All aboard for the 2021 Intrust Super Cup season, and our first stop on the second long journey begins with our 2021 Intrust Super Cup – Round 1 Preview & Tips.
A new season is here and hopefully one that features much less Coronavirus and a lot more rugby league, and every week we’ll bring you our thoughts on the weekend of Intrust Super Cup ahead.
Each week will feature tips on each game, but with a bunch of stats and thoughts it may even help those who are tipping themselves in the QRL’s Official Tipping Competition.
So enjoy the stats and barely interesting facts in our Intrust Super Cup Round 1 Preview.
OUR FULL 2021 SEASON PREVIEW IS AVAILABLE HERE
2021 Intrust Super Cup – Round 1 Tips
As ever we have attempted to get some expert tips to accompany each weekly preview.
This season we feature no less than the CEO of competition sponsor Intrust Super Brendan O’Farrell for another season. We also have tips from Intrust Super Cup guru Matt Crowhurst who knows a lot more than most about Queensland’s premier rugby league competition.
Less interesting is that we also supply our own tips.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL – CEO INTRUST SUPER
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat PNG Hunters
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Northern Pride
TWEED HEAD SEAGULLS to beat Central Capras
IPSWICH JETS to beat Townsville Blackhawks
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Mackay Cutters
BRISBANE TIGERS to beat Norths Devils
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES to beat Burleigh Bears
MATT CROWHURST – ISC GURU
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat PNG Hunters
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Northern Pride
TWEED HEAD SEAGULLS to beat Central Capras
IPSWICH JETS to beat Townsville Blackhawks
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Mackay Cutters
BRISBANE TIGERS to beat Norths Devils
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
THE GURGLER – MEDIOCRE WEBSITE
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat PNG Hunters
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Northern Pride
CENTRAL CAPRAS to beat Tweed Heads Seagulls
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Ipswich Jets
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat Mackay Cutters
DRAW – Brisbane Tigers v Norths Devils
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
Stay tuned for a leaderboard throughout the season.
2021 Intrust Super Cup – Round 1 Teams & Preview
Here is where we go through each game on offer this weekend with the teams, stats and points of interest to get into your local team this weekend.
Teams originally published on QRL website.
PNG HUNTERS v WYNNUM SEAGULLS
THOUGHTS
New names and old faces at both clubs, and a new home for the 2021 season for the PNG Hunters – Runaway Bay.
Wynnum have the Broncos affiliation and NRL talent in Jesse Arthars, Isaac Luke and Luke Bateman, plus they have a solid team full of Intrust Super Cup experience in Sam Scarlett, Delouise Hoeter and new recruit Jack Campagnolo from the Northern Pride gives them a very solid base. One on paper that almost looks even stronger than the team who made the 2019 Grand Final. Ouch for the Hunters after some solid losses in 2019. But that side no longer contains a certain PNG star.
PNG Hunters team doesn’t appear to be finalised yet, but some of the names that are listed have played international rugby league for the Kumuls (Enock Maki, Terry Wapi and Edwin Ipape who scored that sensational try v Great Britain) and some of the names are new to those who don’t follow the local Digicel Cup in PNG. And that is the joy of following the PNG Hunters, who is going to be the next Willie Minoga.
PREDICTION
Wynnum by 8
BETTING (2021 Season)
Wynnum $6.00 PNG Hunters $23.00
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v NORTHERN PRIDE
THOUGHTS
Not many Intrust Super Cup sides will kick off their seasons with a player who was in the 17 of an NRL Premiership winning team from the previous season….Storm’s loss is the Falcons and the Intrust Super Cup’s gain as Nicho Hynes dons the yellow number one on Saturday. He proves he is more than capable at NRL, so it isn’t hard to see him starring this weekend.
One of the big off season stories was the recruitment of Jarrod Mullen for his second shot at rugby league, and he will start from the bench. Another former NRL player Kurt Baptiste is named at hooker.
For the Pride Ben Hampton will start five-eighth and have hopes of breaking into the Cowboys side once again. Which may not be long on current form. And always good to see the ever reliable Rod Griffin runnin running around for another season.
PREDICTION
Falcons by 20
BETTING (2021 Season)
Falcons $7.00 Pride $31.00
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS v CENTRAL CAPRAS
THOUGHTS
Is this the year where the Capras break out and storm into the finals series? Hopefully for the Rockhampton based side, with no offence to any of the other 13 teams.
As a big PNG fan here’s hoping it is Nixon Putt that makes all the difference. The PNG International has been one of their best for the Kumuls in recent years, and could be one of the transfers of the season.
Tweed appear to have a great record over the Capras from 2014 according to the above stats, so on paper it looks like it could be happy days at Piggabeen. But the Capras only win v Tweed Heads since 2014 has come in NSW.
PREDICTION
Capras by 2
BETTING (2021 Season)
Seagulls $12.00 Capras $41.00
IPSWICH JETS v TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS
THOUGHTS
Decent looking game this one on paper with loads of exciting players on either side.
Ipswich have take two on their new life without the popular Walker brothers in charge (after the on game in 2020). Keiron Lander is now in charge and was a major part of their most recent premiership, but interest lies in how they will play.
Both sides have a decent halves pairing, with Josh Cleeland another name from that premiership team among others. And another token mention for a PNG international player with Kyle Laybutt featuring for the Blackhawks.
Not forgetting former NRL stalwart Josh Hoffman at fullback for the Townsville side as one of those “so that’s where he is”, as well as former Qld and Australian rep Justin O’Neill.
PREDICTION
Blackhawks by 6
BETTING (2021 Season)
Jets $18.00 Blackhawks $8.00
MACKAY CUTTERS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
THOUGHTS
A tricky one for the Dolphins to start the 2021 campaign, with the Cutters having a good record at home against them.
Interesting battle of the five eighths between Tongan international Ata Hingano and premiership winner Cameron Cullen.
You may also notice the name of NRL firebrand Kane Evans in the Redcliffe line up, the first big name to feature on the bayside since the new arrangement with the New Zealand Warriors.
The 50-50 record for the Dolphins really does feel like a decent assessment of their chances of winning this weekend.
PREDICTION
Redcliffe by 4
BETTING (2021 Season)
Cutters $21.00 Dolphins $10.00
BRISBANE TIGERS v NORTHS DEVILS
THOUGHTS
A real point of interest here in the stats, that since 2014, the home side haven’t won at either ground for either team. The Tigers are 100% at Bishop Park and there have been three losses and two draws for the Tigers at Langlands Park v Norths.
You may notice that Easts are now called Brisbane Tigers, and 2021 could be a big year ahead with the franchise Brisbane Firehawks based around the club.
Respective feeder arrangements keep these sides full of talent and interesting players to follow, but for us it is the number one jersey where we are most interested. Norths fullback is a former Under 18 Origin player who featured for the Broncos in pre season trials. A good run for him and continued mediocrity at the NRL club could see him with an opportunity soon. As for the Tigers they have excitement machine Michael Purcell who is one of our favourite players. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to work his magic from outside the left field ways of the Ipswich Jets.
You will hardly find a more experienced halves combination than the Tigers this season, and given space Norths’ new recruit Jon Reuben could offer plenty.
PREDICTION
Draw
BETTING (2021 Season)
Tigers $10.00 Devils $10.00
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v BURLEIGH BEARS
THOUGHTS
Seems like every three years according to the stats above that the Magpies will beat the Bears, so what price that three season trend happens again this weekend.
This is the only game on Sunday this weekend, and is the feature game via the new viewing options for the Intrust Super Cup in 2021.
The talking point will likely be that of the return to rugby league for former everything Karmichael Hunt. He has yet to win an Intrust Super Cup premiership according to our records, so there is a box to tick.
Of course there are 33 other players, and always time for a brief mention of a PNG international Luke Page who will guide the Bears as captain once more in 2021.
Guy Hamilton, who is player we rate highly is turning out for the Bears this season, having played for the Souths Logan Magpies last time we watched in 2020. Which was also the first game watched in 2020.
PREDICTION
Burleigh by 10
BETTING (2021 Season)
Magpies $21.00 Bears $5.00
