Here is our 2021 Intrust Super Cup Round 15 Preview & Stats, definitely the most supercalifragilisticexpialidocious round of the season.
Why you ask? Because the Intrust Super Cup goes to Maryborough (home of the Mary Poppins Festival) this weekend for the Wynnum – Hunters clash.
This weekend also sees Petrie make it’s debut as a host of the Intrust Super Cup.
With just five rounds to go there’s plenty up for grabs. Wynnum’s recent form slide opens up second for a number of sides, the lower end of the top eight is tight too, and finally the wooden spoon battle has never been so competitive. Something for everyone.
Back to our weekly preview, which features expert tips from Intrust Super CEO Brendan O’Farrell, Intrust Super Cup man of knowledge Matt Crowhurst, and us.
There’s also stats for H2H, for the 2021 season, and various points of interest and barely interesting facts.
Probably more than one could ever need or want.
Don’t forget you can watch two of the games these days on Kayo Freebies or via the QRL website
2021 Intrust Super Cup Round 15 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
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat PNG Hunters
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Ipswich Jets
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Brisbane Tigers
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Central Capras
NORTHERN PRIDE to beat Sunshine Coast FALCONS
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Mackay Cutters.
MATT CROWHURST – ISC GURU
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat PNG Hunters
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Ipswich Jets
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Brisbane Tigers
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Central Capras
NORTHERN PRIDE to beat Sunshine Coast FALCONS
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Mackay Cutters.
THE GURGLER – MEDIOCRE WEBSITE
PNG HUNTERS to Wynnum Seagulls
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Ipswich Jets
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Brisbane Tigers
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Central Capras
NORTHERN PRIDE to beat Sunshine Coast FALCONS
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Mackay Cutters.
CURRENT LEADERBOARD
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – Season 68% 67/98 – Last Round 3/7
MATT CROWHURST – Season 69% 51/74 – Last Round N/A
THE GURGLER – Season 66% 65/98 – Last Week 3/7
Note: Matt missed three and a half rounds.
2021 Intrust Super Cup Round 15 Ladder
Here is our home-made current Intrust Super Cup Ladder. Colour coded to spot the stats and for extra enjoyment.
2021 Intrust Super Cup Round 15 Stats & Match by Match 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 15 Teams originally published on QRL website.
SATURDAY 2:10PM WYNNUM SEAGULLS v PNG HUNTERS
TV GAME
THOUGHTS & STATS
Round 15 kicks off in Maryborough as the Intrust Super Cup continues to share the love of the game across the state.
One of Maryborough’s claims to fame is being the home of Mary Poppins, and both of these teams will need some magic or a spoonful of sugar to get their season back on track.
Wynnum have fallen in a hole form-wise. Unbeaten for the first nine games, they have now lost four of their last five and sit second but now equal on points with Burleigh and Redcliffe. Losing Broncos aligned players because of the bubble certainly hasn’t helped.
The Hunters slim chance of making the finals disappeared last weekend in a disappointing loss to the Mackay Cutters. Leading the last placed Cutters 30-14 just after half time the Hunters let in 26 unanswered points to lose 40-30.
But good news for this weekend for PNG as their captain Ila Alu returns for the clash as does Epel Kapinias, who was arguably one of the Hunter’s best before injury. With Terry Wapi and Edwin Ipape returning recently as well, the Hunters are close to full strength and a side resembling the one who made such a bright start to the season.
With the World Cup appearing to be still going ahead despite Australia and New Zealand’s lack of involvement, the PNG national side has it’s best chance ever to make at least the final four, so spots in the Kumuls team will be at a premium and the Hunters players can give themselves a huge chance with a big end to the season.
As for Wynnum they still have plenty of firepower, and especially in the backs to give the Hunters some real worries this weekend. Out wide defense has been one of the Hunters real weak spots this season.
PNG were very competitive against Wynnum in the opening round this season, and they are almost back to their best side so could take advantage of Wynnum’s drop in form.
PREDICTION
Hunters by 4.
SATURDAY 4:00PM TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v IPSWICH JETS
THOUGHTS & STATS
Things go a little military in Townsville on Saturday as the two teams closest linked to the military meet in Townsville. One faring significantly better than the other at the moment.
Townsville missed a chance to get within a win of second place after being beaten by competition leaders Norths. As it stands they are on 16 points with three other teams 6th to 8th.
Ipswich’s recent good form of wins, draws and close losses to good sides was blown away last weekend when beaten 46-0 at home by the Falcons. With Mackay’s win over the Hunters last weekend, Ipswich are now just one point from the bottom of the ladder.
Townsville have won five of their last six home games on a Saturday against Brisbane based teams, and beat the Tigers 30-0 in the only clash in 2021 to fit that description.
Ipswich are hit and miss in Townsville with their recent four trips ended in a WLWL pattern. Although that does mean a W is next for this weekend’s clash.
PREDICTION
Townsville by 20
SATURDAY 4:00PM BURLEIGH BEARS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
THOUGHTS & STATS
Burleigh drew level on the Intrust Super Cup ladder with second placed Wynnum last weekend with a comfortable win over the Tigers at home, to continue their progress up the Intrust Super Cup ladder and keep their 2021 home record intact.
The Bears haven’t lost a Saturday home game to Brisbane opposition since September 2018. And hold a handy 5-1 record at Pizzey Park v Magpies.
Souths Logan got over their recent hiccups in form last weekend with a good win over the Tweed Heads Seagulls at home. Tweed Heads have been a top four side for some time.
Another hat trick to Ezra Mam too last weekend, who now has 10 tries and is second in the try scoring charts. Not bad when he only has only made his debut this season and played just seven games. Throw in 9 try / line break assists and fair to say he has had quite the impact.
He’ll need to be in form as they take on Burleigh who have not lost at home this season in eight games, and have only lost once since round four.
PREDICTION
Burleigh by 8
SATURDAY 5:00PM NORTHS DEVILS v BRISBANE TIGERS
THOUGHTS & STATS
Norths’ brilliant run continues as they secured another win over Townsville last weekend extending their lead at the top of the Intrust Super Cup ladder to six points.
They had to beat the stats in doing so, as Norths had never won in Townsville before last weekend, nor had the Blackhawks lost to a Brisbane side at home on a Sunday.
The Devils will have to continue to beat the stats this weekend as the Devils-Tigers clash throws up a very interesting statistic.
In the 13 clashes between these sides since 2014 the home side (either) have won just once. With two draws thrown in it makes the away side winners in 10/13 clashes.
But recent form should override historical stats, as proven last weekend.
Norths have won eight in a row and the Tigers have lost eight in a row.
One nice side note for the Devils is the expected debut of Xavier Willison this weekend for the Broncos. The young Broncos forward was playing in the Norths colts as recently as May, so his rise is quite speedy and says plenty for the way Norths are going at the moment. The NRL bubble certainly hasn’t hurt them the same way it has with Wynnum.
PREDICTION
Norths by 30
SATURDAY 5:30PM NORTHERN PRIDE v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
THOUGHTS & STATS
The Northern Pride turned around a three game losing streak and a surprise loss to the PNG Hunters in Country week with an arguably more surprise win against Wynnum in Brisbane last weekend.
Pride are just holding onto eighth spot and the team two points and one spot below them is the Sunshine Coast Falcons, so a win here could extend that gap to four points and make it a comfortable cushion with just a few weeks left until the finals.
The Falcons have been reasonably inconsistent this season, only able to string two wins in a row together twice. But they do have five wins in a row away in central and north Queensland.
PREDICTION
Pride by 2
SATURDAY 6:000PM CENTRAL CAPRAS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
THOUGHTS & STATS
Big weekend for rugby league in Rockhampton as they prepare for their first ever NRL game. A nice reward for being a great nursery for rugby league over the years.
Can the Capras double the celebration with a rare home win? They need to, as their sort-of local rivals leapfrogged them on the Intrust Super Cup ladder last weekend.
They will have to overcome the painful stat of no home wins at Browne Park since August 2018.
Although that hides their decent home form this season with two draws and three competitive losses at Browne Park. Their for and against at Browne Park is just -28. Their away for and against is well over -100.
For the second time this season the Capras were competitive against the high flying Dolphins last weekend, and their recent run includes a win over the Tigers, draw v Ipswich and close loss to Cutters.
But you only have to look at the H2H stats with Tweed Heads to see how hard it will be for the Capras. They have beaten Tweed Heads just once since 2014. And not once in six attempts at Browne Park.
Tweed Heads have lost two of their last three, so are a little vulnerable. But league position and historical H2H say this is a Seagulls win.
PREDICTION
Tweed Heads by 6
SUNDAY 2:10PM REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v MACKAY CUTTERS
TV GAME
THOUGHTS & STATS
The Intrust Super Cup adds yet another new ground to their list this weekend as the Redcliffe Dolphins avoid the history making first ever NRL clash at Dolphin Stadium by playing their match on Sunday at Mathieson Oval in Petrie. Home of the Pine Rivers Bears.
But it certainly has been no Bear market recently for the Dolphins who have surged up the Intrust Super Cup ladder to sit on equal points with Wynnum in second, and they have now won eight of their last nine games, with a small two point loss to Tweed Heads the only blot.
Whilst not a meteoric rise, Mackay will certainly be happy to have moved off the bottom of the Intrust Super Cup after beating the Hunters last weekend. Like Redcliffe, Mackay are also getting an NRL game this weekend, so a shame they weren’t in Mackay to feature in a double header. If that happens anymore we guess.
The Cutters will be up against it though. Redcliffe have won eight of nine games when they are the home side at a neutral venue. Even more impressive is Redcliffe’s 23/26 record since 2016 for home games on a Sunday. Although Mackay did beat the Dolphins away on a Sunday back in 2014 so all hope is not lost.
Throw in that Redcliffe have lost just one of of their last 20 home games against sides from Rockhampton north, it will be tough for Mackay to win.
Mackay have been more competitive on the road this season with two of their three wins coming away, and their only real shocker came via a 58-10 thrashing by the Falcons in Round 6.
PREDICTION
Redcliffe by 16
2021 Intrust Super Cup Round 15 Games to Come
