SUNSHINE COAST v WYNNUM MANLY
Saturday, June 19 @ Stockland Park, 2pm* live on ABC TV
Exciting Sunshine Coast fullback Dennis Sandow needs two more points to equal Trent Hodkinson’s record as the highest point scorer for the Sunshine Coast in the Queensland Cup. Hodkinson, who has shot to prominence this year with Manly in the NRL, has 144 points to his name. Having already scored eight tries and 26 goals, it is highly likely that Sandow will overtake his former teammate in Saturday’s ABC TV match at BMD Kougari Oval. Wynnum Manly’s David Seage is set to become the Seagulls most capped player in the Queensland Cup. He will overtake former forward Clayton Maher, a veteran of 146 matches. While the Seagulls are nicely positioned in fourth spot, the improving Sunshine Coast are right on Burleigh’s tail.
MACKAY CUTTERS v REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
Saturday, June 19 @ Mackay Juniors, 5.30pm
Mackay’s record-breaking season shows no sign of slowing down, with a big crowd expected to get right behind the Cutters in their quest for a fifth-successive victory. Last week’s win marked the first occasion the Cutters have scored 50 points in a Queensland Cup match. Gun fullback Justin Hunt’s 22 points also broke the record (20) he set the week before for the most points by a Cutters player in a single game. A big incentive for the Cutters is the fabulous opportunity to claw within two competition points of the third-placed Dolphins. But it will be no easy task against a Dolphins side that has returned to form with back-to-back wins. Their most recent success – an 18-12 victory over Ipswich – showed the Dolphins of 2010 are prepared to roll up their sleeves and get dirty. Redcliffe held its nerve to see off a determined fightback from the Jets in the second half on a chilly evening in Ipswich. The Dolphins have named Tom Butterfield at hooker in the absence of former Bronco Mick Roberts.
NORTHERN PRIDE v SOUTHS LOGAN
Saturday, June 19 @ Barlow Park, 7pm
Memories of their 60-12 loss to the Magpies in the opening round should arm the Pride with enough motivation to ensure the Barlow Park clash is one of the best games of the round. By their own admission, the Pride have been off the pace in 2010 but there were enough good signs against Wynnum Manly last weekend to suggest last year’s grand finalist can make an impact throughout the rest of the season. Halfback Chris Sheppard made an encouraging return against the Seagulls and the former Cowboys playmaker should be much better for the hit out. Chey Bird plays his 50th match for the Pride but he won’t start the game in his usual fullback position. Bird has been named at centre, with Ty Williams to wear the No. 1 jersey for the must win match. The Cairns club will go up against the form team of the competition, with the Magpies stringing together eight consecutive victories. Reece Robinson’s form continues to impress, with the Raiders contracted winger taking his try-scoring tally to nine last weekend.
CENTRAL COMETS v EASTS TIGERS
Saturday, June 19 @ Browne Park, 7pm
Classy Easts centre Liam Campbell is set to make his return from injury in what will be his 50th Queensland Cup game for the Tigers. Campbell hasn’t played since the team’s round 11 win over Tweed. Consecutive losses since then have virtually ended the Tigers’ semi-final hopes. But Easts will fancy their chances of toppling the Comets, who sit just one win ahead of them on the Intrust Super Cup ladder. The Comets would need a barnstorming finish to the back half of the season to qualify for the finals but there is enough talent in Wayne Barnett’s line-up to suggest it is not out of their reach just yet. After completing his club commitments this week, Barnett will take the reins of the Country team for the annual representative clash against City.
NORTHS DEVILS v IPSWICH JETS
Sunday, June 20 @ Bishop Park 3pm
Norths have hit a mini-form slump in the wake of a heavy injury toll but last week’s 40-10 loss to Tweed will be quickly forgotten if the Devils can win here. Broncos contracted prop Josh McGuire returns to give the Norths pack additional grunt in the Bishop Park clash. Like the Devils, Ipswich is battling an injury problem with several key players in doubt. But the players who do end up taking the field will be determined to win for Danny Coburn, who turns out for his 250th match in the Queensland Cup. Coburn, set to become just the second player to reach the milestone, lost his place in the Jets line-up a few weeks ago but in true fighting spirit the popular club man has bounced back to force his way into the 17. Ipswich still occupies last position on the ladder but their performances haven’t been as bad as the table suggests. They pushed Redcliffe all the way last weekend before losing by a converted try.
BURLEIGH BEARS v TWEED HEADS
Sunday, June 20 @ Pizzey Park, 3pm
Burleigh faces the prospect of dropping out of the top six for the first time this season if it loses to the Tweed in the highly-anticipated local derby. But that would only occur if the Sunshine Cost beats Wynnum Manly in Saturday’s 2pm clash. It’s a situation the Bears would be desperate to avoid and their entire focus this week has centred on the need to shut down the Tweed’s lethal attacking combinations. Tweed thrashed the Devils last weekend to stay in touch with the top six. Their ability to score points from anywhere is a major concern for the Bears, although Burleigh isn’t short on firepower itself. Bears winger Nathan Ross scored four tries in Burleigh’s 28-26 loss to premiership front-runners Souths Logan last Sunday. Burleigh also has the better of the head to head battle, winning nine of the 15 previous matches against the Tweed.
© Mackay Cutters 2010. All rights reserved.
Website by
