Intrust Super Cup Round 11 preview

It's a full round of Intrust Super cup this weekend, with all teams back in action. The shuffling of a number of NRL squads see some interesting match-ups set to happen across the weekend.

Burleigh Bears v Easts Tigers 
Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday, May 19 – 12.40pm
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 23 Easts 20 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvTIGES 
Livestream: BEARS TV

• The Bears and the Tigers kick off Round 11 early on Saturday afternoon, playing as the curtain raiser to the Gold Coast Titans v Newcastle Knights game.
• There is a big ‘in’ for the Bears this week, with Jamal Fogarty named in the halves.
• The Tigers have named a strong team for this match against the top-of-the-table Bears, but will need to learn from their close Round 9 loss to the Magpies and start the game well.
• Brenko Lee, who spent the early part of the season with the Bears was named earlier in the week to play in his second game for the Titans, with Henare Wells named in the left centre position for the home side.
• The is only one previous instance of these two teams playing at a game at a venue that is not Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park or Pizzey Park and it is the 2004 grand final which Burleigh won 22-18 in an extra time epic.

Ipswich Jets v Norths Devils
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, May 19 – 1.10pm*
Live on Channel 9 QLD – broadcast from 1pm
Head-to-Head: Norths 24 Ipswich 17 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvDEVILS

• The Jets have had a week to stew on the remarkable loss to Tweed Heads last weekend where they let a strong 18-4 lead slip to go down 20-18.
• The Devils however have had longer than that to work on the areas that let them down in their Round 9 upset loss to the Cutters.
• The Jets have won six of the past seven games between these two sides, including the past three played at North Ipswich Reserve, where they have won by a margin of 14 points or more.
• Ipswich have won eight of their past 10 games at their home venue, with the only two losses.
• The Devils however have been strong on the road and have won four of their past five away matches.
• The Jets will be relying on their forwards to set a strong platform – none more so than skipper Nat Neale who is still leading the Courier Mail Medal race. 

See the Round 11 Referees Appointments here

PNG Hunters v Central Queensland Capras 
Oil Search National Football Stadium on Saturday, May 19 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 5 Central 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvCQC

• The Hunters have returned to Port Moresby and will be aiming to back up their first away win of the 2018 season with a strong showing for their home fans against the Capras.
• The Capras have had an extra week to work on the issues that plagued them in their 38-0 loss to the Falcons in Round 9 and will aim to bounce back with a big scalp.
• The Hunters have a dominant record against their CQ rivals, with Central's only win against PNG coming at Browne Park in 2016. The Hunters have so far won all three games played in PNG.
• The Hunters have seven wins and a draw from their past nine home games.
• The Capras have lost nine and drawn one of their past 10 away games. Their last away win was against Wynnum in Round 8, 2017.

 See the Round 10 Judiciary Results here

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Redcliffe Dolphins 
Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday, May 19 – 5pm
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 11 Sunshine Coast 8
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvPHINS

• The two teams will play for the James Ackerman Cup – see video below for info.
• Redcliffe originally named Kotoni Staggs at centre for this game – but he is set to make his Brisbane Broncos debut tomorrow night.
• The Sunshine Coast have won the past two games between these two sides.
• Falcons young gun Harry Grant has climbed into the running for this year's Courier Mail Medal and is just behind leader Nat Neale after 10 rounds.

Tweed Heads Seagulls v Northern Pride 
Piggabeen Sports Complex on Sunday, May 20 – 2pm
Head-to-Head: Pride 12 Tweed 9
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #THSvPRIDE  

• Both teams come into this game with wins; the Pride a close 26-24 win over Redcliffe, while the Gulls fought back against Ipswich to win 20-18.
• Tweed Heads are again expected to have Titans Kane Elgey and Konrad Hurrell in their team, and there is talk that Bryce Cartwright may join them.
• There is also speculation that following an impressive three-try haul against the Phins last weekend, Pride youngster Enari Tuala is edging closer to adding to his one NRL appearance.
• The Pride have won the past seven games played against Tweed Heads, with the past two games decided by two points.
• The Pride have also won the past three games they have played at Piggabeen
• However, the Seagulls are in good form and have won their past four games.
• This will be the 150th Cup game for Pride stalwart Brett Anderson, who also previously played with the Young Guns. 

Townsville Blackhawks v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Jack Manski Oval on Sunday, May 20 – 2pm
Head-to-Head: Townsville 3 Wynnum 0
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvWYN
Livestream: Seagulls TV 

• Wynnum Manly face the form team of the competition at Townsville’s Jack Manski Oval.
• The Blackhawks have won their past five games and their last four at home in a formidable record that spells danger for a desperate Seagulls outfit.
• Wynnum’s big three – Pat Templeman, Mitch Cronin and Daniel Ogden – all scored tries for the Gulls last weekend, but it was to no avail as the Hunters came away with a narrow win.
• Townsville is fresh after a Round 10 bye, and with key halves Zach Clay and Jaelen Feeney in fine form, they’ll take some tossing in front of their home fans.
• Clay is in third spot on the Courier-Mail Medal player of the year leader board, behind only Nat Neale (Ipswich) and Harry Grant (Falcons). 

>>> QRL Media’s Living League crew will be out at Davies Park this weekend – before sure to have your opinions ready for HearSay. See last week’s video below:

 Souths Logan Magpies v Mackay Cutters 
Davies Park on Sunday, May 20 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: Souths Logan 14 Mackay 4 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SLMvMC

• Mackay have won only one of the past nine games between these two sides.
• Although anchored at the foot of the table, the Cutters have shown plenty of promise this year, particularly in games away from home where they have upstaged the more fancied Ipswich Jets and Norths Devils.
• Former Raider and Queensland under age representative Cooper Bambling has reunited with the Cutters and has been named on an extended bench for the Round 11 clash.
• Souths are nicely placed in third spot and will assume favouritism at home, with their big forwards – led by Tom Flegler and George Fai – to lead from the front once more.
• Magpies five-eighth Guy Hamilton and centre Marion Seve play their 50^th Cup games. 

*Statistics by Brad Tallon

NOTE: The livestreams linked in this preview are not official QRL productions.