The QRL have got the jump start on their national cousins by the upcoming Intrust Super Cup draw first in November. So, get your pens ready, clear the calendar, cancel all non-essential get-togethers and save the date etc.
Or read the full story from Nothing But League here.
Unfortunately the draw was released too early to take on our idea for a Magic Weekend style carnival weekend. Maybe next year. Or maybe not at all, their loss though, it would be a fantastic weekend. And we’d be there, and so would you.
A point of interest from the draw includes the full time return of the PNG Hunters to Port Moresby and the National Football Stadium, and given the three games in Port Moresby saw full houses of 15,000 at games in 2015, this will be a home advantage like no other in the Intrust Super Cup.
One could argue that very few NRL clubs would have the same atmosphere no matter the crowd size. Maybe with the extra 100,000+ fans this move will bring, the Hunters may get a home final this year if they make the end of season showdown.
QRL DRAW LINKS
Here’s the full interactive draw for 2016. Find your team, or adopt one, and view their schedule.
Here is the full draw for 2016, updated recently to include some of the TV Games.
REMAINING TV GAMES
| Sun 10th July | R18 | Souths Logan Magpies | v | Wynnum Seagulls | Davies Park |
| Sun 17th July | R19 | Redcliffe Dolphins | v | PNG Hunters | Dolphin Oval |
| Sun 24th July | R20 | Sunshine Coast Falcons | v | Tweed Heads Seagulls | Jack Stokes Oval, Gympie |
| Sun 31st July | R21 | Souths Logan Magpies | v | Sunshine Coast Falcons | Davies Park |
| Sun 7th Aug | R22 | Easts Tigers | v | Redcliffe Dolphins | Suzuki Stadium Langlands Park |
| Sun 14th Aug | R23 | TBA | v | TBA | Townsville v PNG would be nice. |
| Sun 21st Aug | R24 | Easts Tigers | v | Burleigh Bears | Suzuki Stadium Langlands Park |
| Sun 28th Aug | R25 | Wynnum Seagulls | v | Ipswich Jets | BMD Kougari Oval |
PNG HUNTERS IN SEQ IN 2016
But friends and the many reader of The Gurgler will know we love our Intrust Super Cup, and even more so, the PNG Hunters. Sadly for the Hunters, our all-time favourite interchange forward Willie Minoga has moved to the Townsville Blackhawks for 2016, but the silver lining is that he is one step closer to a deserved NRL chance.
We can highly recommend you getting along to a PNG Hunters game in 2016, and for those in South East Queensland, for your convenience and ours we’ve highlighted the Hunters games in SEQ in 2016. We feel it is only right for us to do so as the completely unofficial SEQ PNG Hunters Appreciation Society.
PNG HUNTERS ON TOUR in 2016
March 6 v Magpies @ Davies Park
March 13 v Wynnum @ Kougari Oval
March 27 v Sunshine Coast @ Sunshine Coast Stadium (Easter Treat)
April 25 v Burleigh @ Pizzey Park (Anzac Day Weekend)
May 28-29 v Ipswich @ North Ipswich Reserve
June 25-26 v Norths @ Bishop Park
July 2-3 v Tweed Heads @ Piggabeen
July 16-17 v Redcliffe @ Dolphin Oval – LAST CHANCE
REMAINING HIGHLIGHTS
COUNTRY WEEK – Round 20
The QRL have their now annual Country Week where all the games are taken to the bush or regional towns.
Ravenshoe, Charleville, Barcaldine, Mount Isa, Gympie and Moranbah are the venues of choice this year.
Here’s the team lists and the game details.
EARLY ROUND HIGHLIGHTS
ROUND 1
MACKAY CUTTERS v CENTRAL CAPRAS
Kim Williams meets his previous side Mackay in his first game in charge of the Rockhampton based Central Capras.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v PNG HUNTERS
An early SEQ game for the popular Hunters at a ground they’ve haven’t lost at.
ROUND 2
IPSWICH JETS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Grand Final replay on Defence Force Appreciation Day. With the poaching of Ipswich’s talent by NRL clubs, the question is whether the Walker brothers be able to weave their magic with a new squad. If they haven’t left for the NRL themselves. Revenge is awaiting the Blackhawks.
EASTS TIGERS v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS
A second game in two week where a coach who has moved pre season meets their old club. This time it’s Craig Ingebrigtsen returning to Easts with the Falcons.
ROUND 3
WYNNUM SEAGULLS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
An early Bayside Herald clash between the two sea-siders. Always a competitive fixture and one circled by both sets of fans.
ROUND 6
WYNNUM SEAGULLS v EASTS TIGERS
A traditional clash early in the season, who have avoided clashing in the final round this year. They’ll meet again in Round 23.
PNG HUNTERS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
Whilst only a new rivalry, it is one of the Intrust Super Cup’s best with some great clashes in the first season. PNG will be looking for semi final revenge. PNG favourite Willie Minoga will face his old club after his switch to Townsville.
But it’s all good, and anyone with a spare weekend afternoon should invest their $10 into some Intrust Super Cup gold in 2016 at their local venue. If not, there’s always the games on TV as below.
CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR
Here are the selection of the games we think are worth getting to or following in 2016.
R1 – Mackay v Central @ Rockhampton – return of the ex coach v1
R2 – Ipswich v Townsville @ North Ipswich Reserve – Grand Final Replay.
R2 – Easts v Sunshine Coast – return of the ex coach v2
R3 / R17 – Redcliffe v Wynnum Manly @ Home & Away – Battle for Herald Cup always good.
R6 / R23 – Easts v Wynnum Manly @ Home & Away – another great local rivalry.
R6 / R23 – PNG Hunters v Townsville @ Home & Away – Great new rivals – pushed each other for minor premiership – not one for TV though.
R8 / R22 – Northern Pride v Townsville @ Home / Away – The state most northern teams fight for supremacy.
R8 – Sunshine Coast v Ipswich @ Hervey Bay – Q Cup goes on the road and Wide Bay get a taste.
R8 – Burleigh v PNG Hunters @ Pizzey Park – A new Anzac Day tradition.
R11 / R21 – Norths v Redcliffe @ Home & Away – another great local rivalry.
R11 / R21 – Wynnum Manly v Tweed Heads @ Home / Away – excellent hashtag of #Flockbuster for clash of two Seagulls teams.
R12 – Ipswich v PNG @ North Ipswich Reserve – two of rugby league’s most different styles.
R19 – Redcliffe v PNG Hunters – both games at Dolphin Oval have been crackers so far.
