Penrith punish rusty Roosters
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IPSWICH JETS v MACKAY CUTTERS
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, June 29 - 5pm
Referee: Peter Gough
Head to Head: Ipswich 8 Mackay 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #JETSvMC
After two heavy defeats, the Ipswich Jets will look to bounce back to form in this crucial round 16 match against the Cutters. The Jets slipped from second to third last weekend and they could even drop out of the five altogether if the Cutters get the points here. Both teams will be without some inspirational personnel. Ipswich will be missing Donald Malone, Ian Lacey and Kurtis Lingwoodock due to injury but they will benefit from the return of Sam Martin. The North Ipswich junior will notch his 50th game for the Jets after serving a three-match suspension. Consistent winger Jarrod McInally will also bring up a half-century of games for the Jets. In a blow for Mackay, the fourth-placed Cutters will need to find a replacement for skipper Jardine Bobongie, who will serve a one match suspension for dangerous contact following his team’s loss to the Easts Tigers last week. Like the Jets, the Cutters were below their best last weekend and there should be no shortage of desperation shown by the northern outfit.
QRL Media tips: Ipswich Jets by 4. The Jets are struggling a little at the moment without some key players but their home record is too hard to ignore. They have won their past five matches at the North Ipswich Reserve.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Brandon Park, Acacia Ridge, on Saturday, June 29 - 6pm
Referee: Robert Gallacher
Head to Head: Tweed 12 Souths-Logan 10
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #SLMvTHS
While they may be unfancied, both of these teams sit just outside the Intrust Super Cup top five and will be looking to further press their credentials this weekend. For the Magpies, it will be a chance to re-enter the five, having recorded an early form blitz; while Tweed Heads posted a stunning reminder about their ability when they defeated the Ipswich Jets 44-22 last weekend. Seagulls veteran James Wood showed he still has a lot to offer, running in four tries in the win, taking him to 86 tries in his Cup career, and equal ninth of all time. Souths went down to Norths 34-22 at Bishop Park, but showed some late spark which would give them some confidence going into this match. The Seagulls have won five of the past six matches played between the sides; however, at their last meeting in round eight this year, the Magpies came out on top, winning 38-26. In team news, both sides have named unchanged line-ups from last weekend. However, hooker Travis Waddell is rumoured to be returning from Newcastle for the Magpies for the rest of the season and could play as early as this weekend.
QRL Media tips: Souths Logan by 4. It will be a close one, but Souths should benefit from some home support and if Waddell slots in, they’ll be even harder to beat.
NORTHERN PRIDE v CQ CAPRAS
Barlow Park on Saturday, June 29 - 6.30pm
Referee: Nick Morel
Head to Head: Pride 7 Central 5
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #PRIDEvCQC
The Central Queensland Capras will welcome the return of the ‘big men’ to the team this week, with both Alan Rothery and Brent Williams named to take on the Northern Pride. Forward Sam Pierce – who made his Intrust Super Cup debut earlier this season, has also been added to the bench. Mitch Ireland, Nathan Young and Jeff Russell are the players to make way. After posting two great wins – the Capras were brought back down to earth by Wynnum Manly last weekend suffering a 46-6 loss. The Pride on the other hand kept their winning streak going with a strong victory over the Redcliffe Dolphins. Although they were kept scoreless in the second half, their powerful first-half showing was enough to secure them a 32-16 win. Their run of wins stretch back to round nine – with their last loss coming in the form of the Capras – a side which has been a bit of a bogey team in recent encounters. Central have won three of the past four games between these two sides. However, while the Capras may hold a recent head-to-head advantage, the Pride have a formidable record at home at Barlow Park and have not lost at the ground since June last year.
QRL Media tips: Northern Pride by 10. While the Capras have had a hold on the Pride in recent matches – you would think it would be hard for them to repeat their success this weekend, given how well the Pride have been travelling.
EASTS TIGERS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Langlands Park on Sunday, June 30 - 2pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head to Head: Redcliffe 23 Easts 13 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #TIGESvPHINS
It was a harsh day on the field for the Redcliffe Dolphins last weekend; with their 32-16 loss against the Northern Pride being compounded by two long-term injuries to key players. The Dolphins lost five-eighth Zach Strasser to a broken collar-bone and second-row enforcer Jake Marketo to a leg injury in the second half in a bitter blow. For this weekend’s match against Easts Tigers, coach John Dixon has named Joe Bond at five-eighth with Wes Middleton coming into the team at fullback. Joe Bradley moves from the bench to the starting side, with Delroy Berryman and Alex Simpson also new additions. Tom Geraghty slots onto the bench. Despite their loss, the Dolphins did lift in the second half of their match with prolific winger Liam Georgetown crossing for one try. He now requires one more to equal Heath Egglestone’s Cup record of 99 tries for a single club, as he attempts to become the fourth player to score 100 Cup tries. For the successful Tigers side, coach Craig Ingebrigtsen has understandably made minimal changes to the one that outclassed the Cutters 40-16 last weekend. His only change sees Grant Giess come in at halfback in place of Isaac Kaufman.
QRL Media tips: Easts Tigers by 12. Luck just is not on the side of the Dolphins and they may struggle against a newly-confident Easts side at home.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS v BURLEIGH BEARS
BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, June 30 - 2pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Head to Head: Burleigh 16 Wynnum 12 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #WYNvBEARS
Another season of missed opportunities beckoned for the Burleigh Bears after they crashed out against the CQ Capras in round 13. However, a couple of emphatic wins has breathed much needed life into their season heading into Sunday’s bumper clash against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls at BMD Kougari Oval. It looms as an acid test for the Bears, but if they get the job done, they’ll start to put themselves in the frame for a finals berth. The Seagulls have also won their past two matches to be sitting pretty in second spot on the ladder as they lift the tempo in their quest for a hat-trick of Intrust Super Cup titles. It’s no surprise that the return of classy Seagulls five-eighth Jacob Fauid has coincided with the team’s surge into second spot on the ladder. Interestingly, Burleigh have won the past two games between these sides, although Wynnum have won the last two at BMD Kougari Oval. Wynnum are shooting for their 200th Cup win in their 386th cup game.
QRL Media tips: Wynnum Manly by 8. The Seagulls are back on top of their game and will fancy their chances of making it three-straight wins.
SUNSHINE COAST SEA EAGLES v NORTHS DEVILS
Stockland Stadium on Sunday, June 30 - 2pm* (Live on Channel 9) Referee: Michael Gordon The Channel 9 television cameras will be at Stockland Stadium on the Sunshine Coast for the first time this year when the Sea Eagles host the Norths Devils on Sunday. Although languishing in last spot on the Intrust Super Cup ladder, the Sunshine Coast team will play with plenty of energy and enthusiasm against the star-studded Devils. In their three most recent defeats, the Sunshine Coast have led or being equal with their opposition at half-time and coach Dave Cordwell will be hoping his young side can finish Sunday’s game off strongly in front of their home fans. But it will be no easy task, with the Devils starting to warm into the season on the back of an impressive win over the Souths Logan Magpies. The Devils are again expected to have the services of a number of Broncos stars as they look to consolidate their spot in the top five. Norths have won four of the past five games between these sides, although Sunshine Coast won the earlier clash this year when Justin Otto scored two tries and kicked a field goal in the round three win. QRL Media tips: Norths Devils by 8. Norths are right in the mix for another tilt at finals footy and they have the firepower to win this game well.
Head to Head: Norths 6 Sunshine Coast 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #ISC #SCSEvDEVILS