Round 14 preview: Teams hit the road for Country Week

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Tweed Seagulls
Head-to-head: Tweed Seagulls 12, Sunshine Coast Falcons 7
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #SCFvTWE
Broadcast: Kayo Saturdays via Kayo Freebies

• History will be made in Murgon as Activate! Queensland Country Week rolls into town - the first Intrust Super Cup match that has been played at the home of the Murgon Mustangs.
• These two teams have clashed twice before in Country Week fixtures; Sunshine Coast winning 28-16 in Gympie in 2016 and Tweed winning 34-24 in Woodford in 2013.
• The Falcons have won three of the past four games between these two sides and are hoping to build on their come-from-behind 26-12 win against PNG Hunters last weekend. 
• Tweed will be ruing their opportunity to knock off their cross-town rivals for the second time this year, going down to the Burleigh Bears by a try in the final minutes at Pizzey Park last Saturday.
• Sunshine Coast lock Sam Burns will celebrate his 50th Intrust Super Cup game - all in Falcons colours. 
• Tweed speedster Talor Walters also celebrates a milestone - running out for his 50th match for Tweed in his 56th Intrust Super Cup appearance (previously playing for the Burleigh Bears in 2015).

Burleigh Bears v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Head-to-head: Burleigh Bears 27, Wynnum Manly Seagulls 16, drawn 3
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #BEARSvWYN

• It is an exciting time for rugby league fans in Chinchilla with the town hosting their first Intrust Super Cup game in history.
• On the field, Burleigh Bears hold the advantage with regards to recent match-ups against their opponents Wynnum Manly Seagulls, winning the last seven games between the two sides.
• Burleigh have another omen going their way for this match, with the only previous clash between the two sides on neutral territory going their way. The match was the 2019 grand final where they won 28-10.
• Wynnum forward Francis Kalisolaite-Tualau, who has previously played for Sunshine Coast Falcons and the then Easts Tigers) will play his 50^th Cup game this weekend in what will be the 3500^th Cup game of all time.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Ipswich Jets
Head-to-head: Redcliffe Dolphins 28, Ipswich Jets19
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PHINSvJETS

• Like many of the games in this round, Quilpie’s fans will get their first taste of Intrust Super Cup football when Ipswich Jets take on Redcliffe Dolphins.
• Ipswich will be convincing themselves they hold the home ground advantage with their coach Keiron Lander hailing from Quilpie.
• The Jets also have the fact that they’ve won three out of the past four games between the two sides on their side.
• Redcliffe will be holding onto the fact they won the previous clash when both sides played away from home, winning 38-12 at South Pine Sports Complex.
• Ipswich’s’ five-eighth Josh Cleeland brought up 200th points for Ipswich in their win against Brisbane Tigers last weekend. 

Souths Logan Magpies v Townsville Blackhawks
Head-to-head: Townsville Blackhawks 5, Souths Logan 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #SLMvTSVB

• Richmond’s first look at Intrust Super Cup will be the first time the two sides, Souths Logan Magpies and Townsville Blackhawks, have met away from their home grounds.
• Townsville’s recent form guide would have them as favourites, winning their past four games, as well as the previous three games against Souths Logan.
• Souths Logan will be putting up a fight though, being currently ranked equal second in attack and 10th in defence this season.
• Townsville’s Sione Lousi plays his 65th game for the side this weekend, passing Temone Power and Kyle Laybutt to move to fifth in total appearances for the Blackhawks.
• Five-eighth Shaun Nona needs eight points to bring up 200 for Townsville to add to his 770 overall Cup points.

Mackay Cutters v Norths Devils
Head-to-head: Norths Devils 15, Mackay Cutters 11
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #MCvDEVILS

• Mackay Cutters and Norths Devils headline the first Dysart clash which will be a rematch of 2016’s Country Week clash in Dalby where Norths won 40-28.
• The Devils are on a roll, winning their past six games and winning the last three games when matched up against the Mackay outfit.
• Norths will be playing their 550^th Cup game this weekend and will be still looking to avoid their 250^th Cup loss. They have won 282 and drawn 18.
• Devils winger Jon Reuben (who has previously featured for Townsville Blackhawks, Sunshine Coast Falcons and Redcliffe Dolphins) will be playing his 100^th Cup game this weekend, so there’ll be plenty on the line.

Northern Pride v PNG Hunters
Head-to-head: Northern Pride 6, PNG Hunters 5
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvPNG

• Atherton is hosting its fifth Cup game, dating back to games in 1998, 2000, 2016 and 2018.
• PNG Hunters are currently on their longest ever losing run, losing eight straight, so this weekend they will be looking to break that with a strong performance for 80 minutes.
• The Pride aren’t flying high at the moment however, losing their last two games.
• They have also lost their past two against PNG, but with it being their 300^th Cup game, they will hoping to add to their tally of 169 wins. 
• PNG Hunters prop Enock Maki has been named to play in his his 95th Intrust Super Cup Cup game and his 96th game for the Hunters, a total that includes the NRL state championship final, passing Willie Minoga to move into fourth for appearances for the Hunters.

Brisbane Tigers v Central Queensland Capras
Head-to-head: Tigers 35, Central Queensland Capras 10, drawn 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvCQC
Broadcast: Intrust Super Sundays via Kayo Freebies, 9Now, QRL.com.au, Intrust Super Cup app and Intrust Super Cup Facebook

• This clash will be the 23rd Intrust Super Cup game played in Gladstone with the Capras featuring in all of them - winning seven.
• These two teams have met in Gladstone twice before, with the Tigers winning on both occasions; 34-20 in 1998 and 30-10 in 2016.
• They also played in Emerald in 2014's instalment of Country Week with Tigers winning 34-12.
• Central Queensland have had some success this season at Marley Brown Oval when they faced the Sunshine Coast Falcons in a trial match - their only win of 2021.
• The Capras have now gone 35 games without a win (including three draws) and a draw or loss here will see them equal the competition record for most games without a win (the Falcons losing 36 in a row in 2013-2014).
• The Tigers have won the past four games against the Capras with the home side winning only one of the last 13 games between the two (and one draw).
• It has been a tough season for Jon Buchanan's Tigers. Injuries and the withdrawal of NRL-contracted players due to COVID-19 restrictions have contributed to the side losing their past six games - equal to their worst ever losing run which has occurred three times previously in 2007-2008, 2010 and 2011.

*Statistics by Brad Tallon

Main image: Nicho Hynes in action for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in Nanango in 2019.