Round 17 preview: Ladder shuffle and Maki's milestone

Townsville Blackhawks v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Head-to-head: Townsville Blackhawks 6, Wynnum Manly 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #TSVBvWYN

• The last clash between the two sides was the 2019 preliminary final where Wynnum Manly proved too good for Townsville, winning 26-14. That was a big day for the Seagulls, with it being their first win over Townsville in five attempts.
• Neither side’s recent form would suggest they are guaranteed to win this important clash, with Townville losing four of their past seven home games and Wynnum Manly losing their past two away games.
• A loss in this match could see Wynnum Manly drop from second spot into fifth spot, depending on other results in the round.
• On top of building form into the finals, both sides will have plenty to play for with Wynnum Manly mentor Adam Brideson looking for his 50^th win as a coach from 90 games.
• Townsville will be hoping halfback Shaun Nona can register two points to bring up 800 in the Cup.

PNG Hunters v Tweed Seagulls
Head-to-head: PNG Hunters 8, Tweed Seagulls 4
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PNGvTWE
Broadcast: This game is broadcast on Kayo Freebies

• After a long season of sacrifice spent away from home, the PNG Hunters will be hoping to end their year in Australia on a high by posting a back-to-back win against the Seagulls. However, Tweed have plenty to play for and will be eyeing off a top-two finish.
• The last time these two sides met was back in 2019 in Port Moresby for their Round 14 match which was won by the Hunters 20-16.
• Overall, the Hunters have had the better of their opposition and have also won three of the past four games between these two sides.
• Last week, the Hunters won a close one against the Capras away from home, but have struggled to get the results at home in recent times and have lost their past four games at Runaway Bay.
• Tweed however are in strong form, despite not being able to field their New Souths Wales based players, and have won four of their past six away games.
• This will be the 100th game for PNG Hunters forward Enock Maki (main image) and his 99th game of Intrust Super Cup. Maki featured for the Hunters in their NRL State Championship game and will become the fourth player to play 100 games for the Hunters.
• In team news, halfback Tevin Arona will take the place of the injured Luke Jurd. Arona is a Cook Islands Nines international and New Zealand Residents representative who played under 20s for the Canberra Raiders and was in the Warriors’ NRL set-up. He has played one game for the Seagulls this season, against the Magpies, and was 18^th man last weekend.

Brisbane Tigers v Mackay Cutters
Head-to-head: Tigers 17, Mackay Cutters 9
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #TIGESvMC

• Mackay will aim to make amends for their 22-10 loss to the Tigers way back in Round 14 of 2019 with the Tigers having lost nine out of their past 10 games, which is their longest streak ever without a win.
• On top of this, the Tigers have also lost four of their past five home games.
• However, the home side have won the past five games played between the two sides, as well as the past six against Mackay at home.
• Mackay’s away game record isn’t too flash, losing four of their past five games.
• Cutters second rower Blake Atherton is set to play his 50^th game in the Intrust Super Cup this weekend, all of them for Mackay.

Northern Pride v Burleigh Bears
Head-to-head: Northern Pride 13, Burleigh Bears 8, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #PRIDEvBEARS

• The Northern Pride can lock in a finals place with a win this Saturday night; but a loss to the Bears and a Falcons win Sunday against the Capras would see the Cairns-based team miss out on the eight.
• The last time the Pride met the Bears was in Round 21, 2019 where Burleigh defeated the Pride 24-14 at Pizzey Park.
• Burleigh have the best of the recent form and have won the past two games between these two sides. They also won the last game played between these two sides at Barlow Park after Pride had won the previous five matches there.
• Leading into this game, the Pride have lost their past games at Barlow park, while the Bears have lost two of their past three away games.
• Gun Bears fullback Kurtis Rowe now has 67 Cup tries for Burleigh, two short of the club Cup record held by Reggie Cressbrook and Trent Purdon. Rowe however has 68 tries for the Bears after scoring for his club in their NRL State Championship appearance in 2016.

Ipswich Jets v Norths Devils
Head-to-head: Norths Devils 26, Ipswich Jets 19, drawn 2
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #JETSvDEVILS

• Back in Round 19 of 2019, Norths defeated Ipswich 16-12 in a nail-biter at Bishop Park.
• This time around, the results of the teams couldn’t be more different; Ipswich having lost their past four games while Norths are on their best ever winning run of 10 games.
• The statistics continue to stack against Ipswich, with Norths having won the past two games against the Jets, as well as winning their past eight away games.
• Norths are still trying to avoid their 250^th loss in what will be their 554^th game in the Intrust Super Cup. In this time, they have secured 286 wins and 18 draws.
• Ipswich have lost their past four games at home and will need to register more than the seven point they require to bring up 13000 in the Intrust Super Cup if they are any chance of upsetting the minor premiers this weekend.
• Norths winger Jon Reuben hasn’t been named this weekend following an injury in last weekend’s win over Wynnum Manly, with the experienced Nene Macdonald set to feature for the Devils.
• Ipswich Jets forward Tyson Lofipo has announced his retirement from the game in what will be his 210th game in the competition. A one-club player, tributes have flowed for the popular prop who started his career on the wing. 

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Central Queensland Capras
Head-to-head: Sunshine Coast 13, Central Queensland 9, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #SCFvCQC

• This will be the last home game for the Sunshine Coast Falcons who will be cheering on the Bears against the Pride on Saturday night and will be aiming for a win over the Capras in order to secure a final berth.
• After the match, the club are celebrating the careers of three stalwarts, with Dane Hogan, Todd Murphy and Martin Cordwell all announcing their retirement following the conclusion of the 2021 season.
• Todd Murphy requires 18 points to become the eighth player to score 1000 points in the Cup, and eight goals to become the sixth player to kick 400 goals, and one try to bring up 50 in the Cup.
• The Falcons have won the past two, and nine of the last 10, games between these two sides, including the last five. at home. The last time the two sides met was in Round 19, 2019 when the Falcons posted a 44-12 victory as Sunshine Coast Stadium.
• This will be a tough ask for the Capras to upset their hosts this weekend, with the club having lost 18 of their past 19 away games.
• However, they have not been easy beats and have put in a huge effort each game this season, thanks to the encouragement of their coach Guy Williams who will be at the helm of the team for the final time after earlier announcing he was stepping away from the post.

Souths Logan Magpies v Redcliffe Dolphins
Head-to-head: Redcliffe Dolphins 33, Souths Logan 12, drawn 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #SLMvPHINS
Broadcast: Intrust Super Sundays via Kayo Freebies, 9Now, QRL.com.au, Intrust Super Cup app and Intrust Super Cup Facebook

• Both teams have been in good form in recent times, with Redcliffe winning three out of the last four away games and Souths winning their last three home games.
• However, last weekend the Dolphins were defeated by a despite Pride who needed a win to stay in the eight and they will be looking to bounce back this weekend against Souths Logan.
• The Magpies and the Dolphins last met in Round 18, 2019, where the Magpies came out victorious 24-16.
• It is a big weekend for Souths Logan fullback Jamayne Isaako who is now equal third top Cup points scorer for the club. Isaako currently on 258 points which makes him equal with Brett Kelly. Isaako also only needs three goals to bring up 100 in the Cup.
• The experienced back will be matching up against Jayden Nikorima this week who has been named as fullback. Nikorima has had a season of note and will be a key player in Redcliffe’s finals run.

*Statistics by Brad Tallon

QRL Judiciary results - Round 16