It’s the third week of the Intrust Super Cup finals and just one week to go until the big Grand Final. Since it is such a special occasion both games being played at Suncorp Stadium as a curtain raiser for the NRL Grand Final. To commemorate the big day our Intrust Super Cup Finals Week 3 Preview & Stats is here, and packed with 75% capacity stats.
This weekend features the all-Seagull Flockbuster clash between Wynnum and Tweed, and Norths v Burleigh, the Bears one of two teams to beat the Devils this year. The winners get to play in the Grand Final at Redcliffe next weekend.
Our weekly preview as ever 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 Finals Week 3 Tips
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – CEO INTRUST SUPER
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Burleigh Bears
MATT CROWHURST – ISC GURU
Coming soon
THE GURGLER – MEDIOCRE WEBSITE
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Burleigh Bears
CURRENT LEADERBOARD
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – Season 64% 76/118 – Last Round 1/2
MATT CROWHURST – Season 63% 51/81 – Last Round 0/7
THE GURGLER – Season 63.5% 75/118 – Last Week 1/2
2021 Intrust Super Cup Finals Week 3 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.
This Week’s Teams originally published on QRL website.
SUNDAY 12:15PM WYNNUM SEAGULS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Nothing like an all-Seagulls clash to get the third week of the Intrust Super Cup finals started, and with the delightfully named Flockbuster title.
Looking at the H2H it is advantage to the Green and Red Seagulls losing just twice since 2014. And it is 7-1 on a Sunday.
Interestingly, Wynnum have won all three games away from regular venues, which is the same as this weekend with the game being played at Suncorp Stadum.
But this is a stronger Tweed Heads side than previous seasons. All this too with Covid affecting their ability to play at home for the last rounds of the season.
Tweed Heads pushed Norths Devils hard in their first finals match, and got by Redcliffe last weekend without massive problems.
Wynnum had last weekend off courtesy of beating Burleigh in the first week of the finals.
Talking of Sundays, Wynnum have a very reasonable record of 7/9 on Sundays this season, while Tweed have won two of their five Sunday outings in 2021.
Another stat going against the Tweed Heads Seagulls is the record v other top four sides this season. Their winning strike rate of 20% is the lowest of the four teams in the finals this weekend.
Tweed Heads won only 2/5 away v Brisbane teams in 2021 too which hands the stats advantage to Wynnum who won 2/2 against Gold Coast sides this season. In a draw quirk due to Covid, Wynnum played Burleigh for the first time this season in the first week of the finals.
This match up is ten years and a week after these teams in the 2011 Intrust Super Cup decider at Suncorp Stadium. Wynnum got the win 16-10 that day. Man of the Match for the record was Jake Granville playing in his hybrid fullback-hooker role.
Some points of interest in the team news too. Isaac Luke is named in the squad but outside the first 17 currently, which is a coincidence given that South Sydney are playing in the NRL Grand Final at the same ground. He has already been given the honour of ringing the bell for the Souths game by Russell Crowe.
Looking at Wynnum’s backline this will surely be a big advantage with the amount of experience. David Mead is named, ensuring there is PNG representation in both finals games this weekend. Plus there is NRL experience across the three quarter line in addition to the excellent and very experience Delouise Hoeter.
The battle of the halfbacks is key though. Sam Scarlett has been a star for Wynnum this season, and Toby Sexton has been good enough to break into the NRL with the Titans, and with the departure of Jamal Fogarty looks like he will be full time NRL in 2022.
Wynnum also have the best player in the competition this season in hooker Jayden Berrell who won the Petero Civoniceva Medal.
Prediction
Tweed’s win last weekend was their first in four rounds, and Wynnum weren’t in the greatest form heading into the finals either, but both teams have got the job thus far to get to this match. So to look at a potential advantage you look at Wynnum’s more experienced line up and think that may be just enough to get them over the line.
Wynnum by 8
SUNDAY 2:45PM NORTHS DEVILS v BURLEIGH BEARS
Some sad news heading into this games with Luke Page set to retire from Qld Cup this season. The game will certainly lose one of the great Qld Cup props and a great character. He will also be missed by his many admirers in PNG. Shame that World Cup couldn’t happen this year.
Back to the game and this is an interesting one.
Burleigh are one of only two teams to beat Norths this season, and they did a good job on them too, the end result 36-0. To put that into perspective it was of only two occasions where Norths scored under 20 points for the season. It was one of only two times the Devils conceded 30 points or more. Though Norths lost both games where they conceded 30+.
It was a freak result for more than one reason, as Burleigh were at Bishop Park that day and they haven’t had as good results away this season than at home. Their winning % away is 40% from 10 matches compared to a 100% home record. The Bears away record v Brisbane teams in 2021 drops to 33%.
It was Burleigh’s only win on a Sunday v Brisbane teams too (W1 L3). And Norths’ only loss on a Sunday this season.
Talking of Sundays, Norths ended up the second best performing team on a Sunday this season with 8/9, but the Northern Pride found games easy like a Sunday morning with a 100% record. Full stats at the end.
Norths lead the stat for winning % against the remaining top four sides this weekend with the Burleigh loss their only one in four games. Burleigh’s winning % is 60% but have interestingly beaten each remaining top four side once this season. A good stat heading into this week and potentially next.
Each team has some ex NRL names in their teams, but we think for key players you should look no further the the player furthest back – fullback. Every time we have seen Norths this season it is Jack Ahearn bossing the game and that experience will be vital heading into this finals clash. Ahearn was a close second in the Player of the Season no less in 2021. Kurtis Rowe too is an important piece of the Burleigh side and got the try that wrapped up the game last weekend against the Magpies.
That’s not to say the halfback clash of Tanah Boyd v Tyrone Roberts or hooker battle of Pat Politoni v Danny Levi won’t be key either.
For PNG fans there is Luke Page of course, but also Nene McDonald on the wing for Norths.
Prediction
Burleigh have more final experience, and have that big win as an edge leading into this match, plus the emotion of Luke Page’s last season. But surely a strong season long performance counts as much at this time of the season too.
Norths by 4.
2021 Intrust Super Cup Finals Week 3 Stats Extra
Here are some bonus stats that we picked up while looking through the Finals Week 3 games.
Some mild points of interest from the 2021 season and beyond.
