The Easter Bunny is on the way and so are our Round 7 Intrust Super Cup Predictions and Preview.
More importantly than our predictions, we have the CEO of main sponsor Intrust Super Brendan O’Farrell giving us his tips each week.
The Easter weekend brings a new treat, four games kicking off on Thursday night, before a couple of games on Saturday, and the lone Sunday afternoon game for the TV.
If you like a brief preview of the entire round, your Round 7 Intrust Super Cup Predictions and Preview awaits.
Round 7 INTRUST SUPER CUP TIPPING – ARE YOU SMARTER THAN SUPER BOF?
Fancy yourself an Intrust Super Cup tipping guru. Reckon you’re better than the CEO of Intrust Super yourself? Find out his Round 7 Intrust Super Cup tips below, and submit your via our Twitter or Facebook page.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL (CEO of Intrust Super)
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Northern Pride
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Mackay Cutters
EASTS TIGERS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Central Capras
PNG HUNTERS to beat Ipswich Jets
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Townsville Blackhawks
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
SEASON PROGRESS 27/42
Last week 4/7
THE GURGLER’s TIPS (Us)
NORTHERN PRIDE to beat Wynnum Seagulls
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Mackay Cutters
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES to beat Easts Tigers
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Central Capras
PNG HUNTERS to beat Ipswich Jets
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Norths Devils
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
SEASON PROGRESS 24/42
Last week 3/7
Follow our weekly Twitter post to add your selections.
Round 7 INTRUST SUPER CUP – MINI PREVIEW
Here’s a quick rundown on all things Round 7 Intrust Super Cup and our thoughts for all of the games this weekend.
The full Team Lists for Round 7 can be found at the QRL Website.
NORTHERN PRIDE v WYNNUM SEAGULLS
Thursday 6pm
It started off all so well for the Northern Pride in 2019, beating both of the two most recent premiers, but since it has been a run of four straight losses, and a home in the bottom half of the table. Perhaps it is coincidental with the loss of Jake Clifford and Ben Hampton to the Cowboys, but the off-season recruit Brayden Torpy was a very adequate replacement, but it just hasn’t worked out. Yet.
Wynnum too arrive in Cairns on the back of a loss last weekend, which saw them drop from third to fifth. Not that losing to Burleigh on the Gold Coast is too bad a result, but it did ruin their four game winning run.
The Seagulls have already beaten the two northern Queensland teams they have played in Mackay and Central, so a 100% winning record awaits with victory this Thursday.
2018: Wynnum 16 Pride 22 — Pride 12 Wynnum 24
MACKAY CUTTERS v BURLEIGH BEARS
Thursday 6pm
Mackay weren’t able to build on the upset win over Townsville in Round 5 last weekend, falling just short in a second half comeback against Tweed Heads at home last week. In the end there was just one conversion in the game.
In happy news for the Cutters, last weekend saw the comeback of fullback Carlin Anderson, and here is hoping he can not only reproduce his best, but stay injury free. With the Cowboys underperforming, there’s a chance for a player of the quality of Anderson. With luck.
Burleigh are up to third, heading a group of five team on eight points, and have back to back victories coming into the Round 7 clash. Fullbacks aside, which is a pretty even contest, Burleigh on paper have the Cutters covered.
But not forgetting Mackay’s upset last time they played on a similar Friday night against Townsville.
2018: Burleigh 20 Mackay 10 — Burleigh 28 Mackay 16
EASTS TIGERS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Thursday 7pm
Easts were well beaten in last weekend’s battle of the two undefeated teams, and they will surely bounce back at home this Thursday night where they have lost just once in the previous 10 games at Langlands Park.
They welcome a Souths Logan side that got a second win in three matches on the road so far in 2019, and their other match was a narrow one point loss to Redcliffe.
Looking through the Magpies side, it is packed full of quality, but their lack of results at home are keeping them in the bottom half of the Intrust Super Cup ladder. You get the feeling that if it clicks the Magpies could go on a big run of results and take the competition by storm. But still glad to see despite all the quality names that record appearance holder Phil Dennis still makes the 17.
Last years two fixtures between these sides produced 122 points, so hopefully points a plenty for a Thursday night.
2018: Easts 36 Magpies 34 — Magpies 30 Easts 22
CENTRAL CAPRAS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Thursday 7pm
Two sides head into this Thursday’s clash in vastly different form, and ladder position.
It is last v first, with the Sunshine Coast Falcons undefeated and Capras losing every game since their first round win at Davies PArk.
Sunshine Coast could not have been more impressive last weekend in the table topping clash on the coast, those who arrived early for the Souths-Warriors NRL clash were treated to a side who had a very good day out. Seeing the promising Nicho Hynes live in action proved he is worthy of a Storm chance.
With a strong wind, it was thought perhaps it was that giving the Falcons the big advantage in the first half, but the Sunshine Coast were first to score in the second half, scored whilst down to 12 men, and only let in an Easts try with two minutes to go. Sunshine Coast are the real deal.
Central Capras were well beaten by the PNG Hunters in Emerald, giving the PNG side their first win and the Capras their fifth straight loss.
The arrival of the competition leader looks likely to extend that losing run. Although worth noting is last year’s upset in the fixture in Rockhampton.
2018: Central 26 Falcons 18 — Falcons 38 Central 0
PNG HUNTERS v IPSWICH JETS
Saturday 3pm
The Hunters looked good on Saturday night in Emerald as they finally got their first win of the season, but despite that success there are still a number of changes heading into this weekend. At least they are keeping with the same halves combination of Ase Boas and Jerry Teme, and mat trick hero from their last home game Joe Joshua at fullback.
Great timing to win their first game and hopefully come into form, they now play six of the next eight games at home. If their season is not to fizz out early, they need to make these next home games count, and perhaps pinch an away win against the Dolphins.
They need to continue scoring points, as they are currently just three points ahead of the lowest scorers. The Hunters defence is a little better as the sixth worse, not bad since they lost their first five.
Ipswich were a little disappointing at home to a Norths side that looked very good in last weekend’s TV game in Ipswich. And they have yet to beat th Hunters in PNG. They are also rivalling their opponent with changes to their side, making eight changes this week to the Hunters 9.
2018: Ipswich 8 PNG 6 — PNG 22 Ipswich 12
NORTHS DEVILS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Saturday 5pm
A match up of two impressive winners from last weekend, and sides that currently sit in sixth and fourth respectively.
It was the first glimpse of Norths on TV for 2019, and they did very well against the Jets. They had a strong opening half and weathered the Ipswich onslaught or a while until they kicked on to victory.
Once again, having seen Norths play for the first time this season via TV, in particular Gehamat Shibasaki and Nixon Putt.
Townsville were even more impressive thrashing the Redcliffe Dolphins, and although their 30 point win seems impressive enough, they also have competition’s best defence as they have let in just under 12 points a game this season. Such a change from previous seasons where the Blackhawks seemed to be scoring 40+ every game.
2018: Norths 27 Townsville 24 — Townsville 30 Norths 16
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Sunday 1:10pm
One can’t remember the Dolphins ever starting off a season with so few wins, and they head into the only clash on Sunday with just the two points from a narrow one point win over the Magpies in Round 5. The poor start to the 2019 season leaves Redcliffe in second last, only off the bottom thanks to a slightly better points difference.
Redcliffe are the lowest scorers this season, scoring just under 12 points a game, although worth pointing out that despite three more wins and a nice seventh place location on the ladder, Tweed Heads have only averaged 14 points a game themselves so far.
Breaking a similar trend of slow starts to the season in previous years, Tweed Heads have won four of their first six games, and have won their last two away games, against Mackay and the Capras. And they have won their only TV game of the season so far, upsetting the Blackhawks in Round 2. Redcliffe have lost their only TV Game at Wynnum.
An interesting side note in the team lists with former Dolphin Christian Hazard up against his former club after a stint in Sydney.
2018: Redcliffe 42 Tweed 16 – Redcliffe 30 Tweed 14
