With the Easter weekend break over (a seriously convenient piece of scheduling given the Covid issues in Brisbane leading up tot the Easter weekend) it is time to get back into some local rugby league and here is our 2021 Intrust Super Cup Round 3 Preview & Tips.
This week will see one of the three teams with a 100% record after the first two rounds lose that perfect record as Norths and Townsville face off.
In another piece of well executed scheduling, the other two undefeated teams also play each other as the Northern Pride (W1 D1) take on Wynnum (W2)
There are two games that don’t feature undefeated sides this weekend on offer for broadcast too with the Falcons v Jets on the Saturday and Tigers v Bears on the Sunday.
As for our weekly bit, each week we feature tips on each game, but with a bunch of stats to almost impress your friends and family.
So enjoy the stats and barely interesting facts in our Intrust Super Cup Round 3 Preview.
2021 Intrust Super Cup – Round 3 Tips
As ever we have attempted to get some expert tips to accompany each weekly preview.
This season we feature no less than the CEO of competition sponsor Intrust Super Brendan O’Farrell for another season. We also have tips from Intrust Super Cup guru Matt Crowhurst who knows a lot more than most about Queensland’s premier rugby league competition.
Less interesting is that we also supply our own tips.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – CEO INTRUST SUPER
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Ipswich
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Norths Devils
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Central Capras
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Northern Pride
PNG HUNTERS to beat Mackay Cutters
BRISBANE TIGERS to beat Burleigh Bears
MATT CROWHURST – ISC GURU
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Ipswich
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Townsville Blackhawks
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Central Capras
NORTHERN PRIDE to beat Wynnum Seagulls
PNG HUNTERS to beat Mackay Cutters
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Brisbane Tigers
THE GURGLER – MEDIOCRE WEBSITE
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Ipswich
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Townsville Blackhawks
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Central Capras
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Northern Pride
PNG HUNTERS to beat Mackay Cutters
BRISBANE TIGERS to beat Burleigh Bears
CURRENT LEADERBOARD
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – Season 9/14 – Last Week 5/7
THE GURGLER – Season 8/14 – Last Week 5/7
MATT CROWHURST – Season 7/14 – Last Week 4/7
2021 Intrust Super Cup – Round 3 Stats & Preview
Here is where we go through each game on offer this weekend with the teams, stats and points of interest to get into your local team this weekend.
Round 3 Teams originally published on QRL website.
SATURDAY 2:40PM (TV GAME) – SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v IPSWICH JETS
THOUGHTS
Cushioned from the very bottom of the Intrust Super Cup ladder by virtue of scoring four more points than the Tigers, Ipswich will be looking to get their first win of the season and indeed the first win under new coach Keiron Lander this weekend.
The good news for Ipswich is results between these sides seem to run in years and alternates every year, so it is the Jet’s turn to be undefeated in the two games this season. Since 2017 anyway, and if you include last year of course. And count the most previous meeting’s score of 28-28 as a non-win. Long bow? Yeah.
For the Falcons Trent Loiero is in the side after making a solid debut for the Storm last weekend showing as ever how easy the Storm feeder program works. Loiero involved in a try scoring play within a minute of hitting the field.
Like the Jets last start the Falcons let a half time lead slip in Round 2, but unlike Ipswich the Falcons powered home late with three tries in the last 11 minutes to steal the win from the Magpies. Alternatively the Jets saw the PNG Hunters pile on the points in the second half for their 22-44 loss.
PREDICTION
Sunshine Coast by 4
BETTING (2021 Season)
Sunshine Coast $8 (+$0 change from last round) Ipswich $51 (+$25)
SATURDAY 3:30PM – TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
THOUGHTS
A second battle of the birds for the Tweed after losing the Flockbuster last round, but the Seagulls have the recent upper hand over Souths Logan in the past two games. Before then it was all Magpies for several years, and the Magpies still hold the upper hand at Piggabeen since 2014 (our records only go back to the Post Hunters Era)
Brayden McGrady returns to the Seagulls after an NRL attempt in 2020 as is named on the wing.
Talking of returning players, Karmichael Hunt remains in the starting line up for Souths Logan in the centres. His return to the Intrust Super Cup going better than some current and previous big name returns.
Souths Logan win only one in three of away games on the Gold Coast as is trumped (not Donald) by Tweed Heads’ 50-50 record at home to Brisbane sides.
PREDICTION
Magpies by 8
BETTING (2021 Season)
Tweed Heads $21 (+$9) Souths Logan $13 (+$5)
SATURDAY 5:30PM – NORTHS DEVILS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
THOUGHTS
Top of the table clash between two of the three undefeated teams, and while the perennial regular season achievers Townsville is no surprise, there has been a lot less buzz around Norths pre season.
The Blackhawks look in that ominous form already, posting two big wins so far, and after two rounds have an average winning margin of over 30 points a game.
Norths got the job done against their northside rivals in Round 2 which should give them plenty of satisfaction as that makes it three wins in a row now for the Devils.
Interestingly both sides have beaten the Tigers by exactly 30 points this season. And Devils winger Jon Reuben is an ex Blackhawks player from from their first season in the competition from 2015, in a side that featured current Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes among others.
Either way it looks a goodun at Bishop Park.
PREDICTION
Norths by 6
BETTING (2021 Season)
Norths $9 (+$0) Townsville $5.50 (-$1.50)
SATURDAY 6:00PM – REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v CENTRAL CAPRAS
THOUGHTS
The most lop-sided game on paper if you believe the history books, and while that record back to 2014 may be daunting for the Capras they are both different sides in 2021.
But still, Redcliffe have chalked up some big win over the Central Capras which is going to be hard to overturn.
A lot of 50-50 about this game too with Redcliffe’s win/loss and for and against currently at 50-50. Same with the Capras loss/non loss after getting a draw against the Pride last time out.
The Capras have at least been consistent in attack with 18 points scored in their first two games.
All that aside, the Capras record in SEQ is not quite enough to get our tip. Especially when you look at Redcliffe’s record at home to the Capras/Cutters since 2014.
PREDICTION
Redcliffe by 6
BETTING (2021 Season)
Redcliffe $8 (-$1) Central $101 (+$0)
SATURDAY 6PM – NORTHERN PRIDE v WYNNUM SEAGULLS
THOUGHTS
Another clash between two unbeaten teams, and this game is the second of the two games to feature a North Queensland team against a Brisbane based side, which is great for statewide competitiveness. Not only are the four unbeaten teams playing against each other this weekend, both games feature the home side in blue playing the away side who wear green. Barely interesting fact aside this should should be a good clash.
This will be the Northern Pride’s first home game of the season, and having compiled three points in their first two away games this season they beat their total of away points scored in the last full season back in 2019.
The big name in the line ups for this weekend’s match is Jake Clifford dropping back from the struggling Cowboys. Clifford should be plenty comfortable in the blue Pride jersey as it was his outstanding form for the Pride which caught the eye of the NRL club and demanded selection previously. A shame it hasn’t quite worked out at NRL level yet.
Wynnum have seen off the Hunters in the rain in Round One, and took their usual win in the flockbuster against Tweed Heads, and are looking as solid as ever for another finals tilt. Their all round experience should see them across the line in Cairns to give them a 3-1 H2H lead at Barlow Park since 2014. And it doesn’t help having the odd ex NRL player in the side alongside some trusted Intrust Super Cup talent.
PREDICTION
Wynnum by 4
BETTING (2021 Season)
Wynnum $6 (-$0.50) Pride $21 (+$0)
SATURDAY 6:00PM – MACKAY CUTTERS v PNG HUNTERS
THOUGHTS
The PNG Hunters have become a never say die outfit with their second half performances since new coach Matt Church coming on board as head coach, and the this transformation has been outstanding. All the better when you consider the 2021 preparation. We have more on the PNG Hunters from our Round 2 review.
This weekend sees the first away game of the season for the Hunters, although all their home games are away as well this season, so perhaps a trip up north will be seen as a welcome change of scenery. The Hunters have a decent winning % away in Rockhampton/Mackay, and given their strong showing against the odds so far in 2021 a victory over the Cutters is a real possibility. The Cutters home record isn’t that flash either.
The Hunters understandably have made few changes to their side that won so impressively against Ipswich, while Mackay have included part time Cowboy Emry Pere.
At a minimum the PNG Hunters look a massive improvement on their 2019 season, the change in management and coaching working wonders so far in 2021.
Mackay haven’t been too far away this season despite the two losses, and did win the last game in Mackay between these sides so aren’t without claims against PNG.
PREDICTION
Hunters by 10
BETTING (2021 Season)
Cutters $34 (+$8) Hunters $17 (-$17)
SUNDAY 2:10PM – TIGERS v BURLEIGH BEARS
THOUGHTS
The Tigers are struggling so far in 2021 with no wins in their first two games and just 10 points scored. The only way is up and we believe that starts with this weekend.
You look at the respective team lists, and you can’t help but notice all the ex-NRL talent there is at the Tigers. That doesn’t always translate into victory though.
They do have one of the most experienced half lineups and their two centres both played for the Storm throughout 2020. So on paper it looks all good.
Burleigh have named a side with few changes themselves and a bunch of the players who took them to premiership glory in 2019, and have a decent H2H advantage for the past five seasons leading 5-2.
It is the weekend’s only Sunday game, so with sunny skies above why not get along to the Tigers ground. If not, at least it is available for broadcast for everyone.
PREDICTION
Tigers by 8
BETTING (2021 Season)
Tigers $21 (+$9) Bears $4.50 (-$0.50)
