How good is it to have rugby league back in Queensland, well aside from all the NRL that is. No matter how much NRL is in Queensland we still love the local game and as such offer up our Intrust Super Cup Round 16 Tips and Preview.
That’s right Round 16. Yes 16 does comes before 19 (Last Round) but we should just be happy there’s a 16 and a 17, when at various stages we have been getting zeroes. The Covid era loves numbers. But back to this week’s guff.
Our weekly preview 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 16 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
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Townville Blackhawks
TIGERS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
CENTRAL CAPRAS to beat PNG Hunters
IPSWICH JETS to beat Mackay Cutters
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Northern Pride
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Sunshine Coast Falcons
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Norths Devils
MATT CROWHURST – ISC GURU
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Townville Blackhawks
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES to beat Tigers
CENTRAL CAPRAS to beat PNG Hunters
IPSWICH JETS to beat Mackay Cutters
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Northern Pride
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Sunshine Coast Falcons
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Norths Devils
THE GURGLER – MEDIOCRE WEBSITE
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS to beat Townville Blackhawks
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES to beat Tigers
PNG HUNTERS to beat Central Capras
IPSWICH JETS to beat Mackay Cutters
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Northern Pride
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Sunshine Coast Falcons
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Norths Devils
CURRENT LEADERBOARD
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – Season 68% 71/105 – Last Round 4/7
MATT CROWHURST – Season 69% 51/74 – Last Round N/A
THE GURGLER – Season 67% 70/105 – Last Week 5/7
Note: Matt missed three and a half rounds.
2021 Intrust Super Cup Current 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 Games to Come
Just one round of the regular season to go after this week, and here are the fixtures.
2021 Intrust Super Cup Round 16 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 16 Teams originally published on QRL website.
SATURDAY 2:10PM TWEED HEAD SEAGULLS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
TV GAME – KAYO FREEBIES / QRL WEBSITE
THOUGHTS & STATS
It would need a few results to go their way but Tweed Heads could finish second with a win on Saturday, but that is a tough ask given their opposition – Townsville Blackhawks – have won all but one clash since 2015. And by some big margins too.
But that was back in the day and the Tweed have been a lot more competitive in recent seasons including that win.
The one win however was the most recent clash on the Gold Coast. Sadly for Tweed Heads that game was at Piggabeen, a ground they aren’t using at the moment due to Covid.
Tweed Heads have a very good recent record against the North/Central Qld opposition at home. They have lost just once in their last eight games against those sides going back to 2018.
Townsville have a patchy record on the Gold Coast having won just one of their last five games on the Gold Coast, that being a win over the Hunters at Runaway Bay this season.
PREDICTION
Tweed Heads by 4
SATURDAY 3:00PM BRISBANE TIGERS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
THOUGHTS & STATS
Probably not quite the season that Tigers fans would have hoped for. They arrive into this weekend on a nine game losing streak.
While the NRL feeder club Melbourne have gone on a record equaling winning streak, both Tigers and Falcons have not been as successful this season. The Falcons can at least still make the top eight, the Tigers should avoid last but are still mathematically possible not to.
Stats for this weekend’s H2H is on the Tigers side with 5-1 advantage at home over the Magpies.
One quirk in that H2H form is that the Magpies have won three of the last four games on a Sunday, but this game is on Saturday where the Tigers haven’t lost to Souths Logan.
Magpies are 2/4 this season v Brisbane clubs with both losses coming against leaders Norths.
PREDICTION
Souths Logan by 2
SATURDAY 5:00PM CENTRAL CAPRAS v PNG HUNTERS
THOUGHTS & STATS
The PNG Hunters came very close to getting a result last weekend against Souths Logan, and despite the loss should be encouraged with the performance.
Sure they were the errors and lack of discipline which was punished with penalties, but their attack looked quite good and there was just a touch more ad lib about it which is great.
It helped to have someone who scores regular tries like Terry Wapi at fullback, but he isn’t playing this weekend. At least he has been replaced with the livewire Edwin Ipape.
The best news for the PNG Hunters was the update that Jokadi Bire is OK after a very serious health issue earlier in the season. A shame we will not see him get to the NRL which we have no doubt he would have, but great he is on the mend.
As for this weekend the Hunters have another match against an opponent who they have had a lot of success over since their arrival in 2014. However the record at Browne Park favours the Capras 2-1.
While the Hunters haven’t had great results on the road in South East Queensland, they are 2/2 for tips out of the SEQ corner, beating Northern Pride and Mackay Cutters. Perhaps they prefer the northern Qld sunshine and during winter who could blame them.
A side interest for the game is seeing Nixon Putt taking on his former team mates for the Capras. Going by the highlights each week Putt has continued his good form from his time at the Devils, and is certainly a player the Hunters could do with. Of course he isn’t the only PNG player in the Capras side with McKenzie Yei also named.
The Capras are currently last but would certainly view this game as a chance to get off the bottom of the Intrust Super Cup ladder, with a trip to the Sunshine Coast for the last round slightly less winnable.
PREDICTION
Hunters by 10
SATURDAY 6:00PM MACKAY CUTTERS v IPSWICH JETS
THOUGHTS & STATS
If this were a game in the Premier League it may be called a relegation six pointer. Although this is the Intrust Super Cup and neither of these teams are going anywhere.
Both of these can avoid finishing last or finish last, and the Central Capras v Hunters game above may have a big say on this. The Capras win and then these teams are fighting to avoid last.
Ipswich have the upper hand here with the better H2H record, with a very good 4-1 record in Mackay. The Jets’ winning % of 50% in north/central Queensland is ahead of the Cutter’s home record against Brisbane teams.
But the Cutters come into the game in better form winning two of their last four games, both of those wins against teams in the bottom six.
The Cutters do have the worst points scored per game at home this season and the equal lowest competition points per game.
Mackay have also lost seven in a row at home against Brisbane teams, with their last win in that category coming in May 2018 against Redcliffe.
PREDICTION
Ipswich by 1
SUNDAY 1:00PM REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v NORTHERN PRIDE
THOUGHTS & STATS
Redcliffe are building nicely towards another finals series, currently have only lost once in their last 10 games. What a way to underline your NRL credentials than with a strong finals showing or even a premiership. A Norths-Redcliffe Grand Final would be something.
They can finish second, but will likely need to win both of their remaining games to do so. So winning this weekend against the Pride is important.
This match has seen a few different venues being used, but the one being used for this weekend at Redcliffe shows an equal 1-1-1 split between the sides.
Redcliffe have won 11 of their last 12 at Dolphin Stadium so the Pride have a statistical mountain to climb on that front. The Pride did upset Wynnum on their last trip to Brisbane a few rounds ago.
This game is a rare home game on a Sunday, and creates a double header with the NRL. A shame Redcliffe don’t play at home on a Sunday more often as their record at home on a Sunday going back to 2016 is three losses in 26 games.
The Pride are just four wins in 15 on the road on a Sunday over the same period.
PREDICTION
Redcliffe by 20
SUNDAY 2:00PM SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v BURLEIGH BEARS
THOUGHTS & STATS
An interesting Sunday clash with Falcons looking to sneak into the top eight and Burleigh tracking down second place.
The Bears come into the game on a five game winning streak, and have boosted their away winning % with two of those being on the road. The Bears still have the biggest points per game gap between home and away record this season.
The H2H is mixed with Burleigh winning the last match but the Falcons getting the three before that.
Burleigh edge the H2H record on Sunday and at the Sunshine Coast Stadium, and are in better form so that will do us for the tip.
PREDICTION
Burleigh by 8
SUNDAY 2:10PM WYNNUM SEAGULLS v NORTHS DEVILS
TV GAME – KAYO FREEBIES / QRL WEBSITE
THOUGHTS & STATS
First v second to finish off the second last regular round of the Intrust Super Cup.
Congratulations to the Devils for sealing the Minor Premiership last weekend, very few would have tipped them for this much success in 2021, but they have been strong all season, except for one off weekend v Burleigh.
They are currently sitting on a 100% away record and have actually scored more and conceded less per game away than at home this season.
The H2H may leave Norths a little green with just two wins in the 11 clashes since 2014, and none of those wins were at BMD Kougari.
And Wynnum have won an impressive nine games in a row on a Sunday at home to fellow Brisbane sides.
But recent form must count for more with the Devils undefeated since May – ten games ago – and Wynnum losing four of their last six.
PREDICTION
Norths by 10
