The race for the 2019 Intrust Super Cup finals series is well and truly alive with a total of 10 teams competing for a spot in the top eight with three rounds remaining.
The top four is all but confirmed, with four points separating the fourth-placed Townsville Blackhawks, on 30 points, and fifth-placed Norths Devils, on 26 points.
Devils, Tweed Seagulls, Easts Tigers, Redcliffe Dolphins, Ipswich Jets and Mackay Cutters will be competing for the additional four remaining spots in the top eight.
Below is an in-depth analysis of how your team is positioned heading into the final three rounds of the regular season.
Intrust Super Cup grand final day will this year feature an expanded program of five exciting games across junior, youth and senior levels.
1. Sunshine Coast Falcons
- Highest position can finish: 1st
- Lowest position can finish: 2nd
- Predicted finish: 1st
Run home: Townsville Blackhawks (H), Burleigh Bears (A), Ipswich Jets (H)
Analysis: The Falcons have enjoyed a stellar 2019 season recording 19 wins and one loss, and look poised to wrap up the minor premiership. Falcons have quite a tough run home with two of three remaining games against top four sides. Falcons need to win just one of their final three games to officially lock down the 2019 minor premiership.
2. Wynnum Manly Seagulls
- Highest position can finish: 1st
- Lowest position can finish: 5th
- Predicted finish: 2nd
Run home: PNG Hunters (H), Townsville Blackhawks (A), Norths Devils (H)
Analysis: The Seagulls are another team that have flexed their muscles in 2019, recording 16 wins and four losses. Similar to the Falcons, Wynnum also have a reasonably tough run home with two of their three remaining games against Townsville (4th) and Norths (5th) who are also both vying for top four spots.
3. Burleigh Bears
- Highest position can finish: 2nd
- Lowest position can finish: 6th
- Predicted finish: 3rd
Run home: Northern Pride (H), Sunshine Coast Falcons (H), CQ Capras (A)
Analysis: The Bears are all but confirmed to finish inside the top four, having recorded 15 wins and five losses in 2019. Bears will be confident with their run home with only one of three games against a team inside the top eight.
4. Townsville Blackhawks
- Highest position can finish: 2nd
- Lowest position can finish: 6th
- Predicted finish: 4th
Run home: Sunshine Coast Falcons (A), Wynnum Manly Seagulls (H), Easts Tigers (A)
Analysis: Blackhawks have arguably the toughest run home of the current top four teams with games against Sunshine Coast Falcons (1st), Wynnum Manly Seagulls (2nd) and Easts Tigers (7th) to round out the regular season. That being said, Blackhawks are building nicely having won their last eight consecutive matches, whilst are two wins clear of fifth-placed Norths Devils.
5. Norths Devils
- Highest position can finish: 2nd
- Lowest position can finish: 8th
- Predicted finish: 5th
Run home: Mackay Cutters (A), CQ Capras (H), Wynnum Manly Seagulls (A)
Analysis: The Devils are hitting their straps at the right time of the season coming off their biggest victory in 2019 with their 62-14 victory over Northern Pride in Round 20. Devils will be confident they can lock down a spot in the top six heading into the finals series, with only one of their remaining three games against a top eight team in Wynnum Manly Seagulls (2nd).
6. Tweed Seagulls
- Highest position can finish: 5th
- Lowest position can finish: 9th
- Predicted finish: 6th
Run home: Easts Tigers (H), Souths Logan Magpies (A), Northern Pride (H)
Analysis: Tweed will be looking to finish the regular season on a high, having run into some mixed form of late having only won two of their past eight games. Tweed will only have to win one of their remaining three games to qualify for a top eight spot, but will be quietly confident they can win at least two of their remaining three games. The Seagulls have also recently been boosted by the inclusion of Gold Coast Titans marque playmaker Ash Taylor and will be looking to lean on his experience as they near the finals.
7. Easts Tigers
- Highest position can finish: 5th
- Lowest position can finish: 9th
- Predicted finish: 8th
Run home: Tweed Seagulls (A), Northern Pride (A), Townsville Blackhawks (H)
Analysis: The 2018 grand finalists are in line to take their place in the 2019 Intrust Super Cup finals series and are now just one win away from qualifying. The Tigers are currently sitting on 21 points, but have a relatively tough draw for the run home with matches against Tweed Seagulls (6th) and Townsville Blackhawks (4th) as well as a Northern Pride side looking to finish their season on a high. Tigers will be hoping they can finish the season on a high having also encountered some mixed form of late, having lost their past four games including a 43-0 loss to Redcliffe Dolphins in Round 20.
8. Redcliffe Dolphins
- Highest position can finish: 5th
- Lowest position can finish: 10th
- Predicted finish: 7th
Run home: CQ Capras (H), PNG Hunters (A), Mackay Cutters (H)
Analysis: The reigning Intrust Super Cup premiers have been in fine form in recent weeks, having won five of their past six games including a 14-10 victory over first-placed Sunshine Coast Falcons, 32-20 victory over Wynnum Manly Seagulls (2nd), 20–14 victory over Burleigh Bears (3rd), and a 43-0 victory over Easts Tigers (7th). The Dolphins will be quietly confident they can win all three of their remaining games with all three games against sides outside the top eight, two of which are also home games at Dolphin Stadium.
9. Ipswich Jets
- Highest position can finish: 6th
- Lowest position can finish: 11th
- Predicted finish: 9th
Run home: Souths Logan Magpies (H), Mackay Cutters (H), Sunshine Coast Falcons (A)
Analysis: The Jets will need to win all of their remaining games and hope that Dolphins or Tigers lose their remaining three games to be any chance of making the 2019 finals series. The Jets currently sit two wins outside the top eight, however also have a negative points differential which will mean they will likely have to win all three of their remaining games to remain relevant. If there is any team who can create a miracle run to the finals it’s the Ipswich Jets.
10. Mackay Cutters
- Highest position can finish: 8th
- Lowest position can finish: 12th
- Predicted finish: 11th
Run home: Norths Devils (H), Ipswich Jets (A), Redcliffe Dolphins (H)
Analysis: The Cutters have had what most would consider a pretty disappointing season given their playing roster. The Cutters are still a mathematical chance at making the 2019 finals series, if they were to win all three of their remaining games by reasonable margins and Dolphins, Tigers and Jets were to lose their remaining games.
11. Souths Logan Magpies
- Highest position can finish: 9th
- Lowest position can finish: 12th
- Predicted finish: 10th
Run home: Ipswich Jets (A), Tweed Seagulls (H), PNG Hunters (H)
Analysis: The Magpies have enjoyed a couple of good wins towards the back end of the competition, with victories against Redcliffe Dolphins, Northern Pride, Norths Devils and Mackay Cutters in recent weeks. Unfortunately, Souths Logan have fallen out of contention for the 2019 finals series, but can still finish their season on a high if they were to win their remaining games against Ipswich Jets (9th), Tweed Seagulls (6th) and PNG Hunters (13th).
12. Northern Pride
- Highest position can finish: 10th
- Lowest position can finish: 14th
- Predicted finish: 12th
Run home: Burleigh Bears (A), Easts Tigers (H), Tweed Seagulls (A)
Analysis: Pride have one of the toughest runs home of any team, with all three of their remaining games against top eight sides, two of which are also away games. Pride will also be without North Queensland Cowboys-contracted wrecking ball Peter Hola and prominent playmakers Brayden Torpy and Jordan Biondi-Odo in Round 21, and potentially the additional remaining two rounds.
13. PNG Hunters
- Highest position can finish: 11th
- Lowest position can finish: 14th
- Predicted finish: 13th
Run home: Wynnum Manly Seagulls (A), Redcliffe Dolphins (H), Souths Logan Magpies (A)
Analysis: The Hunters have had a season they would like to forget after finishing seventh in 2018. However, they’re currently in a rebuilding phase, having lost key personnel such as Edene Gebbie, Watson Boas, Rahdly Brawa, Nixon Putt, Wartovo Puara, Thompson Teteh and Willie Minoga amongst others for the 2019 season. PNG fans will be hoping that Hunters can at least muster a win at home in Round 22 against the Redcliffe Dolphins.
14. CQ Capras
- Highest position can finish: 12th
- Lowest position can finish: 14th
- Predicted finish: 14th
Run home: Redcliffe Dolphins (A), Norths Devils (A), Burleigh Bears (H)
Analysis: The Capras have had a very disappointing season after not having won a game since their opening clash with Souths in Round 1. The Capras also have one of the toughest draws for the run home with games against Redcliffe Dolphins (8th), Norths Devils (5th) and Burleigh Bears (3rd) to round out the regular season.
