Intrust Super Cup Round 11 preview: Men of League round

Northern Pride v Tweed Seagulls
Vico Oval on Saturday, May 25 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Pride 12 Tweed 10 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvTWEED
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Pride 16% Tweed Heads 84%
Livestream: Pride TV

• The Pride are searching for something special to break their run of eight straight losses – their equal worst ever losing run (2017).
• Their opponents this weekend however the Tweed Seagulls are in a good patch of form and have won their past three games.
• Despite the form line, the games between these two sides are usually tight ones and the past matches have been decided by six points or less.
• Additionally, the Pride have a good recent history against the Gulls and have won five and drawn one of the past six games they have played against them.
• However, the Pride have only one win from their past games in Cairns with one drawn result.
• The Seagulls have been solid on the road and have won three of their past four away games.
• This will be the be 50th Intrust Super Cup in Pride colours for forward Will Bugden and his 83rd overall including the match he played previously for Tweed.

Townsville Blackhawks v Easts Tigers
Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, May 25 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Townsville 3 Easts 3 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvTIGES
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Townsville 59% Tigers 41%

• Both teams will be looking to bounce back in Round 11 after posting losses last weekend.
• Following the 16-4 loss against Tweed, the Tigers have dropped out of the Intrust Super Cup top four for the first time this year.
• Their opponents this weekend the Blackhawks have been in good form, but ran into an as yet undefeated Sunshine Coast side last week and were more competitive than the final scoreline suggested.
• They home side have won three of the four games they have played against Easts at Jack Manski Oval.
• The Tigers have struggled away from home this year, losing their past three and four of their past five away games.
• Both sides have players reaching key competition milestones this weekend, with former Cutters and current Townsville forward Sam Hoare reaching his 100th Cup game – a great achievement given his recent injury woes.
• Easts forward Sam Lavea, who moved to the club from Souths Logan, is set to play in this 50th Cup game.

Burleigh Bears v CQ Capras
Pizzey Park on Saturday, May 25 – 4pm
Head-to-Head: Burleigh 34 Central 10
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvCQC
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Bears 96% Capras 4%
Livestream: Bears TV

• Burleigh have been in fine form and come into this game with a big victory over the Northern Pride behind them.
• Burleigh have scored 147 points to 4 in their past three games. It has been 189 mins since they had a point scored against them.
• The Bears have had a good run against the Capras as well and have won the past three and four of the past five games they have played against them.
• They have also won three of their past four games they have played against them at Pizzey Park.
• Pizzey Park has also hosted the Bears winning their past four and seven of their past eight matches.
• The Capras have lost their past nine games and have only won one of their past 22 away games.

Ipswich Jets v Sunshine Coast Falcons
North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday,
Head-to-Head: Ipswich 13 Sunshine Coast 5 Drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #JETSvSCF
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Jets 8% Sunshine Coast 92%

• As they keep winning, more Intrust Super Cup fans keep asking – who can bring down the Sunshine Coast Falcons who have now won their past 10 games.
• The Jets will fancy their chances of halting the streak of their opponents as they have won the past two games between these sides.
• Ipswich have also won six of the past seven games played between the two sides at North Ipswich.
• In what has been a remarkable start to the season for the Falcons, they have won their past five games – their best ever away run is six wins which they achieved in 2010.

Mackay Cutters v Redcliffe Dolphins
BB Print Stadium on Saturday, May 25 – 6pm
Head-to-Head: Redcliffe 11 Mackay 8 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvPHINS
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Cutters 39% Dolphins 61%

• The Dolphins stormed back into the winners’ circle in Round 10 with a big win over the Capras where Sheldon Pitama and Trai Fuller both scored doubles.
• Redcliffe's win over CQ last week was their first in five away games.
• The Cutters were competitive against Norths, but in the end succumbed to a heavy defeat and will be looking at this game to bounce back.
• Redcliffe have five wins and a draw from the past six games played against the Cutters, including wins in the last two games that have been played in Mackay.
• Plenty of milestone men in this game! Both Carlin Anderson (now of Mackay, formerly with Ipswich and Townsville) and Redcliffe forward Tom Geraghty (formerly with the Sunshine Coast) are set to play in the 100^th Cup games.
• It’ll be a half-century of matches for Mackay’s Dan Russell (past Souths Logan Magpie) and Dolphins forward James Taylor (formerly with the Devils).

Norths Devils v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Bishop Park on Sunday, May 26 – 1.10pm* (live on 9GEM)
Head-to-Head: Wynnum 24 Norths 19 Drawn 2
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvWYN
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Devils 43% Seagulls 57%

• While there’s been nothing official yet on the team sheets, fans are excited to see if Broncos centre James Roberts will make an appearance for the Seagulls in this key game. He has been allocated to the club as he works on rediscovering his form; but may yet still travel with the NRL team to New Zealand.
• The Seagulls side are a team in form and have won their past four games – including a tough match in PNG against the Hunters last weekend.
• The Devils too have been performing well and had a strong win over Mackay last weekend, moving them into the top four for the first time this year.
• In recent clashes, the Seagulls have won the past two and three of the past found games against the Devils.
• While Norths have won their past three, and four of their past five, home games; the Seagulls have claimed the past two and four of the past five away matches.
• Somewhat fittingly, current Seagulls forward Matiu Love-Henry will run out for his 50^th Intrust Super Cup game and will be taking on his former club.

PNG Hunters v Souths Logan Magpies
Oil Search National Football Stadium on Sunday, May 26 – 3pm
Head-to-Head: PNG 9 Souths-Logan 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvSLM
Tipping % - via QRL Tipping: Hunters 57% Magpies 43%

• It will be an evenly-match contest with both the Hunters and Magpies struggling to find wins this season, despite some strong efforts. Both clubs too have been dealt some heavy defeats, so a win will do wonders for the confidence of the players.
• In 10 matches, Souths Logan have only claimed one win against the Hunters – but it came last season in Port Moresby last year which will be front of mind for both clubs.
• This season, the Hunters have lost their past five home games; they had not lost consecutive home games before this year.
• In a positive for the Magpies, they have won three of their past five games on the road, but like the Hunters, they have also lost their past four games straight.
• Hunters half Ase Boas requires three more points to bring up 500 for the club (including the 10 he scored in the Intrust Super Championship match).

*Statistics by Brad Tallon

QRL Judiciary Results - Rd 10

**NOTE: The livestreams linked in this preview are not official QRL productions unless stated