PREVIEW: Intrust Super Cup QLD - 2016 Round 14

QRL Media's full preview of the 14th round of the 2016 Intrust Super Cup.

Norths Devils v Ipswich Jets
Bishop Park on Saturday, June 11 - 4pm 
Referee: Tyson Brough
Head-to-Head: Norths 23 Ipswich 15 Drawn 2 
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvJETS

The Jets and Devils will face off this week with both teams looking to kick-start their season, as both are at the wrong end of the table and need to find momentum. The Jets' record against Norths isn't great; having only won 15 of 40 encounters and have only won six of the games played at Bishop Park. Norths are coming off a 32-12 loss against Townsville, but they have a decent record at home this season, having beaten the Pride and Tweed. However, they have lost an equal number of games, having gone down to the Bears and Souths. The Jets will need to keep a key eye on Devils half Todd Murphy who is an experienced campaigner that directs Norths around the field. The Devils have also named in-form forward Jai Arrow who is back playing for Norths after three NRL games with the Broncos. While Ipswich have not had the start to the season they would have wanted, they will hope they can continue their winning ways against the Devils, having won the past four games played between the two sides. This week, Jets forward Sam Martin will play his 115th game for the Jets - going past Luke Walker and drawing equal with Keiron Lander to make him the eighth most capped Jets' player.
- with Michael Nunn

Easts Tigers v Tweed Heads Seagulls
Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Saturday, June 11 - 5pm
Referee: Henry Perenara
Head-to-Head: Tweed 15 Easts 11 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvTHS
Live Stream: Tiger TV

The Tigers go into this weekend's match without half Billy Walters, who suffered a leg injury in last weekend's loss to Burleigh. Brentt Warr will return from the BRL competition to partner Brodie Croft in the halves in his place, while in a boost for the side, the Tigers will welcome back forward Dean Britt from suspension and will be looking for him to add some energy to what was a fairly flat forward performance last week.  Seagulls coach Aaron Zimmerle has named a largely unchanged line up following last weekend's ‘home' win against the Jets at North Ipswich Reserve, with co-captain Sam Saville returning at lock; pushing Matthew Hundy on to an extended bench. Their 22-12 victory was actually their first win away from Piggabeen this year and they have a fight on their hands to claim another against Easts - who have not lost at home this season (four wins and a draw). Fresh off a good win last outing and having already beaten the Tigers once this season, the Seagulls will fancy their chances of doing it again this weekend, while the Tigers will approach this game as a must win, as they attempt to stay in the top 6. Easts centre Shane Neumann requires only two more tries to equal the club's Cup record of 65 held by Wade Liddell.
- with Matt Crowhurst

CQ Capras v Mackay Cutters
Browne Park on Saturday, June 11 - 6pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head-to-Head: Mackay 11 Central 5
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvMC

The Capras will look to bounce back from a disappointing loss last weekend when they take on the Cutters in front of their home fans tomorrow. The CQ side were at the wrong end of a Dolphins attacking spree in Round 13, going down 40-4, but will hope their fans can help them to another win against rivals Mackay. The Cutters come into this match off the back of a gritty performance that earned them a draw against Souths Logan last weekend. The strong effort against the Magpies saw them take away their third competition point of the season after holding on for an 18-18 result. The visitors have a strong record against the CQ side, with Central's win in Round 1 their first in 12 games against the Cutters. Interestingly, they have also not been able to beat Mackay at Browne Park since 2010. In team news, Matt Minto has been named to return from a groin injury for CQ this weekend, but that good news was offset by the confirmation of a season-ending injury to hooker Ian Webster. The Welsh international went down in training a month ago and it was confirmed that he had ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament. Despite being named at starting prop, Jack Kavanagh will miss this game for the Capras, after being found guilty of a careless high tackle.  

PNG Hunters v Souths Logan Magpies
National Football Stadium on Saturday, June 11 - 6.30pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head-to-Head: PNG 5 Souths Logan 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvSLM                   

Popular centre Thompson Teteh will play in his 50th Cup game this weekend and a big performance could see him equal a club record. He scored his third try of the season in last Sunday's win over the Pride and now needs only two more to equal the club record of 30 held by Israel Eliab. Fellow centre in the Hunters line-up this weekend Noel Zeming brought up 400 competition points last week with three goals. While the home side will start favourites with the Magpies having never won against their in their past five attempts - the visitors do have good form behind them. Undefeated in their past four games (two wins and two draws) - they will be bringing a strong side with them to the National Football Stadium. The return to the side of two big forwards from NRL duty in Herman Ese'ese and Joe Ofahengaue will offset the loss of experience of hooker Travis Waddell who played with the Broncos last night. Coach Josh Hannay was full of positivity going into the match - despite no team being able to down the Hunters at home this season. "We'll be going with close to our best 17 players and I'd say the past four weeks has probably been our best month of football since I've been at the club," he told Quest Community news.

XXXX Rivalry Match of the Round
Burleigh Bears v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Pizzey Park on Sunday, June 12 - 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9) 
Referee: Jarrod Cole Assistant Referee: Nick Pelgrave 
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 18 Wynnum 16 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvWYN

Home ground advantage hasn't counted for much in the recent past, with the away team claiming the honours in the past four games played. Although coming off a loss against the Falcons last weekend, the Seagulls will come into this week's TV game with confidence having won their past three away games. With the Bears are in great form, all bodes well for an entertaining match. The Bears will be without Nathaniel Peteru and Sami Sauiluma who have both been suspended. There will be added significance to this Sunday's game as the Adam Watene (Cook) Memorial Trophy will be contested between the two sides. Adam played 83 games for the Bears and was a member of the 2004 premiership winning side. He also played 22 games for Wynnum before moving to the UK where he passed away suddenly in 2008 at the age of 31, leaving behind his wife Moana and two children Arana and Ena. "Adam still has many friends and relatives on the Gold Coast and many of them will be present at the game on Sunday," Burleigh CEO Damian Driscoll said. In milestone news, Matt Seamark plays his 173rd game for Wynnum Manly, equalling Luke Dalziel-Don's club record; while Daniel Ogden is now equal 2nd all-time cup try scorer with Donald Malone on 117.
- with Kevin Braysher

Redcliffe Dolphins v Townsville Blackhawks 
Dolphin Oval on Sunday, June 12 - 2pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: Townsville 3 Redcliffe 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvTSVB
Live Stream: Blackhawks TV

Rugby league fans are encouraged to head to Redcliffe this Sunday to watch what is shaping to be one of the games of the round. The resurgent Dolphins are hosting the top-of-the-table Townsville and given their recent form, will be looking to claim a big scalp. When the two sides met in Townsville in Round 1 - it was a two-point victory to the Blackhawks - so Phins coach Adam Mogg would like nothing better than to claim the club's first win against the NQ powerhouse. Just like other Queensland league supporters, Mogg told Quest Community Newspapers that he was also looking forward to see how Matt Bowen run around in the competition. "I think it's great that he's playing and I think it's a really good way for him to close out his football career," he said. Coming off a XXXX man of the match performance against Norths last weekend, Bowen will be a handful to contend with, but Mogg said his team would have to focus on more than just his fellow former Origin player, with the Blackhawks boasting talent across the park. In an interesting stat for Cup fans, Redcliffe are aiming to become the first club to bring up 300 Cup wins in their 477th game, they have 14 draws and 163 losses.

Northern Pride v Sunshine Coast Falcons
Barlow Park on Sunday, June 12 - 3pm 
Referee: Nick Morel
Head-to-Head: Pride 9 Sunshine Coast 7
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvSCF

Only one point could separate these two sides when they met in Round 1, with a Ryley Jacks field goal in the 75th minute securing the win. That kick handed the Falcons their first win in seven games against the Pride. Both teams are perched in the middle of the table, with the Pride trailing the sixth-placed Falcons by three competition points. The Pride will welcome their return home to Barlow Park this weekend, and will be happy to know they have not lost consecutive games at the venue since 2013. In their last start in Cairns in Round 12, they lost 24-18 to Souths Logan. They will be even happier to their opponents have struggled to overcome them at home, with the Falcons unable to steal a win there also since 2010. Workhorse forward Ben Spina, who has been named at prop this weekend, plays his 128th game for the Pride passing former skipper Brett Anderson. Only Jason Roos, another former skipper, has played more, having pulled on the boots for the club in 164 games. Joe Stimson pleaded guilty to a dangerous tackle charge and will miss this weekend's game. The Melbourne Storm contracted forward has been in good form for the Coast side all season and his on-field contributions will be missed.

**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