THE Mackay Cutters are threatening to become the story of this Intrust Super Cup season.
I must admit, I looked at their roster and thought it was going to be another year of developing players for the Cutters.
Then they beat Tweed Heads. Then they beat Wynnum Manly. Handsomely.
The Cutters backline for this week's clash with Easts Tigers features Sam Clune, Jordan Pereira, Mitch Day, Justin Tavae and Buchanan Rawhiti.
Who are these guys?
Who knows, but they have helped defeat the two Seagulls teams I thought would be finalists.
The Cutters were champions two seasons ago.
Last year, they fell down the ladder fast and they are not getting the quality of players back from the Cowboys that their other feeder clubs enjoy.
If they are successful this year, it will be a great story.
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GREAT news for rugby league with NRL clubs circling Ipswich's Fijian sensation Nemani Valekapa.
Valekapa is on a limited visa and needs an NRL club to sign him in order to stay in the country next year.
Wayne Bennett has been watching his development and rates him highly.
Valekapa is a Semi Radradra type player, but with more natural football instinct.
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ANOTHER Intrust Super Cup-raised player is starting to make his name in the NRL, with Norths Devils product Jarrod Wallace having a sensational start to the season with the Brisbane Broncos.
Wallace made more metres than the best front rower in the game Matt Scott last Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Wallace made 125m to Scott's 90 and Wallace had less minutes on the field.
Now Tweed Heads’ half Kane Elgey gets his chance to prove the hype was warranted when he debuts for the Gold Coast Titans this Saturday.
Elgey was man of the match for the Tweed Heads in last week's rain-soaked win over Norths.
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REFEREES, we say that we hate them, but we need them and it is time myself as a journalist and fans in general got off their back.
It is a hallmark of rugby league to bash the refs, but the comment from the opening rounds of the NRL and the Intrust Super Cup is reaching outrageous levels.
Yes, there have been howlers. Yes, the system needs changing.
However, there is no system without referees.
As a friend of a few refs, they are generally able to shrug off the public criticism; but recently they have witnessed young officials drop out of the game because of the abuse they see refs copping on social media.
The game has this year banned officials from commenting on referees and it is the right move for the health of the game.
