Intrust Super Cup preview: Preliminary finals to provide plenty to entertainment

Wynnum Manly Seagulls (2) v Tweed Seagulls (4)
Head-to-head: Wynnum Manly Seagulls 24, Tweed Seagulls 16
Head-to-head in finals: Wynnum Manly Seagulls 4, Tweed Seagulls 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #WYNvTWE
Broadcast: This match will be broadcast via Channel 9 in Queensland, Fox League, Kayo, 9Now
Kick-off: 12.15pm Queensland time

• The Seagulls versus Seagulls match-up in the Intrust Super Cup is always an event, with the ‘flockbuster’ games becoming a noted rivalry in the competition.
• Both teams will be confident of their chances, with Wynnum Manly having a week off to recover following their Week 1 grinding win against Burleigh Bears and Tweed flying high after putting in a dominant showing against Redcliffe Dolphins last weekend.
• The last time these two sides met was in Round 2 earlier this year where Wynnum Manly prevailed 36-24 at Iona College.
• In the head-to-head stakes, the Brisbane-based Seagulls have the advantage and have also won 10 of the past 13 games played between these two sides.
• They also have the edge in finals matches and have won four of the five finals played between these two sides, with Tweed's only win coming in 2011. Wynnum Manly have also won the only previous game played between these two sides at Suncorp Stadium which was the 2011 grand final.
• The last finals clash featuring these two sides played was in 2012, where Wynnum Manly again claimed the win, a 30-4 preliminary final victory at BMD Kougari Oval.
• Going into this match, Wynnum Manly will be aiming for their 300th Cup win in their 562nd game. The club have 18 draws and 244 losses.
• If this game wasn’t big enough already, this is also set to be the 100th Cup game for Wynnum Manly skipper Sam Scarlett, who also previously played with Souths Logan Magpies. The talented halfback now has 49 Cup tries and has scored 197 Cup points.
• His coach Adam Brideson will be attempting to reach his second grand final in his fourth season in charge; Brideson’s last decider was the 2019 loss to Burleigh.
• Opposing coach Ben Woolf is attempting to enter his first grand final in his third season at the helm of the Tweed Seagulls.
• Young gun Toby Sexton scored 17 points in Tweed's win over Redcliffe last week, the most ever by a Tweed player in a final, beating club legend Brad Davis who scored 16 points against Ipswich in the 2007 knockout semi en route to their only Cup premiership.
• The stadium surrounds will be a familiar place for a number of Wynnum Manly Seagulls, with the side fielding five players who featured for the Brisbane Broncos this season, with Selwyn Cobbo, David Mead, Jesse Arthars, TC Robati and Richie Kennar named to play.

Norths Devils (1) v Burleigh Bears (3)
Head-to-head: Burleigh 26 Norths 22
Head-to-head in finals: : Burleigh 3 Norths 1
Hashtags: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvBEARS
Broadcast: This match will be broadcast via Channel 9 in Queensland, Fox League, Kayo, 9Now
Kick-off: 2.45pm Queensland time

• This minor premiers versus defending premiers showdown is shaping up as a classic, with both the Norths Devils and Burleigh Bears fielding teams boasting talent and experience.
• The Bears have hit their stride and overpowered an understrength Souths Logan Magpies side last weekend in a match that showcased the skills of their forwards, while the Devils did just enough in Week 1 to overcome Tweed Seagulls.
• The last time these sides met was in Round 6 this year where Burleigh stunned the Devils with a 36-0 at Bishop Park; but fans will be expecting a much tighter match this time around. That loss was the only one the Devils suffered in the first 16 rounds of the competition and was only the second time the Devils have failed to score in a Cup game.
• In the head-to-head stakes, the Bear have a slight advantage and have won the past two games between these two sides, with the Devils winning the previous four.
• An experienced campaigner, Bears coach Rick Stone is attempting to become the first coach to make five Cup grand finals. Stone has coached the most games in Cup history with 229 and is taking part in his ninth finals series with Burleigh in 10 years in charge, only missing the finals in 1998 by one win.
• There is more history to celebrate for Norths Devils as well, with newly crowned Intrust Super Cup Winger of the Year Jon Reuben currently sitting in sixth for all time try scorers in the Cup. Reuben has amassed 108 tries in 104 games.
• Bears fullback Kurtis Rowe was in fine form last weekend and crossed for a try to add to his impressive overall tally and he is now only one short of Burleigh's Cup try scoring record held jointly by Reggie Cressbrook and Trent Purdon on 69.
• Extra motivation to win will be with the Bears who will be keen to go back-to-back this season and send retiring skipper Luke Page out with a bang.

*Statistics by Brad Tallon