Hostplus Cup Round 21 preview

Hostplus Cup Round 21

Northern Pride v Western Clydesdales

Head-to-head: Pride 1, Clydesdales 0

Last meeting: Pride 32 def Clydesdales 30 in Round 9, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Pride have three losses and a draw from their last five matches, but won their last match against Tweed Seagulls. The Clydesdales have 11 losses in their last 12 matches but also won their last game, with an upset over Norths Devils
• The Pride have two losses and a draw from their last three matches at Barlow Park while the Clydesdales have lost their last six away games
• Clydesdales prop Todd White will celebrate his 50th Cup game this weekend. He notched up this milestone for the Ipswich Jets and Western Clydesdales

A word from the coaches

Northern Pride coach Ty Williams: We were very patient and searching for a result last week. The way we managed the game in the second half was on point. Everyone right across the board, from one to 17, did their job to get that win over Tweed, which is good to see. The belief and the trust is there at the moment, which is something we've had to work with for a period of time. I thought the Burleigh game, we found our mojo at the back end of that and continued that last week. We have the Clydesdales this week and I'm expecting them to be at a high level. They had a great win against Norths last week and they did all the little things well. We need to continue what we've done the last two weeks against them. They have power up front in (Darryn) Schonig and (Blake) Lenehan and that young (Drew) Timms is a very good hooker. Their outside backs are big and fast as well.

Western Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin: It was good for the boys to get that win, good for the club. A lot of the hard work we've been doing, it's been paying off. We keep working harder and you get the points at the end. It was good and we have another two games to go. What the good thing was when Norths got back in front, we didn't give in and scored two tries at the end to make sure we won. I knew we've been building for a win. I knew it was going to eventually happen for us. For the Pride, they have to win to stay in the semi-final race and their coach is leaving. He's been there for years and probably coached most of them for their entire time in Hostplus Cup. They're a well-coached side and they'll be expecting to beat us. We know what we have to do and we'll give it our best and hopefully we can get the two points. We've been working hard. We want this to be our first back-to-back wins as a club, as the Western Clydesdales. That's really important to us. We're up to there play some footy and win the game and wait for Mackay for the following week.

PNG Hunters v Townsville Blackhawks

Head-to-head: PNG 7, Townsville 6, drawn 1

Last meeting: Townsville 54 def PNG 4 in Round 9, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• This is PNG's 200th Cup game. They have won 105, drawn seven and lost 87
• PNG have won four of the five meetings played between these two teams in Papua New Guinea, though Townsville won the last game in 2019
• The Hunters have won two of their last three home games while Townsville have two wins and a draw from their last four away games

A word from the coaches

PNG Hunters coach Stanley Tepend: Comments to come.

Townsville Blackhawks coach Christian Quabba: It wasn't the result we were after last week. We needed to be more resilient on the back of errors and penalties. There were too many times we didn't defend that and it has to be a focus for us this week. At the end of the day, the Hunters are playing some really good football at the right time of the year. The message from me this week will be to be physical. They're going to run hard and tackle hard and we need to be ready for that. The Hunters in PNG as well, there will be a massive crowd and hostile environment but for me it's exciting. Rugby league is one avenue through which we get to experience this and my message for the team is to just enjoy it and embrace it but remember we go there with a job to do.

Norths Devils v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Head-to-head: Norths 13, Sunshine Coast 11

Last meeting: Sunshine Coast 28 def Norths 24 in Round 8, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Norths have won two of their last three games, but lost their last match against the Western Clydesdales
• The Sunshine Coast have won two of their last three games
• Devils wingers Jon Reuben is within two tries of Norths' season try scoring record of 21 set by Derek Fletcher in 2004

A word from the coaches

Norths Devils coach Dave Elliott: Our Achilles heel for most of the season has been our defence. We've been able to score points no problem but just our defensive resolve can lack at times. We managed to get back in front with the Clydesdales last week but spent a lot of gas and emotional energy doing so and they got us in the end. To turn it around, we get back to work this week. I'm not sure if we went into that Toowoomba game with an element of complacency. We've been going into games we're not expected to win and we've won but then we're not winning against teams below us and that hurts us. On Wednesday at training, I could see we were really ready to sink our teeth into this weekend. We haven't been at home for a little bit and it's Old Boys' Day. The Falcons are also a different team. They're full of (Melbourne) Storm players. We've previously proven we're up to that challenge when there's a team above us and it's all on the line for the Falcons and all on the line for us. The Falcons, they play a pretty exciting brand of footy. It's very well-documented that it will be (Ryan) Papenhuyzen's second game and he'll bring an element of brilliance. They'll miss Jayden Nikorima but they'll still have Justin Olam on one side and Jack Howarth and I'll assume Chris Lewis and (Aaron) Pene and those guys are playing. They're a formidable outfit and that's when we play our best footy.

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: I was content with the performance against Ipswich. It wasn't us at our best. We're capable of winning big games and we have to start now so this is our biggest game of the year so far. If we don't win this one, it's potentially curtains. If we want to consider ourselves finals chances and premiership chances, we need to beat Norths this weekend. That's what I'm trying to instil in the team. I'm expecting typical Norths footy. They're really powerful on the edges and they have an outstanding fullback in Jack Ahearn. He's a big part of our focus this week. They're also big through the middle so physically we have to be good. They really feed off offloads so we have to dry them up if we want to stop them.

Burleigh Bears v Mackay Cutters

Head-to-head: Burleigh 15, Mackay 9, drawn 1

Last meeting: Burleigh 42 def Mackay 6 in Round 9, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Burleigh have two wins and a draw from their last four matches while Mackay have lost their last three games
• Burleigh have won the last seven games between these two sides at UAA Park
• Mackay have lost two of their last three away games
• Hayden Schwass (147th Cup game) will move to third on all-time Cup games for Burleigh, passing Martin Griese and Luke Page (both on 146). He will be behind only Shane O'Flanagan (201) and Ali Brown (160)
• Mackay playmaker Brandon Finnegan will celebrate his 50th Cup game this Saturday, playing all his matches for the Cutters

A word from the coaches

Burleigh Bears coach Luke Burt: Last week was our best team performance. We worked really well as our team against Wynnum Manly and we got back to enjoying our footy, which was really pleasing. The most important part now is not to feel the pressure of backing up what we did on Sunday but continuing to enjoy our football and working hard as a team. The Cutters are coming off a bye so will be nice and fresh. They only recently lost 14-12 to Souths Logan so they're a dangerous side, and a big physical side so we need to be ready for that.

Mackay Cutters coach Michael Comerford: Comments to come.

Souths Logan Magpies v Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Head-to-head: Wynnum 32, Souths Logan 17, drawn 1

Last meeting: Souths Logan 34 def Wynnum 12 in Round 8, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• This is the seventh Cup game at Ron Stark Oval. Wynnum Manly won the first five matches there, including two wins over Souths Logan. Their only loss was to Central Queensland by two points last year
• Souths Logan have won three of their last four games while Wynnum Manly have lost two of their last three games
• Souths Logan have won the last four meetings between these two sides

A word from the coaches

Souths Logan Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt: We were definitely slow to get out of the blocks and the Brisbane Tigers came with good intensity in the first half last week. I was very pleased with the second half to get back on track, get to our processes and make a game of it. For one of our worst halves of the season, to put yourself in a position to win it, that is pleasing. But we have raised that we need start better against Wynnum Manly this week. They'll be a bit battered and bruised after the result against Burleigh. They're a very proud club so expecting a really tough contest from a really quality side. We have that Broncos affiliation as well which makes it a bit mate against mate and makes for a good contest. They train alongside each other everyday and then to go up against each other, I know our boys enjoy that.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls coach Mat Head: We were very disappointed within ourselves. We didn't perform the way we would have liked. A lot of the standards we didn't nail so we got what we deserved. But it's a new week and we maybe get a couple of players back into the team which gives us a bit of energy. Jock Madden should be one of those which gives us confidence about ourselves and he makes people around him better. Souths Logan will also be disappointed in losing last week so will come out firing. They're deservingly on top of the ladder. It's a good thing for us to play them now before finals. We need to look after ourselves and get some fit people back into our footy team. It gives us confidence playing those teams and shows us what we need to improve on.

Redcliffe Dolphins v Central Queensland Capras

Head-to-head: Redcliffe 39, Central Queensland 7, drawn 3

Last meeting: Redcliffe 36 def Central Queensland 20 in Round 9, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv, 9Now and Kayo Freebies

• This is the 50th Cup game between these two sides. Central Queensland have won only one of the last 23 meetings between these two sides, which was in 2013 in Roma. There have been three draws in that run
• Redcliffe have two wins and a draw from their last four matches while Central Queensland have won their last three games
• Last week's 44-22 win over Townsville was Central Queensland's biggest ever margin against the Blackhawks

A word from the coaches

Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te'o: It was a great trip to PNG last week. Everyone really enjoyed it and some said it was the best trip ever. The result wasn't the greatest for us but it was a really close game and really entertaining. We had a great experience over there so it's only positives to come out of the game. We haven't really looked at the position on the ladder and put much importance on that. This week is about getting our players to gel back together and fix up a couple parts of our game that weren't up to scratch. We have the Capras and we're both affiliates with the Dolphins. We know them pretty well and the boys all train together and will do battle this weekend. The Capras have a great coach, they're a well-drilled side and a tough side. That's what we know about them. 

Central Queensland Capras coach Lionel Harbin: Comments to come.

Tweed Seagulls v Ipswich Jets

Head-to-head: Tweed 26, Ipswich 14

Last meeting: Tweed 54 def Ipswich 14 in Round 10, 2023

Broadcast: Qplus.tv

• Tweed have lost two of their last three games while Ipswich have lost their last 21 games
• This is the 20th and final game of the year for the Ipswich Jets, who have a bye in the last round. They face becoming the fifth team to lose all their games in a completed season. Previous teams were Ipswich Jets (1996); Bundaberg Grizzlies (1998); Logan City Scorpions (2002) and Wests Panthers (2003)
• Tweed have lost two of their last three games at home

A word from the coaches

Tweed Seagulls coach Dave Penna: When we want to play footy we look good. We got in front a couple of times last week against the Northern Pride but couldn’t go on with it. It was a disappointing result; the boys are feeling it. It was more in our own efforts and how we played but we’ve got to move on. Our focus has been on us this week, making sure that we put a performance on the field that we know we can put together. That’s our main thing. We just need to play well and if we play well, the rest will take care of itself. If we walk off the field to know that we played well and played how we’ve trained, do the simple things that we’ve worked really hard to do, then I can’t ask any more than that. The Jets have got plenty of talent and skill in the halves and their spine. Like I said, we just have to be really good defensively. We have to stick to our process and work for each other, and when we get the football, don’t give them too much ball. That’s the key to Tweed playing really well.

Ipswich Jets coach Ben Cross: It's our last game and I just want to see a competitive performance where they try to do themselves proud and the club proud. Last week showed us we can be threatening against a very good side and we asked a lot of questions of the Sunshine Coast in defence. We just lacked concentration in defence at times. But when we played good enough footy, we troubled them. This week against Tweed, we know they're fairly well-drilled. Their outside backs are their strengths - Treymain Spry out wide in particular. They have a good, strong forward pack with Jaron Purcell doing a lot of work through the middle. Lindon McGrady is always a threat especially on kick returns. They got beaten last week, so they'll be smarting from that. 

Bye: Brisbane Tigers

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