Round 20 Turn to Me Round preview: Century for Putt

The final round of the regular season is also Turn to Me Round in the Hostplus Cup, an important round that focuses on the importance of mental wellbeing. The round began in 2013 and continues to reinforce the importance of mateship during the off season.

This initiative, first started by former Redcliffe Dolphins players Isaak Ah Mau and Petero Civoniceva, and Ipswich Jets chair Steve Johnson, is supported by the fundraising efforts of Swich On Inc each year.

All players and match officials will wear blue socks as a symbol of the round, while mini footballs with the 'Turn to Me' message will also be distributed by players into the crowd. 

This weekend, Sunday's fan-voted feature match of the round is between Burleigh Bears and Wynnum Manly Seagulls and can be viewed live and free at QPlus.tv.

Here is your Round 20 Turn to Me Round 'stats pack' with all of the numbers you need to know for this weekend's games, courtesy of Brad Tallon.

Hostplus Cup Round 20

PNG Hunters v Mackay Cutters

Head-to-head: PNG Hunters 7, Mackay 3, drawn 2
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #PNGvCUTTERS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• It's taken a few false starts, but the PNG Hunters are finally heading home to host their first game since Round 22, 2019 against Mackay Cutters. Their last game in Port Moresby was a 46-0 loss to Redcliffe Dolphins
• The last time the Hunters met the Cutters was in Round 1 where the Hunters started the season with a 16-10 win
• Following their upset victory against Burleigh Bears last week, the Hunters now have a win and a draw from their past games
• The past three games played between these two sides at Port Moresby resulted in a win to each side and a draw

Norths Devils v Townsville Blackhawks

Head-to-head: Townsville Blackhawks 6, Norths Devils 5
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #DEVILSvTSVB
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• Norths Devils host Townsville Blackhawks this weekend, with the visitors in need of a big win and plenty to go their way if their extremely slim finals hopes are to come to fruition
• If this is the last game for the Blackhawks, it will draw to a close the Cup careers of popular and long-serving players Shaun Nona, Kalifa Faifai-Loa and Joe Boyce who are set to retire
• The last time the two sides met, the Devils were too strong, posting a 38-14 victory
• The Devils are in good form and have won their past three games, and they have also won the past five games between these two sides, including the past three at home. They have also won their past two home games
• The Blackhawks have four losses and a draw from their past five away games
• Long-serving QRL match official Steve Kanowski will run the sideline in his last regular season match this weekend. Kanowski - who in 2022 was involved in his 25th year as a match official - has indicated he will retire at the end of the season

Northern Pride v Ipswich Jets

Head-to-head: Northern Pride 14, Ipswich Jets 14, drawn 1
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #PRIDEvJETS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv 

• Northern Pride are fighting for a chance to play finals and will hoping to repeat their 26-6 Round 1 victory when they host Ipswich Jets this weekend
• The Pride can make the top eight if they win and either Wynnum Manly Seagulls lose, or if Brisbane Tigers lose and they make up the 33 for-and-against difference
• While the Pride have lost their past two games, they will be buoyed by the fact they have won the past two game played against the Jets
• However, the Jets have won two of the past three games between these two sides at Barlow Park
• Pride coach Ty Williams will be in charge for his 107th game, passing Kevin Walters to move to 18th all-time
• This will be the final game for inspirational Jets skipper Nat Neale. A former XXXX Queensland Residents representative and recipient of the Petero Civoniceva Medal as the best and fairest in the competition, Neale will hang up the boots following this match

Central Queensland Capras v Souths Logan Magpies

Head-to-head: Souths Logan 24, Central 21, drawn 3
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #CAPRASvMAGPIES
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Central Queensland Capras will play finals this year and got their season on the front foot in Round 1 when they defeated Souths Logan Magpies 24-22 at Davies Park
• However, the home side have hit a rough patch in recent times and have lost their past three games, dropping from second to sixth on a congested ladder
• They host a Souths Logan side who will be keen to go back-to-back for the first time this season, with their win last weekend against Wynnum Manly their first after 12 losses
• Overall, Souths Logan have won the past five, and seven of the past eight, games between these two sides at Browne Park
• Souths Logan won't have the services of second rower Kelly Tate - who scored two tries in their win last week - after he took an early guilty plea for dangerous contact
• Central Queensland, in contrast, have lost their past two games at Browne Park
• In-form Central Queensland forward Nixon Putt is set to play in his 100th Cup game this weekend. Putt started his career with PNG Hunters and also previously played with Norths Devils
• Central Queensland require 38 points to bring up 11,000 in Cup. They have 16,646 against

Burleigh Bears v Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Head-to-head: Burleigh Bears 29, Wynnum Manly Seagulls 17, drawn 3
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #BEARSvWYN
Broadcast: Qplus.tv, 9Now, Kayo Freebies and Hostplus Cup Facebook 

• Wynnum Manly Seagulls are locked in a tense fight to stay in the finals, with three losses in a row dropping the side from fourth the eighth. They have also lost five of their past six games
• The Seagulls will want to beat the Bears in what will be their 50th Cup game against each other to comfortably keep their place, with Pride in particular aiming to take their place
• The Bears too have hit a bit of a slump and have two losses and a draw from their past three games, but will take positivity from the fact the last time the two sides met, the Bears were 26-18 victors
• The Bears have also won nine of the past 10 games between these two sides and have also won the past three, and four of the past five, games between these two sides at Pizzey Park
• Overall, the Bears have won their past six, and 17 of their last 18, games at home
• While his team will be working hard to keep their run alive for a few more weeks, if this is to be the Seagulls' last game this year, it will draw to a close the Cup career of coach Adam Brideson who has decided this season will be his last at this level
• The sides will be playing for the Adam Watene (Cook) Memorial Trophy this weekend. Cook played in the Cup for the Bears and Seagulls before moving to the United Kingdom in the Super League. He passed away suddenly in 2008 at the age of 31, leaving behind his wife Moana and two children Arana and Ena. Moana and the kids along with extended family will be present at the game to present the trophy to the winning team

Brisbane Tigers v Tweed Seagulls

Head-to-head: Tweed Seagulls 19, Tigers 16, drawn 1
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #TIGESvTWEED
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• While they currently sit in seventh, Brisbane Tigers are one of the teams locked in a battle for a finals berth
• The home side will be wanting to ensure coach Jon Buchanan, who has indicated this is to be his final year coaching at this level, is in charge for a few more weeks. Skipper Darren Nicholls has also expressed his intention to retire from Cup
• When the two sides met in Round 1, the Tigers prevailed in a close match, defeating Tweed 20-16, however, Tweed have won three of the past four games between these two sides 
• Coming into this match, Tweed have three wins and a draw from their past four games, moving from ninth to fifth
• Tweed's 42-0 win last week was their most against, and biggest win over the Blackhawks
• The Tigers though have won four of the past five games played between these two sides at home
• The Tigers require one point to bring up 15000 in the Cup. They have 13080 against
• Tweed will be without Brent Woolf for this match after he took an early guilty plea for a crusher tackle
• This will be the 50th Cup game for Tweed half Will Brimson who has also previously played with Wynnum Manly
• This will also be the 50th Cup game for Tigers and 76th Cup game overall for Brett Greinke, who has played with Norths Devils in the past
• Tweed skipper Lindon McGrady requires four goals to bring up 250 in Cup

Sunshine Coast Falcons v Redcliffe Dolphins

Head-to-head: Redcliffe Dolphins 17, Sunshine Coast 10
Hashtags: #HostplusCup #FALCONSvPHINS
Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Earlier this year, the clubs played for the James Ackerman Cup, with the Sunshine Coast posting a 24-4 win
• The Sunshine Coast have been flying under the radar somewhat this season despite their high standing and have won their past three games
• Redcliffe have 10 wins and two draws in their last 12 games, their longest ever Cup run without a loss. The run has seen them move from 13th to third
• With both teams assured a finals spot, they will play again in the first week of the finals with the winner of this match set to host. If the game is a draw, Sunshine Coast are set to host
• Redcliffe have won four of their past five games between these two sides
• Redcliffe have also won the past three, and five of the past six, games between these two sides at Sunshine Coast Stadium
• Sunshine Coast have won their past three, and nine of their last 10, games at home
• In a blow for the home side, Sunshine Coast will be without gun hooker Tyson Smoothy who has taken an early guilty plea for dangerous contact
• Redcliffe have four wins and draw from their past five away games
• Redcliffe's 49-10 win last week was their most against and biggest win over the Pride
• Redcliffe half Bryce Donovan requires three goals to bring up 100 in Cup

QRL Match Review charges results Round 19 Hostplus Cup

You can watch all Hostplus Cup games via QPlus.tv.