Time for the weekly Intrust Super Cup preview with predictions from Intrust Super’s Brendan O’Farrell, with an added Intrust Super Cup Country Week 2019 Guide in honour of the special week of rugby league.
The Get in the Game Country Week is one of rugby league’s great concepts, one that the QRL should be proud of.
Intrust Super Cup Country Week is not a half-hearted, occasional game in a regional town, it goes to all places big and small, and the teams truly get into the local area as part of the game. It’s why it works.
And Country Week doesn’t just go back to the same places every year, it spreads its wings all over the state, and PNG.
It would be great for rugby league if the NRL replicated, but given how quickly they picked up Magic Weekend from the UK, and the fact that a Intrust Super Cup Country Week 2019 style round wouldn’t make the NRL any money will probably never see it happen.
Onwards now to our Intrust Super Cup Country Week 2019 preview and predictions.
GUEST TIPSTER – BRENDAN O’FARRELL – INTRUST SUPER
PNG HUNTERS to beat Easts Tigers
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Central Capras
IPSWICH JETS to beat Northern Pride
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Mackay Cutters
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Norths Devils
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Burleigh Bears
Intrust Super Cup Country Week 2019 Guide
Instead of the usual bits and pieces of each game with some awful tips, this week we hopefully provide a mini guide to each Country Week location along with our awful tips.
PNG HUNTERS v EASTS TIGERS
Saturday 2pm – Aipus Oval, Wabag
LOCATION INFO
WABAG – population 4072 (2000) – is in the Western Highlands region of PNG. Easts Tigers face the longest journey of any team for the Intrust Super Cup Country Week 2019 with six hours of flying and more ahead.
LOCAL TEAM
ENGA MIOKS – the local side finished as runners up in the Digicel Cup in 2018, the side featuring original PNG Hunter Mark Mexico. They are currently mid table in this season’s competition.
MILDLY INTERESTING BIT
It is likely to be the highest ever elevation any Intrust Super Cup has been played at. Wabag is 1830 metres above Sea Level, up in the Western Highlands, and hour and a half flight + more from Port Moresby.
WE SAY….. The travel to take it out of the Tigers, and the Hunters to bounce back with a win over what is likely to be one of the most passionate group of rugby league fans the competition will experience this season. Or ever.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v CENTRAL CAPRAS
Saturday 6pm – Wayne Taylor Oval, Ilfracombe
LOCATION INFO
Ilfracombe – population 259 (2016) – is on the road to Longreach, a mere 660km west of Rockhampton, which is half of the distance that Tweed Heads is from Ilfracombe.
LOCAL TEAM
MILDLY INTERESTING BIT
Ilfracombe is the location with the smallest population that the 2019 Country Week carnival will visit. It was home to no less a person than Quentin Bryce – former Governor-General. It was also the place that gave us former Origin great and current Cowboy Matt Scott. Originally named Wellshot after the massive Sheep Station, which once held 460,00 sheep.
WE SAY….. the Capras are getting close to that next win, and the Seagulls are in a form slump with five straight losses. They’ll be watching for the Dolphins if they don’t get the two points here. So we say Central Capras to break the longest winless run of the season.
NORTHERN PRIDE v IPSWICH JETS
Saturday 6pm – Ken Brown Oval, Thursday Island
LOCATION INFO
Thursday Island – population 2,610 (2011) – is in the Torres Strait between Cape York and PNG, and an almost two hour flight from Cairns, Throw in a Brisbane connection for the Jets.
LOCAL TEAM
MILDLY INTERESTING BIT
The first game on Thursday Island as part of Country Week, the Intrust Super Cup has previously played not far away on the mainland in Bamaga. Former coach and now ABC talking man Matthew Elliott, is from Thursday Island. As is big man Jesse Williams who managed to get into the NFL. And not return a jerk like Jarryd Hayne.
WE SAY….. Ipswich to double down on their excellent win over Top 8 side Easts last weekend with a win against the Pride. The Jets need to win to stay in touch with the finals race.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Saturday 6:30pm – Club Pittsworth, Pittsworth
LOCATION INFO
PITTSWORTH – population 3,294 (2016) – is one of the closer games to Brisbane, and a very achievable target for those in the South East corner to get a taste of the Country Week, around a 2 hour drive for most. No excuses then, except it will probably be very cold on Saturday night. Why not stop at the Bull & Barley Inn in Cambooya on the way through for the Bunny Chow which is impossible to finish as a eating challenge of one.
LOCAL TEAM
MILDLY INTERESTING BIT
Pittsworth’s big tourist thing is the Pittsworth Sprints – two days of racing cars around an industrial estate. Former Bronco and Maroon Mark Hohn is also quite an attraction in our book as a forgotten Queensland Origin player.
WE SAY….. Dolphins to get out to an early lead and hang on, against fast finishing Magpies.
WYNNUM SEAGULLS v MACKAY CUTTERS
Saturday 7pm – The Eddie Lee FIeld, Cloncurry
LOCATION INFO
CLONCURRY – population 2,719 (2016) – is so far west and north that its neighbour is Mount Isa, and Mackay certainly gets the better of the travelling here. Although you’d think everyone would fly, if both sides did drive Mackay would need 1,116 kms to get the job done, and Wynnum would need another 600km if they go the short way.
LOCAL TEAM
MILDLY INTERESTING BIT
Known as the friendliest town in Queensland, after twice winning an award that says so. It holds the record for the highest temperature in Australia with a mild 53.1 degrees. It is also the birth place of crocodile hating, Queensland maverick MP Bob Katter.
WE SAY….. Wynnum Seagulls are going well, but lost out to bayside rivals Redcliffe last weekend in a bit of a surprise. A win here over the Cutters should keep them in the top four, and so that’s what we say will happen.
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v NORTHS DEVILS
Sunday 1:10pm – Bernie & John Cronin Memorial, Nanango
LOCATION INFO
NANANGO – population 3,599 (2016) – around 200km out of Brisbane, it is another decent location for those in SEQ to get to a game. Or catch it on TV on Channel Nine. There’s not much difference in the distance that either team has to travel to the game.
LOCAL TEAM
MILDLY INTERESTING BIT
A good mix of interesting things for Nanango – it is Queensland’s 4th oldest town, and is known for festivals using weapons of contrasting eras. Chainsaw sculptures and Medieval Festival. The latter is in August for those thinking of a trip. It is also home to Queensland Opposition leader Deb Frecklington, who could be on hand to blame a loss for either side on the current ALP government.
WE SAY….. The Sunshine Coast Falcons have responded to their first loss of the season to Redcliffe with two wins since of a combined total or 112 – 14. So makes it hard to tip anyone else, but the Falcons could possibly lose Harry Grant to the Storm with Munster’s absence, so it gives the Devils a sniff of an upset.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v BURLEIGH BEARS
Sunday 2pm – AR “Artie” Goften Oval, Ingham
LOCATION INFO
INGHAM – population 4,357 (2016) – just a short 110km drive down the road for the Blackhawks, and considerably more for the Bears.
LOCAL TEAM
MILDLY INTERESTING BIT
The home of Queensland Origin Prop legends Sam Backo and Greg Dowling.
WE SAY….. Game of the round based on current league positions, which we think will stay the same as Burleigh will be too strong. Although Townsville’s 60-6 was a flashback to the days where the Blackhawks would flog a couple of rivals throughout the season, and that gives Townsville a real chance. Wie still say Burleigh though.
