Our Intrust Super Cup Predictions Round 21 and Preview awaits, a weekend where all the dust may settle in terms of top eight and bottom one.
The weekend’s big game sees Townsville Blackhawks try and knock off the dominant Sunshine Coast Falcons. If they don’t the Falcons could have the minor premiership wrapped up mathematically.
Further down is an interesting match between Easts and Tweed Heads, battling it out for the vital sixth spot and a home final. Although both will be wary of the in-form Dolphins who play the Capras at home.
As ever, Intrust Super’s Brendan O’Farrell as ever has provided his expert opinion on who will win. And we provide our less expert tips for each game as well.
Intrust Super Cup Predictions Round 21 – 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 21 Intrust Super Cup tips below, and submit your via our Twitter or Facebook page.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL (CEO of Intrust Super)
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Northern Pride
IPSWICH JETS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Mackay Cutters
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Central Capras
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Townsville Blackhawks
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Easts Tigers
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat PNG Hunters
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Intrust Super Cup Predictions Round 21 INTRUST SUPER CUP – MINI PREVIEW
Here’s our quick rundown on all things Round 21 Intrust Super Cup than usual. A mini preview to save you time.
BURLEIGH BEARS v NORTHERN PRIDE
Sat 17th Aug – 4pm @ Pizzey Park
Contrasting fortunes in the north last weekend for these two sides.
Burleigh finally broke a PNG Hoodoo, having not beaten the Hunters in PNG ever before last weekend.
The Northern Pride meanwhile were run over by Herbie Farnsworth and the Norths Devils to the tune of 62-14.
These teams sit third and third last respectively, with Burleigh’s superior points difference giving them the edge over Wynnum if they can bridge the two competition point gap to second.
Northern Pride can drop below the Hunters if the Hunters win one more game than them. Neither are likely this weekend, so the Pride will likely remain third last.
We Say: Burleigh by plenty, at least twenty.
IPSWICH JETS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Sat 17th Aug – 6pm @ North Ipswich Reserve
Big news in Ipswich land with half of the Walker brothers leaving the coaching duo at the end of this season. Ben, that is. Former premiership winning captain Keiron Lander is set to help out the remaining brother Shane as an assistant. A shame really that the Walker Brothers coaching franchise was never given a crack at the NRL, perhaps the latest snub from the Gold Coast probably the last straw, and who could blame them. They could have done something different, and transformed an NRL club, and possibly the game itself. Now, we’ll never know.
Onto this weekend’s game, and it is two sides with not a great deal to play for. Ipswich are mathematically still in finals contention, but realistically four points behind Redcliffe and 100+ points worse off with differential, it is unlikely to say the least.
It won’t stop them entertaining, and they can at least play the remaining games for the now record breaking coaching duo of the Walker brothers.
Souths Logan have had a much better second half of the season, but 2019 is a missed opportunity given the playing roster they had. Still, they are the only side to beat the Redcliffe Dolphins in the last two months, and that includes the top three sides.
We Say: A see sawing encounter is decide by an Ipswich length of the field special with a few minutes to go.
MACKAY CUTTERS v NORTHS DEVILS
Sat 17th Aug – 6pm @ BB Print Stadium
Norths had a real night out in Cairns last weekend, running out big 62-14 winners over the Northern Pride. In particular Norths winger Herbie Farnsworth scoring 4 tries and 9 goals. So safe to say that travelling up to northern Queensland shouldn’t pose too many issues for the Devils.
They do have a hit and miss record in Mackay though, with the Cutters leading 3-2 in Mackay since 2014. But recent form must count for something, Mackay have lost their last four home games.
Meanwhile, Norths haven’t lost to any opponents from Rockhampton north this season in seven games home and away.
And the Devils can seal a certain fifth place finish and a home final this weekend with a win.
We Say: Norths by enough over a determined Mackay Cutters, maybe a converted try or two.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v CENTRAL CAPRAS
Sat 17th Aug – 6pm @ Dolphin Oval
The in form Dolphins have won 6 of their last seven games, and in the process have beaten the top three sides, and aside from being the only team to beat the Falcons this year, their most impressive win must be the 43-0 defeat of the Tigers last weekend.
They will play this weekend without Izaia Perese, who will make his NRL debut for the Broncos. Given how recent recruits from Redcliffe have gone for the Broncos (Turpin, Staggs) they may not see him again this season.
That is the life of an Intrust Super Cup side, who learn to live without some of the best players week to week. Redcliffe still have plenty of quality left, and they can seal their top eight spot this week.
Central Capras can also seal a position this weekend, and sadly it is the wooden spoon. Barring a dramatic turnaround of differential for the PNG Hunters, the Capras need to win all their remaining games and hope the Hunters don’t win any.
Their form at Redcliffe is very hit and miss. Since 2014 there has been a draw and six point loss, but there has also been 40-4 and 68-16 wins to Redcliffe.
We Say: Redcliffe by quite a few, 40 plus?
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Sun 18th Aug – 1:10pm @ Sunshine Coast Stadium
Game of the weekend for us, and the TV cameras agree as first v fourth play on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday afternoon.
A win for the Blackhawks could throw the race for the top two wide open, but a loss will hand the Falcons the minor premiership, which in fairness they deserve.
Nicho Hynes is named to return for the Falcons this weekend, but he certainly looked comfortable for Melbourne against the Rabbitohs last weekend in the NRL. A decent reward for a stellar season.
He isn’t the only decent player inaction on the Sunshine Coast this weekend, with some cracking head to heads.
Hookers Harry Grant v Josh Chudleigh, Jon Rueben v Zac Santo on the wing, Todd Murphy v Shaun Nona at halfback are all great match ups. And NRL Regular Curtis Scott is named in the centres too.
Plenty to look forward to on TV on Sunday then.
We Say: Falcons to soar 10 points higher than a Blackhawk.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v EASTS TIGERS
Sun 18th Aug – 2:00pm @ Piggabeen
Who doesn’t love Piggabeen on a Sunday afternoon.
Sunday’s other all top eight battle sees sixth placed Tweed Heads and Easts Tigers in seventh face off. With just one competition point in it.
Ash Taylor continues his stint in the black and white, and the Seagulls have won two of their last three to stop the previous slide of five losses in a row.
Easts have just one draw in their last four games, and have scored two points in two weeks.
We Say: Easts Tigers to make the battle for sixth place interesting.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS v PNG HUNTERS
Sun 18th Aug – 2:05pm @ BMD Kougari Oval
Last week said it wasn’t all about Willie Minoga, but we lied.
We’ll be at the game this weekend this weekend to see the great man in action, along with the rest of the Hunters.
Although, we might add that the last time Willie Minoga played at Kougari was when he scored the winning try in the last minute last season.
That was a different season though, for both sides. The Hunters have forgotten how to win on the road, and the Seagulls are almost invincible at home.
PNG have won just once on the road this season, and while that’s only 50% lower than the total of home wins it still tells the story of an underwhelming 2019. And 2018 really, as the Hunters have won just 2/9 in Brisbane games since the start of last season. Which of course include their bunny of the Magpies at home, who they are due to play two weeks later.
Wynnum home form has completely reversed, and is the backbone of their finals tilt. 2018 saw just 3 wins from 11 games at Kougari, while this season has seen just the one loss to the Sunshine Coast Falcons. So no shame there.
The Falcons can do Wynnum a favour this weekend by beating the Blackhawks which would put four points between the second placed Seagulls and fourth placed Townsville.
Garry Lo did score on his return to the Hunters last weekend, and the former try scorer of the year will be one to watch. PNG fans of course spoiled for choice with the lively Edene Gebbie playing for Wynnum as well.
We Say: Wynnum too good at home this year for a Hunters upset. We’ll just enjoy seeing some of our favourites run around again.
