After the competition took the week off, it’s time to get back into our Intrust Super Cup Round 10 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.
Of course some of the ISC players were involved in the clash against the NSW Canterbury Cup’s best last weekend, after Queensland lost every interstate battle last season, hopefully the Qld Residents win in an omen for an improved year in maroon.
No big headline game this weekend, but the TV game is just about right for a change which will see the Townsville Blackhawks welcome the Sunshine Coast Falcons. The Falcons score 72 points on their last TV away game, but that probably won’t happen again. Also wonderful to see the Intrust Super Cup talent get their chance in the NRL and shine, highlighted in Ryan Papenhuyzen’s exceptional performance on Thursday night against the Tigers.
Plenty of Sunday afternoon rugby league too with four games on. Why not treat yourself and get out of election mode.
And there’s a bunch of teams from 2nd to 7th within 2 points of each other, making most of the games interesting this weekend in terms of top eight.
If you like a brief preview of the entire round, your Round 10 Intrust Super Cup Predictions and Preview awaits.
Round 10 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 10 Intrust Super Cup tips below, and submit your via our Twitter or Facebook page.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL (CEO of Intrust Super)
EASTS TIGERS to beat Tweed Heads
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Mackay Cutters
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Northern Pride
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Townsville Blackhawks
IPSWICH JETS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat PNG Hunters
CENTRAL CAPRAS to beat Redcliffe Dolphins
SEASON PROGRESS 42/63
Last week 4/7
THE GURGLER’s TIPS (Us)
EASTS TIGERS to beat Tweed Heads
MACKAY CUTTERS to beat Norths Devils
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Northern Pride
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Townsville Blackhawks
IPSWICH JETS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat PNG Hunters
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Central Capras
SEASON PROGRESS 39/63
Last week 6/7
Follow our weekly Twitter post to add your selections.
Round 10 INTRUST SUPER CUP – MINI PREVIEW
Here’s a quick rundown on all things Round 10 Intrust Super Cup and our thoughts for all of the games this weekend.
The full Team Lists for Round 10 can be found via our friends at Nothing But League.
EASTS TIGERS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Saturday 3pm
@ Langlands
A good game to get the weekend going with Easts meeting a Tweed Heads side that have beaten top eight opposition in their last two matches, and are currently 2-2 on the road in 2019.
Tweed Heads will ant to be good on the road, as the Tigers are unbeaten at home in five 2019 games, and will be keen to get back onto the winners list after losing to local rivals Wynnum last start, who also cheekily overtook them on for and against.
A side interest for the game is the two Jacks brothers playing in the halves for either side – Ryley for Tweed Heads and Rhys for the Tigers. Although Billy Walters was named for the Storm so will probably return to sabotage that clash.
Easts should get back to winning ways, but the Tweed Heads are much improved in 2019, and a win can see them draw level with Easts on points.
NORTHS DEVILS v MACKAY CUTTERS
Saturday 6pm
@ Bishop Park
Norths’ four game winning run came to an end last time out against the Tweed Heads Seagulls at Piggabeen, that run inluded beating the three most northern teams in the competition, and Ipswich. So given their victories to northern opponent ratio, you would expect the Devils to get past the Mackay Cutters this weekend.
You would have thought that last year too in this fixture at Bishop Park, where the teams entered the game at opposite ends of the table, but Mackay upset them that day, so an upset can’t be ruled out.
The Cutters themselves like a northern opponent too, with all three of their wins coming from opponents Rockhampton and further north. They are yet to beat a side south of the Tropic of Capricorn this season.
The Devils have seemingly lost Gehamat Shibasaki to the Broncos for the forseeable James Roberts-less Broncos, but still have quality in the backs. The Mackay side doesn’t look too bad either on paper, so this could be a game worth avoiding an election night’s coverage for. Well not if you love the ABC’s Antony Green anyway.
NORTHERN PRIDE v BURLEIGH BEARS
Saturday 6pm
@ Bishop Park
North Queensland cities are used to watching out for severe weather, so the Pride shoudl be prepared for the Burleigh Bears storm to arrive this weekend.
The Bears have won five in a row, and have beaten lower half table opposition PNG and Redcliffe by a combined 104-4 in the past two weeks.
Some of that form has seen players promoted to the Titans NRL side, try scoring machine Jesse Arthars being one example. His wing partner Troy Leo can’t be far off the next back promoted.
Talking of runs, the Pride have now lost their last seven matches, after starting the season with 2/2. In a quirk, those two wins have come against the most recent premiers PNG and Redcliffe, the very team Burleigh has last played. Also, the previous premiers to those opponents was Burleigh, so perhaps we will see if the Pride just like to beat premiers.
Off season recruit from Brayden Torpy moves into the centres this weekend, and Jack Campagnolo comes into halfback alongside Jake Clifford at five eighth, who seems to be taking the blame for the Cowboys slow start to the season. Cameron Torpy has been names, opening the possibility of a Torpy-edo assault on the Bears. Poor pun used, off to the Sunday games now.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Sunday 1:10pm
@ Jack Manski
TV GAME (NineGEM or App)
The game of the weekend for TV and probably overall as this season’s runaway leaders of the competition face the team who have done that a few times before.
The unbeaten Falcons scored at a point a minute in their last game against Souths Logan, eventually stopping at 72 minutes. The last team to pass 70 points were their opponent this weekend when Townsville beat Burleigh 78-6 a few seasons ago.
It is hard to see the Falcons getting beaten by anyone this season, given their dominance over the competition, but the Blackhawks have enough firepower to keep them honest, in the forwards st least. The backline comparison seems well in the Falcons favour.
Great news in between the games for the Falcons’ Nicho Hynes who has been given an NRL contract with the Storm. A just reward for one of the form players of the competition in the best side. As proven by former Falcons player Papenhuyzen’s game for Melbourne, when these Storm feeder players get a chance they are ready to go. Jon Rueben goes against his former club this weekend, where he was a major part of their side and scored many a try.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v IPSWICH JETS
Sunday 3pm
@ Davies Park
The Magpies home form hasn’t been great of late, in fact they haven’t won at home since this time last season, but few would have predicted a loss the size of the one they suffered last round. The 72-4 thrashing by the Sunshine Coast was probably more about the superiority of the Falcons this season than the Magpies being terrible, by still the 68 point loss will hurt.
A chance to break the drought and make amends this weekend as they play Ipswich, who have been hit and miss in 2019 so far. Highlighted by their current 8th position on the ladder. Although one could argue the merits of a top eight that includes a side with a less than 50% record.
Ipswich’s Josh Cleeland continued his fine return to the Intrust Super Cup with a fine performance as captain of the winning Queensland residents last weekend. No other major team news. Although worth noting is Corey Allen’s first start at fullback for the Rabbitohs this weekend, another fine graduation for an Intrust Super Cup player.
PNG HUNTERS v WYNNUM SEAGULLS
Sunday 3:00pm
@ National football Stadium
Despite not being able to break their losing run last time out, it was a decent performance against a Townsville Blackhawks side that is always strong, and that the Hunters always play well against. A slightly harder task this weekend as Wynnum arrive in Port Moresby, Wynnum are flying high in equal second on the ladder after seeing off their local rivals Easts Tigers last game.
They also have the three try hero from the Qld Residents game in the form of Delouise Hoeter, who is as consistent an Intrust Super Cup performer as you will see in the competition.
It was also be a home coming for former PNG Hunter Edene Gebbie, whose move to Wynnum would have to classed as a huge success. He leads the competition in many stats, and has to be in contention for the upcoming Test positions in current form. You could imagine just a touch of regret for the Hunters who could probably do with his energy and running.
Another raft of changes for the Hunters this weekend as they look for the magic formula. Captain Adex Wera moves to fullback, moving Bland Abavu to the wing, which at least gives the Hunters some height for the high kicks. Justin Yoka gets another chance in the halves alongside Ase Boas, as Charlie Simon moves back to the interchange hooker role.
A big challenge lies ahead for the Hunters to start to change their fortunes, but with a PNG test looming, there’s the added incentive of a Kumuls jersey for those who can impress in the next month or so.
CENTRAL CAPRAS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Sunday 3:00pm
@ Browne Park
A rare Sunday afternoon game in Rockhampton, a treat for the locals, and a chance for the Capras to jump off the bottom of the Intrust Super Cup ladder.
The last placed Capras are looking for their second win of the season, and did OK against Ipswich last time out in Woorabinda.
Redcliffe went less well last time out, beaten 48-0 at home to the Burleigh Bears. They sit in 11th on two wins, but have the second lowest attacking total for the season with an average scored per game of just 12 points. The nil last time doesn’t help.
No real team news, Redcliffe hooker Jake Turpin continues his stint with the Broncos, but for how long after the Broncos signed James Segeyaro.
