Tigers battle with top-of-the-table Blackhawks headlines Round 12 of the Intrust Super Cup

A BUNCH of NRL forwards will go head-to-head as the Easts Tigers try and take down the Townsville Blackhawks in Round 12 of the Intrust Super Cup.

Matthew White leading the way for Easts. Picture: BRADLEY COOPER

IT IS weeks like this where Easts Tigers coach Scott ­Sipple is counting his lucky stars he has Melbourne Storm-contracted forwards Matt White and Christian Welch in his side.

The Tigers will take on the top-of-the-table Townsville Blackhawks at Suzuki Stadium on Sunday, where they will aim to continue the form that saw them beat defending premiers, the Ipswich Jets, 52-20, at the weekend.

After what he called their “most complete performance of the season” against Ipswich, Sipple said matching Townsville in the forwards was the key this weekend.

“They have a great forward pack, but I think we can take it up to them with the guys we have,” ­Sipple said.

“Not only do we have Matt White and Christian Welch, who are playing unbelievably at the moment, guys like Matt Zgrajewski, Jake Foster and company.

“Their forward pack gets them going, especially hooker Anthony Mitchell, he leads them around really well and containing him will go a long way to being successful against them.”

Sipple said he was also confident in the halves combination of Billy Walters and Brodie Croft, who were impressive in their first match together against Ipswich.

• Kick-off is 3pm at Suzuki Stadium.

WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS (9th) versus CQ CAPRAS (7th) — Saturday, 6pm at BMD Kougari Oval

RESILIENCE  has helped turn the fortunes of the Wynnum Manly Seagulls around, according to coach Jon Buchanan.

The Seagulls will be looking for their fifth consecutive win against the CQ Capras at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday.

After an improved defensive effort during the past month, Buchanan said his team worked harder on that area of the game.

“We are just a lot more resilient in defence than we were to start the season,” he said. “Back then I think we were averaging 30 points against us and over the past month, we’re only ­conceding 14, which is a big improvement.”

With Greg Eden selected for the Brisbane Broncos this week, Daniel Ogden has moved to fullback with Hayden Crowley playing on the wing for the Seagulls.

But Buchanan said winning their fifth straight game would not be an easy task against the improved Capras.

“They’ve got some points in them because they have good players in key positions but they’re also a very physical side,” he said.

“It will be a big test for us but that’s what we want.”

IPSWICH JETS (13th) versus PNG HUNTERS (3rd) — Sunday, 1.40pm at North Ipswich Reserve (Channel 9)

IPSWICH’S hopes of snapping a three-game losing streak appear slim as they prepare to do battle with a PNG smarting from a surprise last-start loss to Central Queensland.

While the third-placed Hunters again loom as one of the teams to beat for this year’s crown, Ipswich’s premiership defence lies in tatters.

The Jets have registered just three victories in 11 games this season, with their last triumph coming away to Sunshine Coast in round 8 on April 23.

They were blown away by Easts 52-20 in last Sunday’s battle at North Ipswich Reserve, with the Tigers cruising home after taking a 28-0 lead into halftime.

The Northern Pride finished on 32 competition points to sneak into last season’s top six, but the Jets would have to win 11 of their last 12 games to reach that figure.

REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS (5th) versus BURLEIGH BEARS (2nd) — Sunday, 2pm at Dolphin Oval

Redcliffe will take an unchanged line-up into a blockbuster Intrust Super Cup clash with Burleigh at Dolphin Oval on Sunday.

The Dolphins wowed the home fans with a 52-10 win over Norths Devils last week but coach Adam Mogg said he was expecting a much tougher contest this weekend.

“It’s our biggest challenge of the year for sure. They’re the form team of the competition,” he said.

“They’re a real premiership threat this year so we’re going to finish the game knowing exactly where we stand as footy players and as individuals.”

Mogg said he saw no need to change the formula that took the Dolphins to victory over the Devils, meaning Luke Capewell will continue attempting to rediscover his form in the BRL.

“It was a good performance so there’s no changes providing we get through training on Friday,” he said.

NORTHS DEVILS (12th) versus TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS (10th) — Sunday, 3pm at Barlow Park

NORTHS’ finals aspirations will go on the line against the Seagulls, with both teams desperate for victory to stay within touching distance of the top six.

The Devils were thrashed by Redcliffe 52-10 at Dolphin Oval on Sunday, dropping to third-last place on the back of four-consecutive defeats.

However, a mid-table logjam means they remain just three points adrift of the finals placings approaching the halfway mark of the season.

Injuries have again wreaked havoc on Mark Gliddon’s side, but they must learn to deal with adversity to become a finals force.

Tweed Heads is just one win adrift of the top six, despite falling to a resurgent Wynnum Manly 30-16 at Piggabeen on Sunday.

SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES (11th) versus NORTHERN PRIE (6th) — Sunday, 3pm at Barlow Park

THE Souths Logan Magpies will have to overcome the loss of key forwards as they aim to continue their crusade towards the Intrust Super Cup finals.

The Magpies are just three points outside of the top six and face sixth-placed Northern Pride on Sunday with an opportunity to cut the gap to just one point.

However, State of Origin season has claimed two Magpies’ starters with Tevita Pangai Jr and Herman Ese’ese called up to the Brisbane Broncos NRL side as Wayne Bennett tries to cover the loss of six players to Origin duties.

Ese’ese has been out of the Magpies line up in recent weeks after being called up to replace the injured Alex Glenn but Pangai’s is a further blow.

The former Canberra Raider played the full 80 minutes in last week’s 16-all draw with the Sunshine Coast Falcons, making 23 tackles and running for 80m with the ball in hand.

Coach Josh Hannay has opted for a front row of AJ Tuimavave and Andrew Edwards, while Dan Tamou will shift from lock into the second row and Joe Boyce moves into the No. 13 jersey.

George Fai and Dan Russell remain on the bench from last week’s side, with Jack Anderson, Bradley Frith and Terry Kepu added to an extended interchange.