Head-to-Head: Tweed 9 Pride 8
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvTHS

Tweed Heads may have started and ended their game against the Blackhawks in a positive fashion - scoring the first and last tries of the match - but it was between those plays that the damage was done, with the Seagulls losing 42-8 to see the Blackhawks maintain their dominance. The Pride however, were able to break their hoodoo in Ipswich with a tight 26-24 win over the Jets.  Last week, the Seagulls had Gold Coast Titans skipper William Zillman return from a long-term injury at fullback, but this week Shannon Walker will return to the position where he will line up against fellow number 1 Linc Port in a fullback duel. Port has scored five tries so far this season, only one behind current leader Marmin Barba. Although named in the Titans side to play the Sharks, John Olive will instead play with the Seagulls side this Sunday. Although Tweed Heads just have the upper hand in the head-to-head stakes, the Pride have won the past three games played between the two sides and have a strong home record as well, winning their past six, and 10 of their past 11 games at Barlow Park.

*Each week, the XXXX Rivalry Match of the Round will highlight a match that showcases a traditional rugby league rivalry. The storied histories of club battles, local derbies and bitter grand final combatants will take centre stage in this new promotion by XXXX that helps celebrate the heritage of the "greatest game of all".

**Statistics by Brad Tallon