The latest weekend of Intrust Super Cup has been completed, and we have the Intrust Super Cup Round 5 Results and our thoughts on the major points.
At the end of Intrust Super Cup Round 5, there remains just one team without a win as sadly for the PNG Hunters fans, their winless start to the season continues after being well beaten at Norths on Saturday night.
Redcliffe’s loss to Ipswich on the same evening meant the two most recent premiers are last and second last with just one win between them. Talk about a competition that gives everyone a go.
There was a surprise or two also this weekend, the first on Friday night. But more on that soon.
All of that and more below with our Intrust Super Cup Round 4 Results and Thoughts.
FRIDAY NIGHT SURPRISE IN TOWNSVILLE
According to the QRL Tipping stats in their weekly preview just 5% thought that Mackay could beat the Blackhawks in Townsville on Friday night.
95% of the tipping competition, including ourselves from our Round 5 preview, were wrong.
Townsville did score first, but only the Cutters scored thereafter, turning a 12-6 lead at half time into a 20-6 win by full time. The 20 points conceded was over the season average of the Blackhawks this season (still at just over 12 points a game despite the loss).
It was Mackay’s first win over Townsville since the Blackhawks arrival in the Intrust Super Cup in 2015, and after a very ordinary 2018, they’ll surely take a 2-3 start to the season with positive points difference.
POINTS A PLENTY FOR THE STORM FEEDER TEAMS
The Falcons maintained their unbeaten start to the season by flogging the Northern Pride 50-10 on Saturday on the Sunshine Coast.
10 tries in all were scored by the Sunshine Coast, eight of them before the Northern Pride got on the board.
Sandor Earl, hoping for a second chance in the NRL with Melbourne and probably deserving of one given his treatment by ASADA compared to the Sharks, did his chances little harm with a hat trick of tries. Jonathon Rueben and Todd Murphy also scored twice, and PNG international Justin Olam continued is fine scoring run with another.
The 50-10 loss for the Pride shows how quickly things can turn in the Intrust Super. After impressively beating the last two ISC premiers to start the season, the Pride are now out of the eight with three straight losses.
Although just outdone in points scored and size of victory, Easts Tigers continued their unbeaten season with a convincing 44-12 win over the Central Capras in Sunday’s TV game.
Popular prop Albert Vete secured himself a hat trick, and the Tigers scored eight tries in all.
It barely gets closer up the top, as both sides are on 10 points and have a points difference of 80.
Still no losses for any Melbourne affiliated side after today’s action.
PNG HUNTERS DOWN TO THE DEVILS IN NUNDAH
Another week, and another loss for the PNG Hunters on Saturday night, and after showing signs of improvement against Easts Tigers last weekend with their returning star Ase Boas on board, the 28-6 loss could be seen as a step backwards.
There was another massive shake up with the squad this weekend, with injuries and form forcing Michael Marum and his team to make huge changes to the squad for a second straight week. Whilst hat trick hero from two weeks prior Joe Joshua came in, they lost captain Adex Wera and Moses Meninga, among others.
Things started promisingly enough for the Hunters as they led a game for the first time this season, scoring early in the 10th minute through Brendon Gutono. That was all the scoring for the evening for the Hunters as Norths scored four tries in 16 minutes from the 19th minute, 22-6 being the half time damage.
There was only one more converted try for the Devils in the second half, but it was the scoring in the final 40 minutes, which sadly left PNG Hunters last and winless after five rounds. Norths meanwhile have a 3-2 record, and their current W-L-W-L-W pattern should see them play finals football if it continues.
Some good news for PNG Fans is the continued great form by Nixon Putt for the Devils. Not only for the Kumuls’ internationals later in the season, but playing for a Broncos feeder club gives you an outside chance at a taste of NRL action, especially around Origin time.
WYNNUM WIN THE FLOCKBUSTER
Wynnum took out yet another all-Seagulls clash at Piggabeen, and in the process helped themselves to third place, and the only team with a record of 4-1.
Perhaps the Broncos with their woes in the halves could consider giving the young Wynnum number six Tom Dearden a go in the NRL.
Even if that does happen, 2019 looks like it is going to be a much season for Red and Green feathered flock, and a return to the finals awaits with their start and extension to a top eight.
INTRUST SUPER CUP ROUND 5 RESULTS
Townsville Blackhawks 6 MACKAY CUTTERS 20
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 50 Northern Pride 10
Redcliffe Dolphins 12 IPSWICH JETS 20
NORTHS DEVILS 28 PNG Hunters 6
EASTS TIGERS 44 Central Capras 12
Tweed Heads Seagull 6 WYNNUM SEAGULLS 32
Souths Logan Magpies 22 BURLEIGH BEARS 38
INTRUST SUPER CUP ROUND 5
| Team | Pld | W | L | F | A | PD | Pts |
| Tigers | 5 | 5 | 0 | 150 | 70 | 80 | 10 |
| Falcons | 5 | 5 | 0 | 166 | 86 | 80 | 10 |
| Wynnum | 5 | 4 | 1 | 126 | 66 | 60 | 8 |
| Bears | 5 | 3 | 2 | 144 | 78 | 66 | 6 |
| Blackhawks | 5 | 3 | 2 | 92 | 64 | 28 | 6 |
| Devils | 5 | 3 | 2 | 130 | 106 | 24 | 6 |
| Seagulls | 5 | 3 | 2 | 70 | 92 | -22 | 6 |
| Tweed Hds | 5 | 2 | 3 | 102 | 88 | 14 | 4 |
| Pride | 5 | 2 | 3 | 76 | 116 | -40 | 4 |
| Jets | 5 | 2 | 3 | 82 | 126 | -44 | 4 |
| Dolphins | 5 | 1 | 4 | 65 | 108 | -43 | 2 |
| Magpies | 5 | 1 | 4 | 92 | 155 | -63 | 2 |
| Capras | 5 | 1 | 4 | 96 | 162 | -66 | 2 |
| Hunters | 5 | 0 | 5 | 46 | 120 | -74 | 0 |
