Round 6 of the Hostplus Cup travels North to Cairns as the Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Northern Pride face off in this week’s free broadcasted match.
Both teams will have plenty to play for, as the Pride will be eager to find their first win of the season and the Seagulls will be looking to hold off the Bears, Jets and Hunters to keep their spot safe within the top four.
The Pride have lost five-in-a-row since bowing out of the finals last year, and have lost their last two games at home, which comes as a surprise considering they had won their last twelve matches at Barlow Park before being defeated by Redcliffe in week three of last year’s Finals series.
Wynnum Manly’s forward press has been crucial to their success this season, propelling them to a massive win over the Souths Logan Magpies last weekend.
At the heart of their pack are two Broncos aligned players that have taken to the Hostplus Cup like it’s mum’s lasagna.
Strong performances off the bench forced Seagulls’ hooker Cameron Bukowski into the starting lineup last week, and he didn’t disappoint – bagging a double and earning himself a spot in last round’s Team of the Week.
The incumbent U19 Maroons captain was a revelation against the Magpies, his crisp passing and organised approach to dummy half play akin to watching a master craftsman hard at work.
His first try was scored backing up through the middle, and his second was a brilliant piece of ‘green light’ running, with his impressive strength on full display crossing under the posts.
Bukowski’s ruck recognition is a thing of beauty, he instinctively knows when to pin his ears back out of dummy-half.
Seagull Beni Allen secured his first Hostplus Cup try on the weekend.
Capitalising on a penalty he won in the prior set, he caught a crash ball at full speed en route to bouldering over his Bronco brethren Blake Mozer and Martin Taupau.
The Pride are getting closer to a win with each game they play this year, and it seemed within touching distance against the Cutters.
If the Pride are to crack their first win of the season, then star second-rower Jamal Shibasaki will play a crucial role.
His battle with Beni Allen will be everything you could hope for, with both edges being strong dynamic runners that bend the line and create chances with every hit up.
Allen, Bukowski and Shibasaki all represented Queensland in the Under 19s last year so they know each other well, what a great spectacle it will be to see them come together during the Hostplus Cup.
Watch this weekend’s Hostplus Cup Match of the Round live and free on 9Now and Kayo, as well as Queensland Rugby League’s home of live streaming Qplus.tv
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ROUND 6 HOSTPLUS CUP
Saturday April 12
Brisbane Tigers v Souths Logan Magpies - 3:00pm – Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Western Clydesdales v Mackay Cutters – 3:50pm – Toowoomba Sports Ground, Toowoomba
Sunshine Coast Falcons v Norths Devils – 5:00pm – Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Townsville Blackhawks v Redcliffe Dolphins – 5:00pm – Jack Manski Oval, Townsville
Central Queensland Capras vs Burleigh Bears 6:00pm – Rugby Park, Rockhampton
Sunday April 13
Northern Pride vs Wynnum Manly Seagulls 2:10pm – Barlow Park, Cairns
Ipswich Jets v PNG Hunters 3:00pm – North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
