After an off season that feels way too long, the local rugby league returns this weekend, and so does our weekly thoughts starting with the Round 1 Intrust Super Cup Preview.
This season sees a more colourful weekly preview, with some barely interesting stats to accompany expert tips from the likes of Intrust Super CEO Brendan O’Farrell and Brisbane rugby league guru Matt Crowhurst.
Speaking of Matt, catch up with his 2020 Season Preview now for his thoughts on the winners and losers this season.
For now, it is all about the big first weekend of the season and our Round 1 Intrust Super Cup Preview.
Round 1 Intrust Super Cup Predictions
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – INTRUST SUPER CEO
Jets
Devils
Dolphins
Bears
Magpies
Tweed Seagulls
Tigers
MATT CROWHURST – BRISBANE LEAGUE GURU
Blackhawks
Cutters
Dolphins
Bears
Magpies
Tweed Seagulls
Tigers
Keeping reading for our thoughts on each game.
Round 1 Intrust Super Cup Preview Match by Match
IPSWICH JETS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Saturday 5:30pm
Live Stream Available at Ipswich Jets website.
The 2020 Intrust Super Cup season kicks off at North Ipswich Reserve between two towns steeped in military history, and two teams who usually produce quality contests.
All change at Ipswich as the Walker brithers have moved on, and sadly not an NRL club with their cavalier style of rugby league which would have been a hit. Premiership winning captain Kieron Lander takes over, so at least there’s a direct link back to their glory season.
As interesting as the contest is, for us we are even more interested in seeing the way they play in this new era.
A positive off season link up with the Knights has been countered by some key losses in the playing roster. Speed and Try Scoring machines Michael Purcell and Marmin Barba have left, but there is still enough quality, especially in the halves to be super competitive against Townsville.
Talking of Townsville, their first round side looks as strong as any of the great Intrust Super Cup teams they put out in the past. Of course we’ll highlight the acquisition of one of the PNG Hunters best from recent seasons – Moses Meninga – as a key signing.
Townsville won’t be daunted by the road trip either, they have clsoe to a 70% record in Brisbane since their arrival in 2015.
WE SAY
Townsville by 14
MACKAY CUTTERS v NORTHS DEVILS
Saturday 6:00pm
The only game out of South East Queensland for the Round 1 Intrust Super Cup sees Mackay save their travel legs against the Norths Devils.
After finishing dead last in 2018, a final 11th placing in last year’s Intrust Super Cup was decent improvement, and like every club more of the same will be hoped for in 2020. Having a few fringe Cowboys in their line up like PNG International Dan Russell will help. Their halves pairing of Tongan international Ata Hingano and Cooper Bambling is particularly promising.
WE SAY
Norths by 8
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Saturday 6:00pm
Some great players will be on show at Redcliffe on Saturday night, for the clash that remembers James Ackerman who played for both sides in the Intrust Super Cup.
Redcliffe as ever have been busy recruiting in the off season, perhaps with an eye on a potential SEQ based vacancy in the NRL. Our favourite inclusion is that of Marmin Barba, and the Dolphins ensure speed on both sides of the field with former Falcon Jon Reuben.
Our player to watch most is the Falcon’s number 1 Nicho Hynes. With a Melbourne contract in his back pocket, I fully expect him to get some chance in the NRL in 2020 and when he does he’ll never come back. For now, we are lucky enough to see him in the Intrust Super Cup.
WE SAY
An entertaining, end to end clash see the home side Redcliffe win by 2.
BURLEIGH BEARS v WYNNUM SEAGULLS
Sunday 12:10pm
Proper draw in the Intrust Super Cup in 2020, unlike the NRL. Grand Final replay, first round of the season.
Burleigh deserved their 2019 after a faultless finals campaign, and they really should have added a State Championship to that as well, but were stunned in the final seconds.
The Bears first round line up looks as strong as ever, with the usual PNG Bias of attention on PNG International Luke Page. But he did look sensational for PNG in the off season tests for the Kumuls.
Wynnum take mostly the same side into this weekend’s clash as their 2019 squad, with a notable exception of Pat Templeman and name off season signing Lachlan Maranta.
Wynnum have a decent record at Pizzey Park (50%) but haven’t beaten Burleigh in their last five meetings.
WE SAY
No Grand Final revenge here – Burleigh by 10.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v PNG HUNTERS
Sunday 3:00pm
If the Hunters wanted to start their new life with their new head coach Matt Church (only their second coach since 2014) they could barely ask for a better fixture. The Magpies have beaten the Hunters just once, and never at Davies Park.
It has been getting close in recent seasons, but somehow the men from PNG keep producing the results.
A lot of player turnover for the Hunters, but they do have the experience of 2017 premiership winning captain Ase Boas, and a host of other players getting a second chance in 2020 who were on the outer. Some like Joe Joshua and Charlie Simon have loads of potential, and get a second chance to show that.
We are still very sad that there will be no Willie Minoga in 2020. But here’s hoping a new coach will allow them to play with a little more flair in 2020.
Souths Logan again have a strong team on paper, but they had names and recruitment, with the addition of Darren Nicholls and Tom Dearden given them almost NRL quality halves. Plus with Guy Hamilton at the back, and nabbing Corey Paix to play hooker they are building a spine to envy at West End.
We’ll be there on Sunday, with no excuses not to join in.
WE SAY
Dare we say it will be a little bit of history repeating? PNG Hunters by four.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v NORTHERN PRIDE
Sunday 3:00pm
Off to Piggabeen for a Sunday afternoon for the Seagulls and the Pride to start their 2020 campaign.
Former South Sydney player Fetuli Talanoa is the name you know here for the Seagulls, but they have kept enough of the players to push deeper into finals this season.
Northern Pride performance could hinge on whether Jake Clifford (who missed out for the Cowboys this weekend in the NRL) will play. They still have fast man Gideon Gela-Mosby and former Cowboys stalwart Javid Bowen in the backline too and workhorse forward Rod Griffin.
Tweed have avoided defeat in the last three matches H2H – winning three and drawing one – but still have a long way to go to beat the Pride’s run of seen in a row. The Pride hold a handy 5-2 record on a Sunday.
WE SAY
Sunday afternoon and Piggabeen just go together. As for the result, we reckon that the Pride might just be up for an upset here for no good reason.
EASTS TIGERS v CENTRAL CAPRAS
Sunday 3:00pm
The life of being a Melbourne Storm feeder club means you win some and you lose some from season to season. Few could begrudge any success for Billy Walters who has gained a spot in the NRL with the Wests Tigers, coincidentally. But they gain Melbourne signed players like Christian Welch and Brenko Lee. Lee forming a deadly centre partnership with Linc Port this weekend.
For us though, no one excites like Michael Purcell at the back. The former Jet, who gave his old club’s nickname a run for its money, will don Tigers colours this season and will no doubt be a favourite.
The Capras have added interest by picking up PNG player Mckenzie Yei, adding any PNG player will always get our interest. But the Capras will always struggle for big names you know.
Central do have the advantage of winning the only game between these sides in March. That was on a Saturday and in Rockhampton. The Capras record in Brisbane of just 11% won’t scare any team, mostly.
WE SAY
Three tries for Michael Purcell and a big 20+ win for the Tigers.
