Time for a Quick Intrust Super Cup Round 1 Preview, where we attempt to run through all the good things that await in the opening round of the 2018 season.
Here’s just a little taste of what lies ahead this weekend, covering all the way from PNG To Tweed Heads.
We have a short game by game preview, expert tips, odds, TV times, and anything else you could possibly want to know about the Intrust Super Cup Round 1.
And for the PNG Hunters fans, we have an extra little bit about our thoughts on our favourite sporting team on the planet.
Want to read more? Your Quick Intrust Super Cup Round 1 Preview awaits.
Intrust Super Cup Round 1 PREVIEW – MATCH BY MATCH IN 30 WORDS OR SO
SATURDAY 1:10pm – SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v BURLEIGH BEARS
New season – new TV Day/Time for the TV Game which now kicks off the round. The 2016 Premiers who had a good late season run take on one of the favourites for the 2018 title in what should be an entertaining opener to the season.
Last Year – Burleigh 12 Falcons 24 – Burleigh 32 Falcons 26 *
SATURDAY 6pm – NORTHERN PRIDE v WYNNUM SEAGULLS
Todd Carney is the big name, and the big news story leading into the start of the 2018 Intrust Super Cup season. He takes his first step back to NRL redemption on Saturday evening in Cairns as the Wynnum Seagulls fly into town. Battle of 6’s – Carney v Nona – worth the price of admission alone. Nona of course led the Pride to ISC and NRL State Championship glory in 2014.
Last Year – Wynnum 20 Pride 18 – Wynnum 16 Pride 40 *
SATURDAY 6pm – MACKAY CUTTERS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Mackay are yet to beat Townsville since the Blackhawks arrived in the Intrust Super Cup in 2015, but the margin for games in Mackay have been only 2 points, 2 points and a draw in three visits. Another tight contest awaits.
Last Year – Townsville 60 Mackay 12 – Mackay 20 Townsville 20
SATURDAY 7pm – CENTRAL CAPRAS v EASTS TIGERS
Some big name recruiting done by both sides in the off season. Is Dave Taylor aka Coal Train enough to derail the Tigers opening match, perhaps not with the overall quality of the Tigers team. Super excited about the return to the Intrust Super Cup of Joe Bond at fullback.
Last Year – Easts 36 Central 24 – Central 26 Easts 34
SUNDAY 2pm – NORTHS DEVILS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
It took Tweed Heads 7 games to win their first match in 2017, coincidentally against the Devils at Bishop Park. Norths meanwhile will hope to replicate their 4/5 start to 2017 and more with their new coach. Sam Tagatese is an eye catching recruit for Norths, as he returns to the club where he played Colts.
Last Year – Norths 28 Tweed Heads 34
SUNDAY 2pm – REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
A classic Sunday afternoon clash between two classic Brisbane based teams. A point of interest lies in the new recruits in the halves – the Magpies welcome ex Falcon Guy Hamilton and Cameron Cullen returns to the Dolphins – a club he played with in 2014 and the club he opposed in a Man of the Match performance in Burleigh’s 2016 Grand Final win against Redcliffe.
Last Year – Redcliffe 52 Magpies 12 – Magpies 12 Redcliffe 19
SUNDAY 3pm – PNG HUNTERS v IPSWICH JETS
Two sides that always provide entertainment for different reasons. The Hunters were competitive enough against the Broncos in a recent trial in Port Moresby, a good sign they won’t suffer too much from post premiership blues. Ipswich are yet to win in PNG, so a big task lies ahead.
Last Year – Ipswich 12 PNG 32 – PNG 20 Ipswich 4
- Country Week games
FULL ROUND 1 TEAMS FROM THE QRL WEBSITE
INTRUST SUPER CUP ROUND 1 PREVIEW – ODDS AND SODS
HEAD TO HEAD ODDS
FALCONS $1.45 – BURLEIGH $2.75 – BURLEIGH +6.5 start
MACKAY $3.20 – TOWNSVILLE $1.35 – MACKAY +8.5 start
PRIDE $1.70 – WYNNUM $2.15 – WYNNUM +2.5 start
CAPRAS $2.75 – EASTS $1.45 – CAPRAS +6.5 start
REDCLIFFE $1.55 – MAGPIES $2.45 – MAGPIES +4.5 start
NORTHS $1.35 – TWEED HEADS $3.20 – TWEED HEADS +8.5 start
PNG HUNTERS $1.45 – IPSWICH $2.75 – IPSWICH +6.5 start
MULTI MADNESS
Stand by for our Mega Multi Madness for Intrust Super Cup Round 1. Odds and details to follow when we get them.
BURLEIGH +6.5 start
PRIDE to win
CUTTERS +8.5 start
EASTS TIGERS to win
TWEED HEADS +8.5 start
REDCLIFFE to win
PNG HUNTERS to win
$1 pays $40
CURRENT PREMIERSHIP ODDS
Townsville $4.75 Easts $6.00 Falcons $7.00
Redcliffe $8.00 Magpies $9.00 PNG $10.00
Norths $11.00 Wynnum $12.00 Burleigh $13.00
Ipswich $21.00 Pride $23.00 Mackay $26.00
Central $34.00 Tweed Heads $67.00
Odds courtesy of UBet as of 7/3/2018
WHAT’S ON TV/LIVE STREAM
Can’t get to a game? Here’s the details about how you can watch some of the action this weekend.
CHANNEL NINE TV GAME
Saturday 1pm – SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v BURLEIGH BEARS
OTHER LIVE STREAMING
TIGERSTV – click here for more (now Ruby League Gold 24/7)
WYNNUM SEAGULLS – click here for more
IPSWICH JETS – click here for more
PNG HUNTERS EXTRA
Time for a little bit extra on our favourite sporting team in the world.
Here’s this week’s team….
1. Adex Wera 2. Wawa Paul 3. Nixon Put 4. Willie Minoga 5. Butler Morris 6. Ase Boas (c) 7. Watson Boas 8. Moses Meninga 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Enock Maki 11. Rhadley Brawa 12. John Andy 13. Adam Korave 14. Charlie Simon 15. McKenzie Yei 16. Edene Gebbie 17. Dilbert Isaac 18. Silas Gahuna 19. Brendon Gotuno 20. Patrick Morea
Coach: Michael Marum
And some thoughts….
The Hunters are yet to lose to Ipswich in PNG, so keeping that record intact is the minimum. The big question in 2018, like any other reigning premier is whether they can back it up. After a number of Hunters produced excellent performances at the Rugby League World Cup, and they were competitive against the Broncos in a pre season trial, that appears as if it won’t be a problem.
Looking forward to seeing new names, Charlie Simon has been suggested to us as a newbie to watch, and we will. Adam Korave returns to the Hunters as a name to know and trust. The slippery Adex Wera fills in at fullback for Stargroth Amean. Missing from last year’s premiership winning squad are Israel Eliab and Bland Abavu, who appear to have been dropped, and the Wellington brothers who are now attached to Widnes in the UK Super League. Unfortunately they are doing so without Kato Ottio alongside them, which is sure to be a big motivation for the Hunters in Round 1 and beyond.
Finally, always great to see Willie Minoga running around again in 2018, a frightening prospect to face in the centres.
READ MORE
Our 2018 Intrust Super Cup Season Preview
Our Guide on following the PNG Hunters in 2018
