Round 2 preview: Norths Devils' milestone men

Burleigh Bears v Mackay Cutters
Head-to-head: Burleigh Bears, 12 Mackay Cutters, 8 drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvCUTTERS
Broadcast: Kayo Saturdays via Kayo Freebies

• Although they failed to get the two competition points, the Cutters were one of the better performing teams in the opening round, after pushing the highly-fancied Redcliffe Dolphins all the way.
• The narrow two-point defeat showed the Cutters will be up for the fight this year, and their second test will come in the form of the wounded the Bears this weekend.
• The Bears, who have won the past five games between these two sides at Pizzey Park, were outplayed by the Tom Dearden-inspired Souths Logan Magpies last weekend in wet conditions.
• This weekend, Burleigh will be without winger Troy Leo, with the luckless flyer ruled out with a serious knee injury.

PNG Hunters v Ipswich Jets
Head-to-head: PNG Hunters 8, Ipswich Jets 4
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PNGvJETS

• Ipswich coach Kerion Lander has named an unchanged team, despite a poor opening round performance against the Townsville Blackhawks.
• The Jets conceded eight tries in the 46-12 defeat on home soil, with very little going their way against the Josh Chudleigh-inspired Blackhawks.
• The Hunters will play their second-straight match at their adopted Bycroft Oval home base, where they narrowly went down to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls last weekend.
• PNG captain Ila Alu was outstanding against the Seagulls and he will again look to set the platform in the middle for the Hunters.
• Fullback Terry Wapi was also a strong performer for the Hunters and will be one to watch. His efforts last weekend saw him earn a spot on the Round 1 Team of the Week.

Townsville Blackhawks v Brisbane Tigers
Head-to-head: Townsville Blackhawks 5, Brisbane Tigers 3, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvTIGES

• Townsville have won the past three games between these two sides, and four of the five games between at Jack Manski Oval.
• Aaron Payne’s Blackhawks flew out of the blocks in Round 1, thumping the Jets 46-12 to sit on top of the ladder.
• In contrast, the Tigers were off their game last weekend, conceding 40 points against the Reece Walsh-inspired Devils.
• Townsville have called former Ipswich premiership-winning fullback Carlin Anderson, who is set to start from the interchange bench in his first game of the season.

Central Queensland Capras v Northern Pride
Head-to-head: Northern Pride 14, Central Queensland Capras 7
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #CQCvPRIDE

• The Capras will be looking to bounce back after their loss to Tweed Seagulls last week which saw them fall away after leading 18-6 at halftime.
• The Capras have recorded 23 losses and a draw from their last 24 games.
• The Pride secured a strong win in Round 1, upsetting the Falcons on the Sunshine Coast, with big forward Wiremu Greig crossing for a double.
• The northern side have won the past two games against Central Queensland, with the Capras winning the previous two.
• Pride have won four of the previous five games played between these sides at Browne Park, with the Capras have lost their past eight games at the venue.
• However, the Pride have also lost their past 10 away games.
• Nixon Putt was outstanding last weekend for the Capras in the second row and was named in the Round 1 Team of the Week.

Norths Devils v Redcliffe Dolphins
Head-to-head: Redcliffe Dolphins 31, Norths Devils 14, drawn 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvPHINS
Broadcast: Intrust Super Sundays via Kayo Freebies, 9Now, QRL.com.au, Intrust Super Cup app and Intrust Super Cup Facebook.

• Two competition heavyweights will face off in this Sunday’s broadcast game with plenty of talent on show in both teams.
• It will be a milestone game for the Devils, with both their captain Jack Ahearn (main image) and coach Rohan Smith reaching a half-century. As coach of Norths, Smith has won 28 games and lost 21 so far. For Ahearn, this match will be his 50^th for Norths and his 106^th game overall, with previous stints with Souths Logan and Redcliffe.
• The Devils have won the past two games between the sides, with Redcliffe winning the previous six.
• Just like they managed to do against the Cutters, Redcliffe have been strong on the road and have won six of their past seven away games.
• A player to watch will be Norths winger Jon Reuben who only requires one more try to move to equal 10th in the Cup’s top try scorers alongside Shane Perry.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Tweed Seagulls
Head-to-head: Wynnum Manly 23, Tweed Seagulls 16 
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #WYNvTWEED

• It’s ‘flockbuster’ time with the Seagulls of the north facing off against their southern rivals this Sunday.
• This game will be played at the grounds of Iona College, making it the first game at the venue and also the first game to be played on a school field.
• Wynnum Manly Seagulls have had the best of the recent form and have won the past three, and seven of the past eight, games between these two sides.
• Wynnum Manly have also won 11 of their past 13 home games (with these games being played at BMD Kougari Oval).
• After they came back to post a win at home last weekend in Round 1, Tweed Seagulls will be boosted in knowing they have won their past two away games and will be looking to build on that statistic.
• This will be the 50th Cup game in charge for coach Ben Woolf. In his time at the Seagulls, Woolf has won 25 games, drawn one and lost 23.

Souths Logan Magpies v Sunshine Coast Falcons
Head-to-head: Souths-Logan 12, Sunshine Coast Falcons 8, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #SLMvSCF

• After the deluge of last weekend, the ground at Davies Park has just not been able to recover in time for this weekend’s match-up between the Magpies and Falcons in time, forcing the move to Bishop Park. The match will be played following the conclusion of Norths Devils v Redcliffe Dolphins, making this an enticing double header.
• Sunshine Coast have won the past three and four of the past five games between these two sides, including the past three at Davies Park.
• Last weekend, the Magpies revelled in the wet against the Bears, with their victory being their first in four games at their home ground.
• The Sunshine Coast have lost their last two away games after winning their previous 11.
• Following the game last weekend, Magpies captain Albert Kelly said he was happy with how his team were “composing a great culture with a real sense of comradery” and was proud of his team’s efforts to get the win despite the conditions.
• Magpies coach Steve Bretherton described the match as “very tough but rewarding” and was also proud of the team for playing through adversity.
  - with Laura Matthews

*Statistics by Brad Tallon