Intrust Super Cup 2015

[Big Pete]

Discuss

 

[Big Pete]

We're in the early days of pre-season and it seems as if the focus is on who's playing where.

Here's the latest update on the Norths Devils.

NORTHS DEVILS

Gains: Mike Bishay (London Broncos), Matt Mizzi (Central Queensland Capras), James Leavai (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Steve Elliott, (North Queensland Cowboys), Josh Lynam (Keighley Cougars), AJ Nona (Wynnum Seagulls), Sean Yorston (Souths Logan Magpies).

Losses: Todd Murphy (Cronulla Sharks),Brendon Gibb (Wynnum Manly Seagulls), Shaun Carney (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Jared Blanke (Southport Tigers).

Coach: Mark Gliddon

Home Ground: Bishop Park, Nundah

2014 Finish: Eighth, 11 wins, 13 losses.

Appears there is a changing of the guard at Norths.

Murphy, Gibb & Carney were among their most prominent in 2014 so it will be interesting to see how they go replacing them.

Meanwhile, their recruitment doesn't appear to be too inspiring. Bishay is the most interesting signing of the lot, the rest seem more like depth signings more than anything else, but seeing what sort of role Bishay will play will be interesting given he's a player who has experience in the Super League and could fill in either at hooker or at scrum-half.

Then it's a matter of which Broncos reps they'll receive.

Here's a stab at a squad of theirs...

Mike Bishay
Jared Blanke
Bryan Creighton
Namila Davui
Rogan Dean
Steve Elliott
Chris Faust
Krys Freeman
Sam Foster
Dylan Galloway
James Geurtjens
Zac Koitka
James Leavai
Nathan Lowrie
Todd Lowrie*
Michael Lucas
Tristian Lumley
Josh Lynam
Patrick McPherson
Matt Mizzi
Francis Molo*
Jamie Muller
BJ Munns
Darren Nicholls*
Kodi Nikorima*
AJ Nona
James Sharkie
Dean Sheppard
Kainga Turner
Jarrod Wallace*
Troyden Watene
Sean Yorston

 

[Unbreakable]

Norths should have a pretty handy roster next season, considering that I can't see Wallace, Nikorima, Molo, Nicholls or Lowrie cracking the Broncos top 17 when we're fully fit.

I wonder why Troyden never really kicked on, he was a pretty sick player in the U20's and has been reasonably consistent (From what very limited ISC action I've seen) for Norths.

Maybe I'm just biased because he went to Wavell, he used to be my favourite player to watch for the Wavell senior RL team (That also featured a lot of other NRL & ISC players)

 

[Big Pete]

Redcliffe Dolphins

Gains: Luke Capewell, Anthony Cherrington (Penrith Panthers), Adam Lawton, Alex Brown (Widnes Vikings), Reggie Saunders, Trent Richardson (Tweed Seagulls), Logan Harris, Evander Cummins, Charlie Faingaa (St George/Illawarra), Darcy Etrich (NSW Rugby), Curtis Johnston (North Sydney Bears), Joe Bond, Kaine Matthews (Mounties), Brandon Lee, Tom Opacic (Broncos NYC), Marlon Doak, Arlin Paki (CQ Capras), Josh Benjamin (Mackay Cutters), Tristan Lumley (Norths Devils), John Brady (Parramatta NYC)

Losses:Jake Marketo (ST George/Illawarra), Cameron Cullen (North Queensland Cowboys), Adrian Davis (Penrith Panthers), Chris Fox, Sarafu Fatiaki (Retired) Dave Hala (Gold Coast Titans).

Coach: Troy Lindsay

Home Ground: Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe

2014 Finish: 11[SUP]th[/SUP], 8 wins, 1 draw, 15 losses.

 

[Big Pete]

Burleigh Bears

Gains
Josh Ailaomai (Illawarra Cutters), Andrew Vela (Wests Tigers), Pele Peletelese (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Ayden Lee (Tweed Heads Seagulls)

Losses
Kyle McConnell (North Queensland Cowboys), Sam Meskell (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Dane Clarke (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Nick Harrold (Tugun), Henare Wells (knee – season), Matt Keating (retired), Matt Bell (retired)

Coach: Jim Lenihan

Home Ground: Pizzey Park, Miami

2014 finish: 7[SUP]th[/SUP] (11 wins, 1 draw, 12 losses)

 

[Big Pete]

Dolphins are looking a lot stronger heading into 2015. I'm a fan of their recruitment with former CM Player of the Year Luke Capewell returning as well as the signing of Anthony Cherrington who was a really talented junior from the Roosters who was cruelled by two serious knee injuries.

As for Burleigh, the loss of Henare Wells for potentially the season is absolutely a massive blow for them. On the surface, I think they'll end up a little worse for wear in comparison to 2014.

 

[Super Freak]

Come on Dolphins!

Winners in 2015.

 

[1910]

Dolphins are looking a lot stronger heading into 2015. I'm a fan of their recruitment with former CM Player of the Year Luke Capewell returning as well as the signing of Anthony Cherrington who was a really talented junior from the Roosters who was cruelled by two serious knee injuries.

As for Burleigh, the loss of Henare Wells for potentially the season is absolutely a massive blow for them. On the surface, I think they'll end up a little worse for wear in comparison to 2014.

19 new ISC players- so essentially a new team has been bought. I can see it causing problems- in fact it has already to some degree.

Marlon Doak is a great buy, freakish footwork and speed and with the structure of Redcliffe could be a great buy. Capras have replaced him well though.

 

[Big Pete]

It may cause some early turbulence but long term, I have a lot more faith in that unit than the one that proceeded it.

 

[Big Pete]

Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Gains: Patrick Templeman (Canterbury Bulldogs), Brendon Gibb (Norths Devils), Zach Koitka (Norths Devils), Hayden Crowley (NQ Cowboys), Liufau Hala (Easts Tigers), Brendan Mckinnon (Wentworthville Magpies), Mitchell Lollback (Grafton Ghosts), Matt Smith (Year off).

Losses: Chris Mclean (Townsville Blackhawks), Graham Clark (Northern Pride), Joe Mua (Townsville), Shea Moylan (Retired), Hanan Laban (Retired), Jake Granville (North Queensland Cowboys).

Coach: Jon Buchanan

Home Ground: BMD Kougari Oval

2014 Finish: Second after regular season, 17 wins, 7 losses. *Lost to Easts in Preliminary Final.

The big question will be how they'll go about replacing Jake Granville. While they got plenty of practice this season, it remains to be seen they'll be good enough to go the next level and win another premiership.

 

[1910]

Costigan to Blackhawks.

 

[Big Pete]

Northern Pride

Gains: Vaipuna Tia-Kilifi (Penrith Panthers), Graham Clark (Wynnum-Manly Seagulls), Dean McGilvray (Atherton Roosters), Luke George (Bradford Bulls), Ben Jeffries (Bradford Bulls), Denzel King (Canterbury Bulldogs NYC), Bradley Stephen (Cairns Kangaroos), Sam Pau (North Queensland Cowboys NYC), Regan Verney (Tully Tigers), Jared Verney (Tully Tigers)

Losses: Blake Leary (Manly Sea Eagles), Shaun Nona (Melbourne Storm), Davin Crampton (Gold Coast Titans), Tyrone McCarthy (Hull Kingston Rovers), Latu Fifita (Workington Town).
* Ben Spina signed with NRL affiliate North Queensland Cowboys

Coach: Joe O’Callaghan (replaces Jason Demetriou)

Home Ground: Barlow Park Cairns

2014 Finish: Intrust Super Cup premiers & NRL State Champions.

Intrust Super Cup minor premiers: 20 Wins, 4 Losses

 

[1910]

Chris Walker has been training at the Jets.

 

[Big Pete]

State of Origin Residents Game has been moved to the Representative Weekend.

A good decision and happy to have more footy on.

 

[1910]

State of Origin Residents Game has been moved to the Representative Weekend.

A good decision and happy to have more footy on.

How's it more football?

I am unsure, it was a big deal for those guys to play Origin night and Queensland v New South Wales on Sunday at Easts doesn't have the same 'specialness.'

 

[Big Pete]

For the fans, 1910 and that's all that matters right now.

 

[1910]

For the fans, 1910 and that's all that matters right now.

This is a similar debate to Lang Park v ISC grounds for the Grand Final.

You're not gaining a game- the Residents game is on every year it has just been moved location and time. How do fans benefit?

Not have to pay $100 to see it? Maybe.
Are they going to go anyway? Will we have 10,000 people at Redcliffe?

Like the Grand Final it's a genuine event and a big deal and I always think it should be treated like that and be a bit special.

 

[Big Pete]

If the Rep. Weekend game wasn't being telecasted, I'd agree, but the fact of the matter is that it will be and far more people will see it then an apathetic crowd that's more interested in talking about their respective trips to Fiji or their latest Instagram hijinx.

The only potential down-side is the lack of atmosphere. But that could be off-set pending on the crowd and the amount of media attention which should be higher than it being a mere curtain-raiser.