It looks like a wet weekend for South East Queensland this weekend, so slightly poor timing that Intrust Super Cup Round 4 features all but one game in Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
With cyclone Debbie hanging around the North Queensland coast the timing couldn’t be better. It’s as if the QRL knew.
The potential for rain in Brisbane shouldn’t dampen the enthusiasm for Queensland’s premier competition, so a great weekend for those to get to a game if the sun comes out for long enough. And even if it doesn’t.
Just three unbeaten teams remain after three round, with Redcliffe beaten by the Easts Tigers. The Dolphins play one of the unbeaten teams Townsville this weekend in a big game on Saturday night. Wynnum and the PNG Hunters are the other two.
A bad start to the year for the Gold Coast in the Intrust Super Cup with neither side registering any points yet. Tweed came closest last weekend leading 18-0 early, but couldn’t hold off their Seagulls counterparts in weather conditions that could be a preview to this weekend. The injuries at the Titans wouldn’t be helping.
Big news for the Intrust Super Cup with confirmation that Chris Sandow will join the Norths Devils. With Norths already flying high, it could be a good season for the Devils.
Onto the rest of the weekend, and here is our Quick Guide to the Intrust Super Cup Round 4.
Intrust Super Cup Round 4 Preview of Games in 25 words or so.
Ipswich Jets v Sunshine Coast Falcons at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday – 3pm
Good win for the Falcons in Cairns last weekend, another at Ipswich will have the Jets worried and leave them with a 1-3 record.
Burleigh Bears v South Logan Magpies at Pizzey Park on Saturday – 4pm
Souths Logan missed a sideline conversion to draw last weekend against the Hunters, they should take that form into a win against winless Bears.
Tweed Heads Seagulls v CQ Capras at Cbus Stadium on Saturday – 5:45pm
Change of scenery = change of luck for Tweed Heads? They play the Titans curtain raiser, which will hopefully be drier than last weekend’s game on Stradbroke Island.
Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Mackay Cutters at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday – 6pm
Unbeaten Seagulls take on Mackay who were thrashed last weekend by Townsville. Looks the easiest game on paper to predict, but is it?
Redcliffe Dolphins v Townsville Blackhawks at Dolphin Oval on Saturday – 7pm
Clash of the two favourites for the 2017 title. A second consecutive loss wil hurt the Dolphins, especially against one of their closest rivals for the top. Townsville in hot form after scoring 60 last weekend.
Easts Tigers v Northern Pride at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park on Sunday – 12:40pm
Rematch of the 2014 Grand Final, one of the more spiteful affairs in recent years. Good rivalry and Tigers on a high after surprising Redcliffe last weekend.
PNG Hunters v Norths Devils at National Football Stadium on Sunday – 3pm
Two form teams meet in Port Moresby. Are Norths the real deal? They couldn’t pick a harder place to prove that this weekend. The only game of the weekend not in South East Queensland.
Intrust Super Cup Round 4 TV GAMES
Easts Tigers v Northern Pride – Channel 9 – Sunday 12:30pm
Intrust Super Cup Round 4 BETTING / TIPPING
This weekends Odds
Ipswich $2.45 Sunshine Coast $1.55 – Ipswich +4.5 start
Burleigh $2.45 Souths Logan $1.55 – Burleigh +4.5 start
Tweed Heads $1.90 Central $1.90 – Central +1.5 start
Wynnum $1.22 Mackay $4.25 – Mackay +12.5 start
Redcliffe $1.80 Townsville $2.00 – Townsville +1.5 start
Easts $1.35 Northern Pride $3.20 – Pride +8.5 start
PNG Hunters $1.35 Norths $3.20 – Norths +8.5 start
Odds courtesy of UBET
Our “expert” selections.
Ipswich +4.5 start
Souths Logan to win
Tweed Heads to win
Mackay +12.5 start
Redcliffe to win
Easts to win
PNG Hunters to win
$1 multi “pays” $35
PNG HUNTERS CORNER
The question is, where were you last weekend. Only a very small crowd came to Davies Park to see the Hunters, and they missed out on a great game, and some Willie Minoga magic. And big tackles.
Our full report is available here with our guide on what you missed. Plenty.
The forward pack stood up to a tough Magpies equivalent last weekend, but it won’t get much easier with the in form surprise packets of early 2017 Norths Devils. Having seen off 2015 and 2016 premiers in consecutive weeks, they’ll be hoping for another high profile scalp in the Hunters.
But the game is in Port Moresby, a fortress for a home side if there ever was one in rugby league. So for all of Norths’ form so far in 2017, it is hard to see them getting past the PNG Hunters.
Here’s this week’s team. More can be found at the QRL website. Even more attacking threat in the backline with the addition of Bland Abavu. The tall winger will provide a great target for cross field kicks. With the additions of 2017 and those due to come back from injury, the Hunters are looking stronger each week.
PNG Hunters
1. Stargroth Amean 2. Bland Abavu 3. Adex Wera 4. Willie Minoga 5. Paul Wawa 6. Israel Eliab 7. Ase Boas (c) 8. Henry Wan 9. Silas Gahuna 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. Noel Joel 19. Ishamel Baikawa 20. Karo Kauna
Coach: Michael Marum
NOTHING BUT LEAGUE MATCH CENTRE
We contribute Match Reports and more 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.