PREVIEWS: QRL Intrust Super Cup Round 22

This weekend, the Intrust Super Cup will celebrate the Harvey Norman Women in League Round which acknowledges and recognises the invaluable work women do in the game.

The NRL's vision for women and girls is to ensure they continue to be included, respected and engaged equally in all aspects of rugby league. More than 190,000 women and girls are currently involved in all forms of rugby league (including touch, tag and tackle) and with female participation the fastest growing area of in the game; it is more important than ever to continue to build a successful platform for further participation and engagement.

The Harvey Norman Women in League Round, recently celebrated at NRL level and occurring in Round 22 of the Intrust Super Cup (August 5-6), is a way to acknowledge the role of women in the game, particularly their contributions at a grassroots level.

This round will see all Intrust Super Cup and FOGS Colts Challenge games played using purple Women in League match footballs. All fans of rugby league are encouraged to enjoy this weekend's celebration of the many outstanding female participants and contributors to the greatest game of all.

PNG HUNTERS v IPSWICH JETS

National Football Stadium on Saturday, August 5 - 3pm
Referee: Chris Anderson
Assistant Referee: Belinda Sleeman
Head-to-Head: PNG 5 Ipswich 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvJETS

Ipswich is on a roll after wins over the Townsville Blackhawks and Northern Pride. However, tomorrow's clash against the Hunters at the National Football Stadium in PNG represents an even greater challenge for the Jets. The equation is simple - lose and it is season over for the 2015 Intrust Super Cup premiers. On the flipside, an upset win over the Hunters will give the Jets a genuine chance of qualifying for this year's top six, particularly if either the Blackhawks or Magpies slip up this weekend. Ipswich will go into the game without the services of utility Ben White, who is serving a two-match suspension for a Dangerous Throw, as well as injured duo Sam Martin and Wes Conlon. The Hunters will look to hit back after a 28-12 loss to Redcliffe last weekend. PNG skipper Ase Boas requires one point to bring up 300 for the Hunters.

NORTHERN PRIDE v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES

Barlow Park on Saturday, August 5 - 5.30pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head-to-Head: Pride 14 Souths Logan 7
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvSLM

Phil Dennis, one of the competition's most respected players, will notch a significant milestone this weekend. The Magpies utility will become just the fourth player to celebrate 250 Cup games, following in the footsteps of Troy Lindsay, Danny Coburn and Michael Roberts. The Magpies will almost certainly seal a finals berth if they get the better of the Pride in Cairns. But it won't be easy, with the Pride having rediscovered their touch over the past two weeks. They followed up a big win over Wynnum Manly with a strong effort against the resurgent Jets, who took until the 79th minute to finally put an end to the Pride's bold comeback. Souths Logan have won their past three games against the Pride, and their away form has been very good this year, with seven wins on the road from nine attempts. Souths fullback Jamayne Isaako (152) requires 11 points to pass Scott Doyle for most Cup season points for the Magpies (162 in 2015).

MACKAY CUTTERS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS

BB Print Stadium Mackay on Saturday, August 5 - 6pm
Referee: Tyson Brough
Head-to-Head: Mackay 14 Sunshine Coast 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvSCF

Falcons coach Craig "Trigger" Ingebrigtsen will look to cap off a big week when his team travels to Mackay to play the Cutters tomorrow. Ingebrigtsen yesterday signed a contract extension with the Falcons for the 2018 season and he would love nothing more than to return from BB Print Stadium with another two points. The Falcons played some brilliant attacking football on their way to a big win over the Capras last weekend, but points might be a lot harder to come by this weekend. The Cutters are still a mathematical chance of figuring in this year's play-offs and will be desperate to keep their season alive with an upset win. Falcons playmaker Guy Hamilton (177) requires four points to pass Dennis Sandow for most points in a season for the club (180 in 2010), while team-mate Jon Grieve plays his 50th game for the Sunshine Coast and 161st overall.

CQ CAPRAS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS

Browne Park on Saturday, August 5 - 7pm
Referee: Nick Pelgrave
Head-to-Head: Townsville 4 Central 0 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #CQCvTSVB

The Blackhawks are pushing to cement a finals berth and can ill-afford to take the Capras lightly at Browne Park. The last time the two sides met (Round 11 at Jack Manski Oval), the Blackhawks were lucky to get away with a draw. Coming into this game off a shock loss to the Bears, Kristian Woolf's men will need to be on their guard from the get-go against a CQ side with a point to prove. Earlier this week the Capras announced the re-appointment of coach Kim Williams for the 2018 season. With the Capras in a battle to avoid finishing the season on the bottom of the ladder; the contract extension will bring further stability to the club as it builds towards 2018. Townville's Davin Crampton (previously Pride/Tweed) is set to play in his 100th Cup game; while Capras co-captain Guy Williams recently has moved into top 10 games played for the Cup, passing the 213 games of Wade Liddell.

WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS v BURLEIGH BEARS

BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, August 6 - 1.40pm* (Live on Channel 9)
Referee: Chris Butler
Assistant Referee: Jarrod Cole
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 20 Wynnum 16 Drawn 3
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #WYNvBEARS

The defending premiers have hit menacing form of late, winning their past three matches, including upset wins over finals contenders including Townsville last weekend and before that, the Falcons. While this resurgence has come too late for them to feature in September - they can still make things difficult for their opposition. Following their win over the Tigers last round, the Gulls are clinging to a slim hope of featuring in the finals themselves - although they will need other results to go their way. They led from start to finish, shutting the more fancied Tigers out in the first half for a 14-0 lead at halftime, before going on to finish the job in the second, winning 22-6. In milestone news, Bears halfback Jamal Fogarty requires one more point to bring up 500 in the Cup; and three goals to bring up 200; whereas Gulls five-eighth Shaun Nona requires four more to bring up 500 Cup points.

NORTHS DEVILS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS

Bishop Park on Sunday, August 6 - 3pm
Referee: Michael Gordon
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 30 Norths 12 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvPHINS

The past two weeks have seen the Redcliffe Dolphins flex their premiership muscle to record strong wins, 42-6 over the Capras and 28-12 against the top-of-the-table Hunters last weekend. Always a powerhouse club, the Dolphins will be firm favourites to claim the honours in this match, having won the past five games played between the two sides. Norths are coming into this match off a bye, and while they have had time registering the results they want, they have performed well at home recently and only lost their most recent match a Bishop Park against Souths Logan thanks to a Matt Minto field goal in the 79th minute. This will be the 50th Cup game for Devils half Danny Kerr, who has previously played in the Cup competition with the Tweed Heads Seagulls and the Burleigh Bears.

EASTS TIGERS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS

Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Sunday, August 6 - 3pm
Referee: Ben Watts
Head-to-Head: Tweed 15 Easts 13 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvTHS
Live Stream: Tiger TV

Having relinquished third spot after last weekend's loss to Wynnum Manly, the Tigers will have their game faces on this weekend. They meet a Seagulls outfit which has struggled for consistency this year. However, the Seagulls do have some high-profile scalps to their name, including the league-leading PNG Hunters, and the Tigers wouldn't want to take them lightly on Sunday afternoon. Easts five-eighth Billy Walters will lace the boots for a 50th time in the Intrust Super Cup. His opposite number is Tweed excitement machine Lindon McGrady, a prodigious talent who has scored some breathtaking tries for Seagulls this year. In a big boost for the Seagulls, key forward Sam Saville has been named after making a comeback from injury in the Gold Coast competition last weekend. Sam Meskell and Dane Clarke also return for the Langlands Park clash.

*Statistics provided by Brad Tallon