Journey to the finals: Your Hostplus Cup top eight
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The Hostplus Cup finals will kick off this Saturday, as eight teams begin their campaigns for premiership glory.
It's been a long road to this point - 23 rounds of moments that were both heart-warming and heart-breaking.
For two teams, it will end as quickly as it started, with PNG Hunters and Wynnum Manly Seagulls, and Central Queensland Capras and Burleigh Bears facing off in elimination finals.
Meanwhile, Sunshine Coast Falcons will head north to Cairns to try to break Northern Pride's long-running winning streak while Norths Devils and Redcliffe Dolphins will meet in a heated derby at Bishop Park.
Here's a look at the journey of the top eight teams to this year's finals.
History within reach: The 2024 Hostplus Cup finals
The Hostplus Cup top eight
1. Northern Pride – minor premiers
Wins: 17
Losses: 3
2024 record v Falcons: One win, one loss
Under the tutelage of former Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Eric Smith for the first time - and back in affiliation with the North Queensland Cowboys - Pride have come along in leaps and bounds this season. Having made the past two finals series only to get knocked out in the first rounds, the Cairns-based team are heading into the finals with impressive momentum. They are undefeated since Round 9, finishing the home-and-away season with 17 wins and just three losses against fellow top eight teams in the Redcliffe Dolphins, Sunshine Coast Falcons and PNG Hunters. Pride also finished the regular season undefeated at home and now get two more guaranteed home games in this finals series. They are strong across the park, led by young skipper Kyle Schneider, with a formidable spine, which includes Schneider at hooker. He is joined by Cowboys duo Tom Chester at fullback and Tom Duffy – also the Hostplus Cup’s leading point scorer – at halfback, while five-eighth alternates between Dantoray Lui and Cowboys half Jake Clifford, who is expected to stay in the NRL for at least the next two weeks. New recruits this year in Jensen Taumoepeau, Lachlan West and Dane Aukafolau have paid dividends for Pride, while a host of the old faces such as Will Partridge, Ewan Moore and Evan Child continue to deliver week in, week out. After finishing eight points ahead of Norths Devils in second, there is no denying Pride are the team to beat in the race to this year’s premiership.
2. Norths Devils
Wins: 13
Losses: 7
2024 record v Dolphins: One win, one loss
A busy off-season from the Devils put them in good stead for season 2024. Signing the likes of Jordan Lipp, Julian Christian and Gerome Burns added plenty of electricity to their line-up this season and strengthened their stocks. Fellow new recruit Jack Wright has also been reliable for the Devils, especially with Burns now sidelined through injury. They have also blossomed through their new affiliation with the Dolphins NRL side, with the likes of Oryn Keeley and Jeremiah Simbiken proving to be threats week in and week out. The Devils also boast the leading try scorer in strong young winger Manase Kaho and were buoyed by the return of Jack Ahearn midway through the season. They certainly have the squad to challenge for their third premiership in four years, especially with the experience there, with the likes of Ahearn and hooker Kierran Moseley. Norths haven’t had the run into the finals that they would have liked – notching up three losses from their final four games – but under the calm influence of coach Dave Elliott and with a proud history behind them, the Devils will be a force to be reckoned with during the next few weeks.
3. Redcliffe Dolphins
Wins: 13
Losses: 7
2024 record v Devils: One win, one loss
Death, taxes and the Redcliffe Dolphins playing finals footy. There are some things that are just guaranteed, with the last time Redcliffe missed finals being 2014. This year, when the Dolphins have been at their best, they can be unstoppable. They have finished this season with 13 wins and seven losses. But a few of those losses have come in the form of upsets, with the Dolphins going down to the likes of the Western Clydesdales and Townsville Blackhawks throughout the season. What the Dolphins cannot be faulted on, however, is that when there is a challenge, they will aim up and deliver. Coach Ben Te’o is in his final season with the Dolphins, ahead of his move to join the Brisbane Broncos’ coaching staff in 2025. He will want to finish the season with some silverware and that determination will be filtered down to his team. They have also reaped the benefits of fullback Trai Fuller’s return, with the Dolphins undefeated since his comeback in Round 20. They are running into the finals hot with momentum and the halves combination of Latrell Siegwalt and Joshua James is firing. Valynce Te Whare is one of the most damaging backs in the game while skipper Max Bailey always knows how to lead by example. The stage is set for a mouth-watering derby this weekend against the Devils and it’s fair to say the Dolphins will be one team to keep a very close eye on.
4. Sunshine Coast Falcons
Wins: 12
Losses: 8
2024 record v Pride: One win, one loss
The Falcons were bundled out of last year’s finals series in heart-breaking fashion. Stripped of a number of their NRL affiliated players, a gutsy Sunshine Coast outfit saw their season come to an end in week two against Central Queensland Capras in Rockhampton. Off the back of this heartache, coach Brad Henderson and the club made it their mission in 2024 to recruit strongly for more depth in their squad to avoid a repeat of that situation. Already they are sitting better than they were at the end of last season – moving from eighth to fourth – and have overcome a great deal of adversity, with injuries rocking their year. They have used 32 players this year to accommodate and still have eight sidelined. They don’t have their Melbourne stars once again this weekend – including star forward Laz Vaalepu - but will go into a tough battle against the Pride full of belief in each other, having dealt all season with the forced chopping and changing of their roster. They should also carry the confidence that they have overcome their Cairns opponents once before this season and they have the safety net of a guaranteed second week of finals, win or lose. Similar to the Dolphins, the Falcons have suffered a few upset losses this year, but have done well at aiming up when needed, as shown in their must-win clash with Norths in Round 23. If they can maintain the rage and embrace each challenge, they will put themselves in good stead for a grand final appearance.
5. PNG Hunters
Wins: 12
Losses: 8
2024 record v Seagulls: One win
The last time PNG Hunters played finals footy, they won the whole competition. Coach Paul Aiton should be applauded for his efforts with the Hunters this year. He’s taken them from 10th to fifth and the proof of his work is in the pudding – they are fit, they are disciplined and they remain as physical and unpredictable as ever. Fullback Sanny Wabo brings a real x-factor to the side, filling the boots of Morea Morea admirably, while Judah Rimbu has been one of the leading hookers of the competition all year. Captain Ila Alu remains reliable and consistent while backrower Benji Kot can be destructive with the ball in hand. Their home ground is seen as a fortress – no one will envy Wynnum Manly Seagulls, who have to travel there this week. It’s a massive boost for PNG to kick off their finals campaign on home turf. But they know they can’t rely on that advantage and will have to be at their best to overcome a wounded Seagulls outfit. It’s do-or-die time for the Hunters and all the teams below them. It’s been a long time since 2017 and they’ll be hungry for another premiership.
Fables of Cup finals edition: PNG Hunters 2017
6. Central Queensland Capras
Wins: 10
Draws: 2
Losses: 8
2024 record v Bears: One win
For the third year straight, the Capras are once again in the finals mix. They’ve spent the past three years rewriting history for their club and that has led to a lot of pride in the Rockhampton and central region. But they are still yet to taste premiership glory and this is something they’ll be desperate to change. This year has been a rollercoaster for the Capras, with a touch of inconsistency across the season. They garnered 10 wins, eight losses and two draws across the season, finishing on a high note with a strong 36-24 victory over Tweed Seagulls in Round 23. Maintaining this momentum will be key for coach Lionel Harbin and his men. They certainly have the squad to be a real finals force. There is no doubt not having lock Lachlan Hubner (NRL) this week is a blow, as is the loss of Kurt Donoghoe (NRL). But Anthony Milford remains in the halves alongside veteran Jack Madden, while wingers Edrick Lee and Bob Tenza bring plenty of strike on the outside. Tyler Szepanowski and Ryan Jackson have what it takes to lay a strong platform for the halves and fullback Blake Moore is one of the most consistent in the game. They showed in Country Week against Redcliffe how difficult they can be to shut down when their defence is at its best and will need to muscle up in a similar fashion this week against Burleigh. The Capras have gone one step further each time they make the finals. They’ll have their sights set firmly on doing so again this year and making it to grand final day in September.
7. Burleigh Bears
Wins: 10
Draws: 1
Losses: 9
2024 record v Capras: One loss
Seventh spot is certainly an usual place to see the Bears at this time of year. They have not finished below third since 2017. But if there was a roster that could pull a team out of a slump and into action, it’s the Burleigh roster. This year alone they’ve had five of their players celebrate 150 game milestones, with Hayden Schwass, Pat Politoni, Guy Hamilton, Sam Coster and skipper Sami Sauiluma all hitting that achievement. All five of those players are key to the Bears’ continued success and their experience will be instrumental in their upcoming campaign. They have the stocks in the forwards with wrecking ball Bailey Butler and damaging prop Matt Koellner, and have the potential to be boosted by Brisbane Broncos affiliates, like Fletcher Baker. It’s fair to say the Bears have struggled with consistency in their fullback and five-eighth positions this year with first choice No.1 Creedence Toia battling injury on and off while No.6 Josh Rogers has earned more time in the NRL. But the Bears know how to win games and if they can rediscover their mojo, there’s no limit to what they could pull off.
Round 23 clash of the week: Seagulls v Tigers
8. Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Wins: 10
Draws: 1
Losses: 9
2024 record v Hunters: One loss
There is no tougher away trip in the Hostplus Cup competition than going to Port Moresby to take on PNG Hunters. But that is the challenge that lies ahead for Wynnum Manly – and it is one that they must embrace. The Seagulls ended the regular season on a slight sour note, suffering a 32-28 loss to Brisbane Tigers in Round 23. But in a way, the trip to Papua New Guinea could be exactly what the Seagulls need to kickstart their form and make an impact this finals series. At their best, Wynnum Manly are one of the strongest teams in the competition. They have battled this year with inconsistency and with injury, but adversity can make strong teams and the Seagulls know they have to keep rising to every challenge. They did so at the back end of the regular season, winning two crucial games to stay in the finals fight. Now in a do-or-die situation moving forward, they have to maintain that mental grit and bring their form from the training paddock to the playing field.
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