There’s nothing like the Intrust Super Cup aka the Queensland Cup in our opinion, it may be second tier in official structure, but as far as we’re concerned it is top dog. Thankfully another season awaits in 2016, and it looks better than ever.
All your favourites are here waiting, the cheap entry, the grass hill, the canned beer, and homemade food, the ground announcers from another era, and the simple pleasure of good quality rugby league without the trimmings. No amount of awful half time entertainment is needed, like the Insert Sponsor here relay races or other commercial rubbish at the bigger grounds, simply it’s just hundreds of kids playing many different games of league across the main field. But I say this every year, and will keep beating the drum for more to come. I’d rather spend my $30 on a full day out, in a timeslot that suits me.
That’s not to say the quality is that far below the NRL or Super League, in fact the Ipswich Jets were the talk of rugby league for a while last year with their different style of play, and some of the top Queensland Cup sides would have stretched a lot of the NRL teams last year. Why not catch up on the 2015 season with our Season Review at Nothing But League.
NOTHING BUT LEAGUE SEASON PREVIEWS
A full and proper season preview for all clubs and an overall summary can be found at Nothing But League here.
CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR
Here are the selection of the games we think are worth getting to or following in 2016.
R1 – Mackay v Central @ Rockhampton – return of the ex coach v1
R2 – Ipswich v Townsville @ North Ipswich Reserve – Grand Final Replay.
R2 – Easts v Sunshine Coast – return of the ex coach v2
R3 / R17 – Redcliffe v Wynnum Manly @ Home & Away – Battle for Herald Cup always good.
R6 / R23 – Easts v Wynnum Manly @ Home & Away – another great local rivalry.
R6 / R23 – PNG Hunters v Townsville @ Home & Away – Great new rivals – pushed each other for minor premiership – not one for TV though.
R8 / R22 – Northern Pride v Townsville @ Home / Away – The state most northern teams fight for supremacy.
R8 – Sunshine Coast v Ipswich @ Hervey Bay – Q Cup goes on the road and Wide Bay get a taste.
R8 – Burleigh v PNG Hunters @ Pizzey Park – A new Anzac Day tradition.
R11 / R21 – Norths v Redcliffe @ Home & Away – another great local rivalry.
R11 / R21 – Wynnum Manly v Tweed Heads @ Home / Away – excellent hashtag of #Flockbuster for clash of two Seagulls teams.
R12 – Ipswich v PNG @ North Ipswich Reserve – two of rugby league’s most different styles.
R19 – Redcliffe v PNG Hunters – both games at Dolphin Oval have been crackers so far.
Although they’re all good so get along to a game. So here’s the full draw courtesy of the QRL.
Updated Full Draw here.
Why not download an interactive version of your favourite or local club too.
Interactive Draw here.
PNG HUNTERS
We at The Gurgler are unashamedly big fans of the PNG Hunters. Were not from PNG, but have been swept by their infectious passion for rugby league, and their different style of play is most welcome against an NRL competition that can be tedious. We strive to be a place to keep those fans of the PNG Hunters informed throughout 2016.
Why not read the season preview we wrote via Nothing But League here.
For those like The Gurgler who live in SEQ and want to get a little taste, here are the away matches in and around the capital this season.
Why not get along to their first game in Round 1 at Davies Park.
PNG HUNTERS ON TOUR in 2016
March 6 v Magpies @ Davies Park
March 13 v Wynnum @ Kougari Oval
March 27 v Sunshine Coast @ Sunshine Coast Stadium (Easter Treat)
April 25 v Burleigh @ Pizzey Park (Anzac Day Weekend)
May 28-29 v Ipswich @ North Ipswich Reserve
June 25-26 v Norths @ Bishop Park
July 2-3 v Tweed Heads @ Piggabeen
July 16-17 v Redcliffe @ Dolphin Oval
WEEKLY PREVIEWS and ROUND UPS
The Gurgler writers submit weekly previews and reviews of each round, and have all the latest news a Queensland Cup aficionado could ever need at Nothing But League.
Stay in touch throughout the season here.
THE TEAMS
Below is our quick rundown of the basics for the Intrust Super Cup for the season ahead. We’ve included the twitter site for each team as a good way to keep in touch and follow the scores.
IPSWICH JETS
Twitter: @JetsRLFC
Home Ground: North Ipswich Reserve, North Ipswich
Coach: Ben and Shane Walker
Last Year: 3rd – Premiers – State Championship winners – 16 wins – 7 losses
2016 Premiership Odds: $12.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: David Fa’alogo – former South Sydney International
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Twitter: @TsvBlackhawks
Home Ground: Jack Manski Oval,
Coach: Kristian Woolf
Last Year: 1st – lost Grand Final – 19 wins, 3 losses – 1 draw
2016 Premiership Odds: $3.25
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Willie Minoga – Gurgler favourite and 2015 Person of the Year recruited from PNG
PNG HUNTERS
Twitter: @PNGHunters2014
Home Ground: National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Coach: Michael Marum
Last Year: 2nd – knocked out Week 3 of finals – 18 wins – 3 losses – 2 draws
2016 Premiership Odds: $6.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Watson Boas – exciting new addition for Hunters
EASTS TIGERS
Twitter: @EastsTigers
Home Ground: Suzuki Stadium Langlands Park, Coorparoo
Coach: Scott Sipple
Last Year: 5th – eliminated 2nd week of finals – 13 wins – 8 losses – 2 draws
2016 Premiership Odds: $12.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Daniel Foster – recruited from Penrith
The Tigers have live coverage of their games with the calling team that includes Warren Boland and friend of the Gurgler Matt Crowhurst. Keep an eye on their twitter for more.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
Twitter: @WynnumSeagulls
Home Ground: BMD Kougari Oval, Manly West
Coach: Jon Buchanan
Last Year: 4th – eliminated 1st week of finals – 16 wins – 7 losses
2016 Premiership Odds: $15.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Patrick Templeman – last year’s Intrust Super Cup player of the year.
The Seagulls also live stream some games. So keep an eye on their twitter also.
NORTHERN PRIDE
Twitter: @northern_pride
Home Ground: Barlow Park, Parramatta Park, Cairns
Coach: Joe O’Callaghan
Last Year: 6th – eliminated 1st week of finals – 14 wins – 9 losses
2016 Premiership Odds: $12.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Linc Port
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Twitter: @DolphinsRLFC
Home Ground: Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe
Coach: Adam Mogg
Last Year: 7th – 10 wins – 12 losses – 1 draw
2016 Premiership Odds: $10.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Tyson Cleal
MACKAY CUTTERS
Twitter: @MackayCutters
Home Ground: Stadium Mackay, South Mackay, Mackay
Coach: David Simpson
Last Year: 8h – 10 wins – 12 losses – 1 draw
2016 Premiership Odds: $15.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Pulou Vaituutuu – big name for big man.
BURLEIGH BEARS
Twitter: @BurleighBears
Home Ground: Pizzey Park, Miami
Coach: Jim Lenihan
Last Year: 9th – 10 wins – 13 losses
2016 Premiership Odds: $26.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Cameron Cullen – trades the maroon of Mackay for Burleigh.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Twitter: @THSeagullsRLFC
Home Ground: Piggabeen, Tweed Heads West
Coach: Aaron Zimmerle
Last Year: 10th – 9 wins – 13 losses – 1 draw
2016 Premiership Odds: $19.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Shannon Walker – the once fastest man in the Queensland Cup returns after playing 7’s rugby
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Twitter: @SC_Falcons
Home Ground: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana
Coach: Craig Ingebrigtsen
Last Year: 11th – 7 wins – 15 losses – 1 draw
2016 Premiership Odds: $12.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Ryley Jacks – Canadian International recruited from Burleigh
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Twitter: @SLMagpies Home
Ground: Davies Park, West End
Coach: Josh Hannay
Last Year: 12th – 7 wins – 15 losses – 1 draw
2016 Premiership Odds: $26.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Francis Fifita (no relation), once regarded as the next Sonny Bill Williams.
NORTHS DEVILS
Twitter: @Norths_Devils
Home Ground: Bishop Park, Nundah
Coach: Mark Gliddon
Last Year: 13th – 5 wins – 16 losses – 2 draws
2016 Premiership Odds: $19.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Todd Murphy – returns after a crack at the NRL last season.
CENTRAL CAPRAS
Twitter: @CQCapras
Home Ground: Browne Park, Wandal, Rockhampton
Coach: Kim Williams
Last Year: 14th – 1 win, 22 losses
2016 Premiership Odds: $34.00
Gurgler’s Player to Watch: Masada Iosefa – former NRL player.
