2018 Intrust Super Cup Draw Released by QRL

An early Christmas present has delivered by the QRL as the 2018 Intrust Super Cup Draw aka Queensland Cup Draw was released today.

There’s a few surprises in the draw, not least is the transfer of the TV games from the 12:40pm/1:40pm slot on a Sunday to 12pm/1pm on a Saturday afternoon.

Regular features from previous seasons return like the Rivalry Round and Get in the Game Country Week, the Country Week being one of rugby league’s great ideas,

Byes, which like the NRL, were a constant pain and have been cleaned up for 2018 thank goodness.

Follow our thoughts on the 2018 Intrust Super Cup Draw below.

CHANGES FROM THE 2018 INTRUST SUPER DRAW

TV GAMES FOR 2018

The biggest change for the 2018 Intrust Cup Season is the move of the TV game from Sunday to Saturday despite staying on Channel Nein. As stated in the QRL Media Release it was “Following a programming change, television games will now be played on Saturdays, starting in the 12noon time slot before moving to 1pm in April.”

One can only wonder what kind of “programming change” Channel Nein have up their sleeve for a Sunday afternoon. Based on previous history it will no doubt be quality. The Saturday afternoon timeslot will probably struggle up against a lot of Racing and AFL, and spare a thought for the clubs who’ll have to attract a crowd to these games with the previously mentioned distractions and a lot of junior rugby league played. And fancy playing at midday in the March sun. Good times.

And with Channel Nein’s insistence that Sydney clubs own the Sunday afternoon timeslot, we may be lost to Sunday afternoon rugby league completely. At least we had Intrust Super Cup to get us in the mood.

Another reason to hate Channel Nein I guess.

BYES

Bye rounds have been cleaned up in the 2018 Intrust Cup Draw, with just two bye affected rounds, back to back in Rounds 9/10. Round 9 will have four games, Round 10 will have three, and the team alternate over the two rounds which means the constant changing from 4,5,6,7 games each week has been simplified. And the slightly absurd situation of having reduced rounds at the sharp end of the year is over.

Everyone gets the weekend off from June 22 to June 24, as rugby league takes its Representative weekend. But you can be sure with the Pacfic Tests on that weekend that there will be plenty of PNG Hunters and Intrust Super Cup players on show.

2018 INTRUST SUPER CUP DRAW SPECIAL ROUNDS / VENUES

ROUND 3 – XXXX RIVALRY ROUND – 24/25 March

All of the local derbies and great rivalries they can fit into one round. 

ROUND 8 – ANZAC DAY WEEKEND – April 28/29

A big weekend of rugby league featuring the now traditional Burleigh v PNG Hunters clash.

ROUND 16 – INDIGENOUS ROUND – 30 June – 1 July

Actually doubles as the return leg of the Round 3 Rivalry Round

ROUND 19 – COUNTRY WEEK July 21/22

The Intrust Super Cup goes on the road as the entire round is played out at Regional Centres and Towns across the state. Proper Country football, not an occasional game due to Commonwealth Games.

MATCHES OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR HOME GROUNDS

The QRL do share the love more than most Australian competitions, and aside from the Country Week matches here are the different venues for the 2018 Intrust Super Cup season.

ROUND 4 – Norths v Wynnum @ Suncorp Stadium
ROUND 5 – Central v Burleigh @ Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone
ROUND 7 – Central v Northern Pride @ Alan McIndoe Oval, Emerald
ROUND 16 – Norths v Souths Logan @ Suncorp Stadium
ROUND 17 – Tweed Heads v Wynnum @ Ron Stark Oval, Stradbroke Island
ROUND 23 – Central v Sunshine Coast @ Salter Oval, Bundaberg

More will likely come, and we will keep them updated here.

2018 INTRUST SUPER CUP DRAW GAMES TO WATCH

ROUND 1/15 – TOWNSVILLE v MACKAY – Part of North Queensland Foley Shield
ROUND 3/16 – SUNSHINE COAST v PNG HUNTERS – Pity we have to wait until Round 3 for the Grand Final rematch
ROUND 3/16 – WYNNUM v REDCLIFFE – Bayside Herald Cup
ROUND 3/16 – NORTHERN PRIDE v TOWNSVILLE – Part of North Queensland Foley Shield
ROUND 3/16 – BURLEIGH v TWEED HEADS – Gold Coast Derby
ROUND 4/22 – NORTHERN PRIDE v MACKAY – Part of North Queensland Foley Shield
ROUND 6/17 – TWEED HEADS v WYNNUM – Flockbuster of the two Seagulls sides
ROUND 8 – BURLEIGH v PNG HUNTERS – Classic Anzac Day Encounter
ROUND 12 – WYNNUM v EASTS – Classic local rivalry
ROUND 15 – IPSWICH v PNG HUNTERS – Two of the Entertainers

2018 INTRUST SUPER CUP DRAW FIRST 6 ROUNDS

Get your pens and/or pencils out for the first six weeks of the 2018 Intrust Super Cup season.

Or visit the QRL Page for the Full Draw.