NORTHS DEVILS v NORTHERN PRIDE
5pm, Saturday 5 April, Callendar Park, Innisfail
Referee: Peter Gough
Head-to-head: Pride 11, Norths 2, drawn 1
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #DEVILSvPRIDE
Rugby league fans in Innisfail are in for a treat this weekend, with the competition’s two undefeated teams to play in a top-of-the-table clash.
In only the second Intrust Super Cup game played on the Cassowary Coast, the Norths Devils will take on the Northern Pride as they attempt to win six straight matches to open the season.
The Pride have won four matches and had a bye last weekend following their round 4 win over the Hunters in Kokopo.
Coach Jason Demetriou gave his team some time off to recover after their strong performance and they will be feeling fresh and hoping to stop the winning momentum of the Devils.
In team news, Norths have named an unchanged 17, with Brad McKee added to an extended bench.
While not named, Cowboys forward Ricky Thorby will be available for the Pride, while Latu Fifita has been added to an extended bench.
In the head-to-head stakes, the Pride enjoy a healthy advantage, with Norths having only won one of the past eight games played between the two teams.
In an added bonus, there will also be a Cairns District Rugby League A-grade game staged, with the Innisfail Leprechauns and Cairns Brothers to face off at 7pm.
MACKAY CUTTERS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
6pm, Saturday 5 April, Stadium Mackay
Referee: Michael Wise
Head-to-head: Tweed 6, Mackay 2, drawn 4
Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvTHS
While both teams are desperate to add another win to their tally, don’t be surprised if this one ends in a draw.
The Mackay Cutters and Tweed Heads Seagulls have drawn four times already in 12 games, a figure QRL statistician Brad Tallon says is 10 times the average number of draws per game.
Both teams are coming off losses last weekend.
The Cutters were unable to keep up with the Devils in the second half of their round 5 match, while Tweed Heads were left to rue a poor first half against a dominant Redcliffe.
For this match, the home side have made a number of changes to their lineup, with Brent Warr (five-eighth), Tom Rouse (halfback) and Kelvin Nielsen (second row) the new faces in the team.
Captain Tyson Martin moves into the centres, while Doug Hewitt and Dan Murphy have been omitted.
For Tweed Heads, Matt Parata, Oliver Percy and Chris Piper come into the side with Zac Friend, Josh Harvey and Ben Ridge not named.
However, Ridge may yet again play in the team, alongside fellow Titan Ryan James who has been slated to join the Seagulls for this weekend’s match.
