Our weekly look forward to the big weekend of HostPlus Cup is here with our Queensland Cup Round 4 Preview featuring as many barely interesting stats as we could muster for this weekend and expert tips. Plus ours.
And this week is the first of two rivalry rounds for 2022, so what a weekend ahead it is.
We head into Round 4 with a different top four than 2021. First of all the Central Capras sit on top of the HostPlus Cup ladder. They have two more points already than 2021 and have already secured their first home win since 2018 this season.
And the top four features three teams who finished in the bottom four last season. And the top two points scorers so far this season were the lowest two from last season. It may not last but it’s great to see different names at the top. Who’d think Capras v Cutters would be a top four clash?
But there’s much more to learn ahead from our HostPlus Cup-Queensland Cup Round 4 preview.
Queensland Cup Round 4 Predictions
With the return of the HostPlus Cup for 2022 comes our regular weekly tipping.
The merge of Intrust Super and HostPlus may have seen the competition name change from Intrust Super Cup to HostPlus Cup, but we still have Intrust Super’s Brendan O’Farrell joining us for the 2022 season again. He is the multiple reigning champion after all for our website.
New for 2022 is the main man of the local independent rugby League website Nothing But League. They have outstanding rugby league coverage and still have time for Queensland Cup here too.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL
REIGNING GURGLER QLD CUP TIPPING CHAMP
FORMERLY OF INTRUST SUPER
2022 Stats 9/21
PNG HUNTERS to beat Sunshine Coast Falcons
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Northern Pride
CENTRAL CAPRAS to beat Mackay Cutters
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Redcliffe Dolphins
BRISBANE TIGERS to beat Ipswich Jets
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
MATT PRITCHARD
NOTHING BUT LEAGUE EDITOR
2022 Stats – 15/21 (Perfect Round last weekend)
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat PNG Hunters
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Northern Pride
CENTRAL CAPRAS to beat Mackay Cutters
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Redcliffe Dolphins
BRISBANE TIGERS to beat Ipswich Jets
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
THE GURGLER (US)
2022 Stats – 7/21
PNG HUNTERS to beat Sunshine Coast Falcons
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Northern Pride
CENTRAL CAPRAS to beat Mackay Cutters
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Wynnum
BRISBANE TIGERS to beat Ipswich Jets
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
QUEENSLAND CUP ROUND 4 MATCH BY MATCH STATS
SATURDAY 3:00PM
PNG HUNTERS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
POINTS OF INTEREST
The PNG Hunters have only won three games at Runaway Bay since making their home there from 2021, but all three sides they have beaten have something in common – they can fly. The Hunters beat the Jets, Seagulls (Tweed) and the Falcons at Runaway Bat in 2021.
The Hunters have won three of their last four Saturday games. Falcons have won both of their this season so far.
Falcons have lost three in a row at Gold Coast grounds.
PREDICTION
Hunters by 2
SATURDAY 5:30PM
NORTHERN PRIDE v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
POINTS OF INTEREST
Townsville have never lost at Barlow Park in five meeting against the Pride.
Northern Pride have lost their last four home games. This is the Pride’s first home game of 2022.
Pride have won three of their last four games against teams with predominantly green jerseys.
PREDICTION
Blackhawks by 6
SATURDAY 6:00PM
CENTRAL CAPRAS v MACKAY CUTTERS
POINTS OF INTEREST
The Capras last won three in a row back in 2016.
Central Capras have scored 27% of their 2021 total points in the first three games this season. It’s 26% for the Cutters.
Cutters have won four straight v Capras.
The Capras average the most points scored and fewest points conceded v Mackay.
PREDICTION
Capras by 2
SUNDAY 2:00PM
BURLEIGH BEARS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
POINTS OF INTEREST
Burleigh have won the last five at home to Tweed Heads and average a healthy 30.4 points a game in attack.
It’s actually 12 straight at home to everyone for the Bears. But it’s only three straight at home on a Sunday.
Tweed Heads have lost four away games in a row on a Sunday and 14 of their last 16.
PREDICTION
Burleigh by 18
SUNDAY 2:10PM
WYNNUM SEAGULLS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
POINTS OF INTEREST
The last time Redcliffe beat Wynnum at Wynnum Kotoni Staggs scored 16 points.
Redcliffe have won five of their last six games v Brisbane opposition, Wynnum have lost their last three.
PREDICTION
Dolphins by 4
SUNDAY 3:00PM
BRISBANE TIGERS v IPSWICH JETS
POINTS OF INTEREST
Ipswich have won only three of their last 14 away trips, but two of those have been against the Tigers. It’s two in a row and three of four away to the Tigers for Ipswich.
The Tigers are now undefeated in their last five games (W3 D2).
Ipswich’s last six games on a Sunday v Brisbane opposition follows a pattern – WLWLWL.
PREDICTION
Tigers by 14
SUNDAY 3:00PM
NORTHS DEVILS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
POINTS OF INTEREST
Norths have won five of the last six v Souths Logan.
Souths Logan’s last six away games on a Sunday follow a pattern – WLWLWL.
PREDICTION
Devils by 10
