Intrust Super Cup season preview: Blackhawks the early favourites in red-hot race for glory

The Townsville Blackhawks will start favourites for the Intrust Super Cup, but their biggest test will be the defending premiers Ipswich

Keiron Lander of the Jets and Neville Costigan of the Blackhawks are ready for the Q Cup Grand Final between the Ipswich Jets and the Townsville Blackhawks. Pic Darren England.

1. Townsville Blackhawks

The Blackhawks had the best team on paper last season and set incredible Intrust Super Cup records, but when confronted with the unpredictability of Ipswich they could not find the answers. One year on, the talent gap between Townsville’s roster and its rivals has widened again and they will have learned from their heartbreaking grand final loss. They will win the minor premiership and face the Jets in the decider again.

UBET: $3

2. Wynnum Manly Seagulls

The Seagulls have an excellent coach in Jon Buchanan and a solid roster but could lose Greg Eden, their best attacking threat, for significant periods as he graduates to the Broncos. The Seagulls’ pack should win them most games but questions remain over the halves and the ability to produce when it counts.

UBET: $13

3. Ipswich Jets

The Jets have lost several of their premiership stars but have welcomed Marmin Barba back from his rugby sevens stint. The Jets have also recruited former prop Nat Neale, who spent the last two seasons at South Sydney. However, the loss of Matt Parcell and Kurt Capewell will hurt. Expect an inconsistent first half of the season as the club searches for partnerships and the right line-up but they still have the Walker brothers as coaches and will surge through the finals.

UBET: $11

The Ipswich Jets celebrate winning last year’s Intrust Super Cup grand final over the Townsville Blackhawks. Picture: Darren England.

4. Sunshine Coast Falcons

The Falcons have recruited well and have hired an excellent coach in Craig Ingebrigtsen. The club is now entrenched with Melbourne Storm and will have the pick of their surplus NRL players. Expect a consistently good team whose ladder place and finals ambition will be dictated by the Storm’s injury list. Expect dramatic improvement from recent seasons.

UBET: $11

5. PNG Hunters

The Hunters have lost a key weapon in Willie Minoga, who has signed with Townsville, but they remain a uniquely talented side. The only team capable of matching the Ipswich attack. Home-ground advantage will ensure they make the top six, but the question remains: can they win three or four finals in Australia?

UBET: $6

6. Redcliffe Dolphins

Have a good coach in Adam Mogg and have recruited well as always. Should make the finals but may take time to adjust to Mogg’s style. May have too much to catch up in the back half of the season.

UBET: $13

7. Northern Pride

Will again suffer from the Blackhawks getting the best Cowboys talent but should be on the verge of the finals in the last couple of rounds.

UBET: $11

8. Easts Tigers

Another team with a new coach as Scott Sipple replaces Craig Ingebrigtsen. Doubts remain over the Storm players they will get back and how Sipple will coach the team. The Tigers have been strong for several years but will probably miss the finals this year. Have signed an excellent talent in Daniel Foster from Canterbury.

UBET: $11

9. Tweed Heads Seagulls

The Seagulls have been disappointing recently as they struggle to find consistency week to week. Adding punch is the return of exciting speedster Shannon Walker.

UBET: $17

10. Burleigh Bears

Another side that should have performed better in recent seasons does not have the cattle. Cameron Cullen is a strong performer who will help and they could be a dark horse to scrape into the finals, but the jury’s out.

UBET: $26

11. Norths Devils

Will struggle again but they are now essentially a development club like the Capras and Magpies. Devils fans will see some exciting young talent at Bishop Park but don’t expect many victories. Will perform better than last year now they have Todd Murphy back.

UBET: $17

12. Mackay Cutters

Shaun Nona, their best player, was released six weeks before Round 1 for an NRL deal that didn’t exist and that loss severely limits their hopes. Another team with a new coach following the departure of Kim Williams to Rockhampton. The Cutters have signed Josh Papalii’s brother John, who was highly rated as a Canberra junior.

UBET: $11

13. Souths Logan Magpies

Will be thrilling to watch but a young, inexperience team will concede a lot of points. They boast more Broncos players than last year but difficult to see them stringing victories together.

UBET: $34

14. CQ Capras

No longer affiliated with the Broncos, the Capras will focus on developing the best talent in the region. Will struggle to win more than three or four games as they have for several years.

UBET: $34