The Intrust Super Cup round 3 was one circled in the 2017 Intrust Super Cup season draw, as it means the PNG Hunters are in Brisbane for the first time in 2017.
Unfortunately we are unable to go to Port Moresby for any PNG Hunters games (as much as we would love to sample the atmosphere of rugby league’s best fans), so we have to wait on the PNG Hunters to come to us in Brisbane. We’re sure we are not alone in that regard in Brisbane. If not, read our PNG Hunters SEQ Draw article, and get to a game. You aren’t a real rugby league fan until you sample the PNG Hunters live.
Regular readers and even Johnny-Come-Latelys will obviously notice that we are big PNG Hunters fans, and we firmly believe that this is the breakout year of premiership and nationwide notice as they take the State Championship too. Hell, Willie Minoga even won our 2015 Person of the Year Poll such was the pro Hunters feeling in 2015 and beyond.
Onto the rest of the weekend, and here is our Quick Guide to the Intrust Super Cup Round 3.
Intrust Super Cup Round 2 Preview of Games in 25 words or less.
Townsville Blackhawks v Mackay Cutters at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, March 18 – 4pm
Second leg of the Northern Queensland Foley Shield. Both sides coming off good wins last weekend.
CQ Capras v Burleigh Bears at Browne Park on Saturday, March 18 – 5pm
Two winless sides desperate to get on the board. Both are playing better than their 0 wins.
Northern Pride v Sunshine Coast Falcons at Barlow Park on Saturday, March 18 – 5.30pm
Very interesting game in Cairns. Big 2017 Dark Horse Falcons only have a draw thus far, forgotten hopes Pride looking to extend the disappointing start. Almost snuck home against Wynnum last weekend.
Easts Tigers v Redcliffe Dolphins at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Saturday, March 18 – 6pm
A good old fashioned all Brisbane clash at Langlands Park. Redcliffe look very good so far in 2017, Easts have had a tough run of away games to PNG and Sunshine Coast. Redcliffe doesn’t get much easier.
Tweed Heads Seagulls v Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Ron Stark Oval, Stradbroke Island on Sunday, March 19 – 12.40pm
Someone termed this game Flockbuster, and what a great name. Throw in the game is on Stradbroke Island, and it’s another reason why Intrust Super Cup is great.
Souths Logan Magpies v PNG Hunters at Davies Park on Sunday, March 19 – 2.05pm
We’ve said enough below and above. Just be there.
Norths Devils v Ipswich Jets at Bishop Park on Sunday, March 19 – 3pm
Norths come into the game after beating the 2016 premiers, so can they double up against the 2015 winners? Jets should find Norths only slightly easier than Townsville, who the Devils pushed in Round 1 and Ipswich lost to last weekend.
Intrust Super Cup Round 3 TV GAMES
Easts Tigers v Redcliffe – TigersTV Live Stream – Saturday 6pm
Tweed Heads v Wynnum – Channel 9 – Sunday 12:30pm
Souths Logan v PNG Hunters – QRL Live Stream – Sunday 2pm
Intrust Super Cup Round 3 BETTING / TIPPING
This weekends Odds
TOWNSVILLE $1.15 MACKAY $5.50 – Mackay +16.5 start
CENTRAL $2.45 BURLEIGH $1.55 – Central +4.5 start
NORTHERN PRIDE $2.10 SUNSHINE COAST $1.72 – Pride +1.5 start
EASTS TIGERS $2.75 REDCLIFFE $1.45 – Easts +2.75 start
TWEED HEADS $4.25 WYNNUM $1.22 – Tweed Heads +12.5 start
SOUTHS LOGAN $1.72 PNG HUNTERS $2.10 – PNG +2.5 start
NORTHS $1.57 IPSWICH $2.40 – Ipswich +4.5 start
Our “expert” selections.
TOWNSVILLE to win
CENTRAL +4.5 start
PRIDE to win
REDCLIFFE to win
WYNNUM to win
PNG HUNTERS to win
IPSWICH +4.5 start
$1 multi “pays” $32
PNG HUNTERS CORNER
The question is, if you are a rugby league fan, and live in Brisbane, what’s your excuse for not coming to Davies Park on Sunday.
Sure you can watch the game via a Live Stream on the QRL website, but what fun is that. You’ll miss all the big hits, big runs, and razzle dazzle of the Hunters, and Souths Logan are good to watch live too, with their big forward pack, quality halves, and the wily Phil Dennis.
The PNG Hunters are unbeaten at Davies Park, and are unbeaten so far in 2017. Looking at the form of Redcliffe and Townsville, they will need to keep winning to stay on the pace. The Hunters will also need to improve the away form from 2016 where they were much less successful than in Port Moresby. The higher up the ladder they finish, hopefully the more chance they have of making a Grand Final and getting one of the big finals games at home. Not that Channel 9 will televise it. Arseholes.
The experiment with Willie Minoga in the centres continues, and look out Magpies on Sunday afternoon. Good to have Stargroth Amean at the back who has had some good days out at Davies Park in the past. Hard to go past the Hunters halves, but in Matt Minto and Sam Scarlett the Mapgies have a quality pairing themselves. The big battle will be up front. Souths Logan have a big forward pack lined with Broncos fringe players, but PNG have plenty of weapons themselves. Whoever gets on top up the middle will likely win the game, and be worth the small admission price alone.
We say Hunters by just a few.
Here’s this week’s team. More can be found at the QRL website.
PNG Hunters Team
1. Stargroth Amean 2. Butler Morris 3. Adex Wera 4. Willie Minoga 5. Paul Wawa 6. Israel Eliab 7. Ase Boas (c) 8. Henry Wan 9. Gahuna Silas 10. Esau Siune 11. Lawrence Tu’u 12. David Loko 13. Stanton Albert 14. Watson Boas 15. Moses Meninga 16. Enock Maki 17. Wellington Albert 18. Junior Rop 19. Rahdly Brawa 20. Nixon Putt
Coach: Michael Marum
NOTHING BUT LEAGUE MATCH CENTRE
We contribute to Nothing But League and they have an excellent Intrust Super Cup Match Centre which has full previews and reviews, and a ladder.
If you need to know more, head to the Nothing But League Intrust Super Cup Match Centre.
