Our Intrust Super Cup Predictions Round 20 and Preview awaits, and there’s so much to look forward to with the finals almost here.
The big news, well for us anyway, is the return of the name Willie Minoga to the Hunters team sheet. More on that later, but we couldn’t be happier to see the Mack Truck return to the Intrust Super Cup.
Intrust Super Cup Round 20 also sees just the one game between top eight sides, Will it be a weekend where the top sides flex their muscles, or will the lower ranked teams give themselves a last chance to upset a top side and power towards the finals. If they can still make it that is.
Could be worth a look at our Finals run in piece from last round.
Intrust Super’s Brendan O’Farrell as ever has provided his expert opinion on who will win. And we provide our less expert tips for each game as well.
Round 20 INTRUST SUPER CUP TIPPING – ARE YOU SMARTER THAN SUPER BOF?
Fancy yourself an Intrust Super Cup tipping guru. Reckon you’re better than the CEO of Intrust Super yourself? Find out his Round 20 Intrust Super Cup tips below, and submit your via our Twitter or Facebook page.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL (CEO of Intrust Super)
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Central Capras
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Northern Pride
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Easts Tigers
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Mackay Cutters
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
IPSWICH JETS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat PNG Hunters
Want to better BOF?
Follow our weekly Twitter post to add your selections. Be better than BOF.
Round 20 INTRUST SUPER CUP – MINI PREVIEW
Since we put all our energy into the above Intrust Super Cup Finals run part, here’s an even quicker rundown on all things Round 19 Intrust Super Cup than usual. Split round equals split effort.
CENTRAL CAPRAS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Sat 10th Aug – 6pm @ Browne Park
Ominous signs from the Blackhawks as they are building nicely for a tilt at the 2019 Finals Series, they are on a run of seven straight wins. A worry too for the Capras who might be meeting Townsville at the wrong time, the Blackhawks have beaten bottom six opposition 60-6 and 48-18 in the last three rounds. They’ve scored 23 tries in three weeks.
Townsville are in the race to finish second, and their for and against is now ahead of Burleigh who are two competition points ahead with Wynnum.
The Capras are four points behind the Hunters in last place, and with the points difference and just three gsames to go after this weekend, will probably seal the wooden spoon this weekend.
We Say: Townsville to win by at least 30, or maybe plenty more as they power towards the finals.
NORTHERN PRIDE v NORTHS DEVILS
Sat 10th Aug – 6pm @ Barlow Park
Battle of the northerners, and one is going much better than the other this season.
It just hasn’t happened for the Pride this season, despite some shrewd off season signings, and a handful of regular Cowboys experienced players. They sit 12th and te best they can hope for is to avoid dropping to second last behind the Hunters. Their side looks quite strong for the visit of the Devils, with their best halves line up and some Cowboys in the backline.
Norths Devils have their own gun half pairing, which has been reunited for this weekend with the inclusion of Sean O’Sullivan. A timely addition as they try to cement their top eight position this weekend mathematically, and eyes on at least fifth place and a home final.
We Say: Norths by 16 or so
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v EASTS TIGERS
Sat 10th Aug – 6pm @ Dolphin Oval
Good signs for Redcliffe heading into the finals, they currently hold eighth position by two points, and are on a run of five wins in six at the right time of the year. But it is who they have been beating that will worry the rest of the top eight. Their recent run of wins includes the top three sides Sunshine Coast, Wynnum, and Burleigh, proving more than a match for the upper table rivals.
Easts Tigers have just one competition point from the past three rounds, that coming in the Country week 38-38 draw with the PNG Hunters. They still sit sixth, but are now vulnerable to the attacks from Tweed Heads and Redcliffe. They do have some NRL quality though, with Tom Eisenhuth, Marion Seve and Solomone Kata all named to play.
We Say: Redcliffe by 8
MACKAY CUTTERS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
Sun 11th Aug – 1:10pm @ BB Print Stadium
TV GAME
The Sunshine Coast juggernaut continues on as they lead the competition by x points, and a minor premiership is not far away. They have recovered from their only loss for the season four games ago to win every game since, with an impressive for and against of 186-38. Their defence being quite underrated, as they have let in just six tries in those four games. The form of Justin Olam for the Storm shows just how ready a lot these Falcons players are. A scary thought for the NRL.
The TV game gives a few of those fringe NRL players a nice shop window for not only the Storm but other clubs.
One shouldn’t write off the Mackay Cutters though, as a look through their side reveals some quality players who can take it to the Falcons on a good day. They did it to top eight side Tweed Heads last weekend, and whilst Mackay are still mathematically able to make the eight themselves, they have plenty to play for.
We Say: Sunshine Coast to win by 20 after the Cutters take a surprise early lead.
WYNNUM SEAGULS v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES
Sun 11th Aug – 2:00pm @ Kougari Oval
Game of the weekend for us, with Wynnum flying high in second place, and the Souths Logan Magpies on a winning run now that they need to continue to make the finals.
Wynnum are two points clear of the Bears after last weekend, and their points difference means they hold the advantage even if they lose once more this season. For this weekend Sam Scarlett replaces Tom Dearden in the halves, so not losing much there at all. They do have the one of the competition;s best fullbacks who is off to Souths next year after impressing all in 2019.
An interesting quirk for the Seagulls is the their form for the last eight round has been WWL WWL WW……the pattern says L. Although who can trust mathematics anyway.
Souths Logan have won their last three games, and importantly have now sorted out winning at home. Being five points behind eighth place with four rounds to go means they need a lot of things to go their way to make the finals, but winning every game for the rest of the season is all the Magpies can do for themselves.
We Say: Souths Logan by 4
IPSWICH JETS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Sun 11th Aug – 2:50pm @ North Ipswich Reserve
A rare Sunday afternoon at North Ipswich Reserve sees the visit of Tweed Heads, and a prime chance for Ipswich to get closer to the top eight.
They sit two points from Redcliffe in eighth, but Tweed Heads are just two points further ahead, and a win would bridge that gap to two points and have the Seagulls under pressure.
Tweed Heads are making themselves easy to catch with a run of six losses in seven games.
Plenty to play for then at Ipswich on Sunday.
We Say: Ipswich for no good reason. Or for plenty of good reasons – Marmin Barba, Michael Purcell.
PNG HUNTERS v BURLEIGH BEARS
Sun 11th Aug – 3:00pm @ National Football Stadium
It’s not all about Willie Minoga, but who are we kidding, it’s all about Willie Minoga.
Ever since we heard the news of his return from the Barrow Raiders in the UK we have been hoping that return to the PNG Hunters was coming.
It just hasn’t been quite the same without the trademark bulldozing runs.
Yes, the PNG Hunters should always be about developing the next Justin Olam for PNG rugby league, but surely there’s room for experience and a Grand Final winner no less. Who couldn’t learn a thing or two off the Mack Truck from Wapenamanda.
Although, we shouldn’t get too excited, as he is only named among the reserves at the moment.
Also named among the reserves is Gary Lo. His story is one of the most frustrating in terms of not living up to the abundant ability. He was the leading try scorer for the Hunters before going overseas. And showed some real class for the Kumuls at the 2017 World Cup. But sadly off field issues got in the way.
Everyone deserves a second chance, and if Gary Lo takes his, there is still time to show the rugby league world of his worth.
Oh, and there are two entire other teams to talk about.
PNG Hunters need one more win to avoid the wooden spoon for 2019. This season was always going to be a rebuilding season, but being so far back was not part of the plans. But the second half of the season has been quite the improvement.
Burleigh sit third, but have lost their last two to in-form Redcliffe and Townsville. They should take care of the PNG Hunters, but will the Hunters be fired up for it. And did you know that Burleigh have never beaten the Hunters in PNG in five previous attempts.
We Say: A Gary Lo-Willie Minoga inspire PNG Hunters to upset the Bears and continue their 100% record against the Bears in PNG.
