Rd 9 Intrust Super Cup Preview

by NRL

The Sunshine Coast will attempt to end a four game losing streak when they head to Langlands Park for a tough assignment against the Tigers. It promises to be a massive day of rugby league at Langlands Park, with Sydney teams Parramatta Eels and Balmain Tigers in Queensland for the National Under 18 and Under 16 finals.

Redcliffe coach John Dixon has elevated rookie Zac Strasser to the club's Intrust Super Cup team for Sunday's second versus third blockbuster. Strasser, the son of Brisbane league great Ziggy, will cross paths with wily Tweed playmaker Brad Davis in a tough initiation.

EASTS TIGERS v SUNSHINE COAST
Langlands Park, Saturday 3pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski (NSW)
Head to Head: Sunshine Coast 4 Easts 2

The Sunshine Coast will attempt to end a four game losing streak when they head to Langlands Park for a tough assignment against the Tigers. Coach Dave Cordwell has shifted Hughie Stanley to the wing and pushed Patrick Templeman into the fullback role for the must-win encounter. Forward Peter Gallen has also been reinstated after a short stint in the FOGS Cup. The Tigers have also made changes, with former Sea Eagle Maa Ruua coming into the Easts line up on the wing and Storm contracted forward Jordan McLean added to the bench. The Sunshine Coast have a good record against the Tigers but they will have to raise their game after a difficult month. The Sea Eagles have not won since their upset 36-20 victory over Redcliffe in round 4. Easts' form has also dipped in recent weeks, but the Tigers' losses have all come against teams in the top four. It promises to be a massive day of rugby league at Langlands Park, with Sydney teams Parramatta Eels and Balmain Tigers in Queensland for the National Under 18 and Under 16 finals.
Preview: ARL National Finals
Team Lists: ARL National Finals

The mystery punter says: Easts Tigers by 10. The Tigers staged a sizzling comeback last weekend to nearly get the better of Tweed, and they should carry that second-half momentum into this match.


NORTHERN PRIDE v BURLEIGH BEARS
Barlow Park, Saturday 5.30pm
Referee: Nick Kalpakidis
Head to Head: Pride 5 Burleigh 2 Drawn 1

The Pride gets a chance to string a third-straight win together when the northerners host the Burleigh Bears in their round 9 match. After ending Wynnum Manly's unbeaten run last weekend with a nail-biting 20-18 victory, the Pride enters Saturday's Barlow Park clash in high spirits. The Pride will be without tough prop Ben Laity due to injury, but they will again have the services of Cowboys forwards Scott Bolton, Joel Riethmuller and Cory Paterson for the clash against an equally imposing Burleigh pack led by Titans giant Brenton Lawrence. Burleigh didn't have a lot go their way in their last start loss to the Capras and they will be hoping for a change in fortunes this weekend. The Bears can take confidence from their last visit to Cairns ? an against the odds 25-25 draw in July of last year. Star fullback Jamie Dowling is set to return for the Bears, who will look to break an alarming six-match losing run.

The mystery punter says: Pride by 8. After a patchy start, the Pride is running into form and they should be too strong at home.


MACKAY CUTTERS v IPSWICH JETS
Virgin Australia Stadium, Saturday 6pm
Referee: Robert Gallacher
Head to Head: Ipswich 5 Mackay 3

Ipswich will be understrength for this match, with captain Keiron Lander and halfback Todd Riggs both unavailable due to personal commitments. Ian Lacey will assume the halfback role, with versatile duo Smith Samau and Luke Walker added to the interchange bench. The reshuffle is a concern for the Jets, who will come up against one of the in-form teams of the Intrust Super Cup. The Cutters are sailing along nicely with four-straight wins ? their most recent against Souths Logan in front of the Channel 9 television cameras last weekend. Captain and five-eighth Grant Rovelli has been in outstanding touch in recent weeks, while fullback David Milne and winger Michael Thomas are posing plenty of problems for opposition defences. Thomas has scored five tries in his last two games. Mackay hooker Neil Budworth plays his 50th match in the Intrust Super Cup.

The mystery punter says: Mackay by 12. With key positions covered, the Cutters will have too much firepower for the Jets. The northern team looms as a genuine contender for this year's title.


NORTHS DEVILS v CQ CAPRAS
Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone, Saturday 7pm
Referee: Tim Rutherford
Head to Head: Norths 18 Central 10 Drawn 2

The Capras return to Gladstone for the second time this year and they'll be hoping for a better outcome then their last appearance at Marley Brown Oval, a 44-6 loss to a rampant Souths Logan. However, the Capras have well and truly turned the corner since that loss, notching victories against the Northern Pride and Burleigh Bears. Last week's 25-22 win over the Bears is further proof that the club's decision to bank almost exclusively on local talent is paying off. Interestingly, the last time these two teams met in Gladstone, the Devils won 24-18. However, Central have won seven out of their last nine games against Norths. The Devils should have a point to prove after copping a hiding from Redcliffe last weekend. Saturday's match will be Namila Davui's 50th Cup appearance for the Nundah club.

The mystery punter says: Central Capras by 4. The Capras have defied a lot of expectations already this season, so it wouldn't surprise if they upstaged the bigger name Devils this weekend.


TWEED HEADS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Piggabeen Sports Complex, Sunday 2.10pm
* Live on Channel 9
Referee: Michael Wise
Head to Head: Redcliffe 14 Tweed 6

Redcliffe coach John Dixon has elevated rookie Zac Strasser to the club's Intrust Super Cup team for Sunday's second versus third blockbuster. Strasser, the son of Brisbane league great Ziggy, will cross paths with wily Tweed playmaker Brad Davis in a tough initiation. Strasser will slot in at five-eighth, with Maurice Kennedy moving to halfback after Luke Capewell's NRL call up with the Broncos. Capewell scored three tries in the big 50-18 win over the Norths Devils last week to poll maximum points in The Courier-Mail's best and fairest award. Winger Liam Georgetown, who went one better with four tries, registered two votes. In recording a personal tally of 30 points last weekend, the goal kicking ace became the second quickest player to reach 100 points in a Cup season, behind Damian Quinn (Toowoomba) who notched his 100 in round 7 in 2001. Not to be outdone, Tweed star Davis became the fifth player to reach 1000 Cup points last week. He is the second highest goal kicker with 455 behind only Nick Parfitt with 483. Davis had the ball on a string in last week's 34-26 victory over the Easts Tigers.

The mystery punter says: Tweed Heads by 4. This should be a cracking contest, but the Tweed to prevail on the back of the crafty skills of Brad Davis.


WYNNUM MANLY v SOUTHS LOGAN
BMD Kougari Oval, Sunday 3pm
Referee: Chris Butler
Head to Head: Wynnum Manly 19 Souths Logan 10 Drawn 1

After their first defeat of the season last weekend, Wynnum Manly will look to hit back against Souths Logan on Sunday afternoon. Wynnum Manly coach Paul Green must still be shaking his head after last weekend's two point loss to the Pride. Much to his frustration, Wynnum's Joel Moon crossed the line in the dying minutes, but had the ball knocked loose while attempting to improve the position. It remains to be seen whether the slip up comes back to bite them, but for now the defending premiers are still coasting along nicely at the top of the ladder with seven wins from eight outings. They will again go in favourites this weekend in a match that will see promising speedster Kurt Capewell make his Wynnum Manly debut on the wing. Nat Barnes has been named at fullback, with Sean Loxley set to miss his second match in a row with injury. Souths Logan put in a huge effort against Mackay last week, and Mark Beaumont's team is certainly capable of an upset if they execute a little better.

The mystery punter says: Wynnum Manly by 12. The Seagulls should return to the winners' list in front of a big crowd, which will include members of the victorious 1982 Wynnum Manly grand final team which beat Souths 17-3 at Lang Park.

Rd 9 QCup Teams, Stats (2006-2012) & Predictions
Preview: ARL National Finals
Team Lists: ARL National Finals
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