SUPER CUP

REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS

Ins: Tony Tumusa (Capras), Obed Karwhin

(pictured, North Sydney), Jeremy Hawkins

(Storm), Bryce Donovan (Knights), Jake

Sparey (Titans NYC), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos

NYC), Scott Schulte (Eels), Jordan Pinnock

(Warriors NYC), James Taylor (Devils), Toby

Rudolf (Rabbitohs), Manaia Rudolph

(Bulldogs), Josh Fauid (Broncos NYC),

Cameron Cullen (Manly).

Outs: Jack Ahearn (Devils), Sam Anderson

(Toulouse), Tyson Gamble (Wests Tigers),

Christian Hazard (Knights), Matthew Lodge (Broncos), Myles Taueli (Broncos), Hayden Hansen (Swinton Lions UK), Danny Bridge (Rochdale Rovers UK).

2017 finish: 3rd (17 wins, 8 losses).

Coach Adam Mogg says: “We just want to improve on last year. We have a new squad. We ticked a lot of pre-season boxes so we’re happy. I haven’t paid much attention to anyone else.”

Fan on the hill says: They’re the perennial heavyweights and it’s time to end their title wait since 2006. A lot of turnover but nothing fans haven’t seen in recent seasons.

Tip: 4th.

SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS

Ins: Charlie Galo (Storm), Jacob Hind

(Dragons), Keelyn Tuuta Edwards ( Dragons),

Ben Fritz (Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles),

Brentt Warr (France), Jack Kavanagh (CQ

Capras), Jake Ainsworth (Storm NYC),

William Toloi (Storm NYC), Caleb Daunt

(Storm NYC), Matt Egan (Storm NYC),

Mackenzie Reid (Tweed Heads Seagulls),

Lachlan Roe (pictured, Ipswich Jets), Kurt

Aldridge (North Sydney), Liam Higgins

(Souths Newcastle).

Outs: Lachlan Timm (Storm), Jon Grieve (retired), Donald Malone (retired), Christian Morris (retired), Guy Hamilton (Souths Logan Magpies), Alex Bishop (Norths Devils), Tom Geraghty (Redcliffe Dolphins), Sam Wright (Norths Devils). 2017 finish: Runners-up (18 wins, 8 losses, 1 draw)

Coach Craig Ingebrigtsen says: “I think we’ve got a really good engine room, a really stable pack. But it’s going to come down to our key positions, our nine, seven, six and one and what we get back from Melbourne is going to really help us.”

Fan on the hill says: Came close to the title during the past two years so high expectations they can win this time around.

Tip: 3rd.

WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS

Ins: Micheal Dobson (Salford Red Devils,

UK), Matthew Allwood (Warriors), Mitchell

Cronin (Broncos), Aaron Rockley (Broncos),

Alex Barr (Broncos), Delouise Hoeter

(pictured, Norths Devils), Lachlan Lee

(Bulldogs).

Outs: Brendon Gibb, Benaiah Bowie, Travis

Burns, Mitchell Buckett, Ben Shea, Paora

Kemp, Will Brimson, Dan Wallace.

2017 finish: 10th (9 wins, 14 losses)

CEO Hanan Laban says: “I’m expecting us to be much improved. We’ve had really growth in the club in the last 12 months and there is a good confidence around the group. I’m backing us to be up there but I think the normal characters such as Easts, Redcliffe, Townsville and Sunshine Coast will be there or thereabouts.”

Fan on the hill says: The Seagulls have had two disappointing seasons without finals football but they have recruited strongly and look ready to push for a finals berth. The return of 2016 captain Patrick Templeman from a shoulder injury which sidelined him for all of the 2017 regular season should help.

Tip: 5th.

SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES

Ins: Sam Lavea (Broncos), Travis Waddell

(pictured, Broncos), Guy Hamilton (Sunshine

Coast Falcons), Darcy Maroske (Norths), Uiti

Baker (Newcastle), William Samuel (Canberra

NYC), Keenan Yorston (Titans NYC), Benaiah

Bowie (Wynnum Seagulls), Lane Ferling

(Cronulla NYC), Johnnie Fox (Redcliffe

Dolphins).

Outs: Joe Boyce (Townsville),

Matt Minto (work).

2017 finish: 5th (15 wins, 9 losses)

Coach Jon Buchanan says: “The experience of playing finals (last year) for a young side was good, even though it was a tough day. Hopefully that experience will come in handy at times throughout this year. We have a mostly healthy squad going into Round 1 so we’re in fairly good shape. I think Papua New Guinea again are going to be extremely tough to beat.”

Fan on the hill says: Last year played finals for the first time since 2011 and the expectation will be for the club’s young squad to build on that. Logan junior Guy Hamilton broke Sunshine Coast’s club record for most points in a season in 2017 and should bring X-factor.

Tip: 8th.

TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS

Ins: Krys Freeman (CQ Capras), Rod Griffin

(Bulldogs), Jaelen Feeney (Knights), Joe Boyce

(pictured, Broncos/Souths Logan), Andrew

Davey (Mackay Cutters), Levi Dodd (Dragons),

Kalifa Faifai Loa (Dragons), Duane Dempsey

(Cowboys NYC), Michael Carroll (Cowboys

NYC), Zach Docker-Clay (HKR-UK), Jake

Marketo (Dragons), Brendan Santi (Roosters).

Outs: Anthony Mitchell (retired), Michael Parker-Walshe (retired), Dan Beasley (French

League), Blake Leary (Burleigh Bears), Oshae

Tuiasau (Norths).

2017 finish: 6th (12 wins, 10 losses, 2 draws)

Coach Kristian Woolf says: “What we have as a point of difference from last year is (props) Rod Griffin and Brendan Santi, and outside backs like Kalifa Faifai Loa have great second-phase ability. We’ve certainly got the potential to play a bit of footy and use the ball more than what we probably have previously, but we have have to have the discipline to pull it off.”

Fan on the hill says: Depth and NRL experience across the park, with one of the more dynamic backlines in the competition looking to wreak havoc behind a well-established pack.

Tip: Premiers.

TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS

Ins: Shaun Carney (Mullumbimby Giants),

Beau Cordtz (Rabbitohs NYC), Ali Grant

(pictured, Ballina Seagulls), Anthony Gray

(Burleigh Bears), Rhys Jacks (Toronto

Wolfpack), Ryland Jacobs (Wests Tigers), Eli

Levido (North Sydney Bears), Siuatonga Likiliki

(out of retirement), Rory Lillis (Titans NYC),

Jesse Malcolm (Burleigh Bears), Jacob

Pottinger (Cutters), Ethan Roberts (Titans

NYC), Hiale Roycroft (Cowboys NYC), Maia

Sands (North Sydney Bears), Jaleel Seve

(Wests Tigers), Cheyne Whitelaw (North Sydney Bears).

Outs: Michael Burgess (Currumbin Eagles), Jackson Clarke (police force), Carne Doyle-Manga (Norths Devils), Phoenix Hunapo (Norths Devils), Nick Harrold (Tugun Seahawks), James Wood (retired). 2017 finish: 13th (5 wins, 18 losses) Coach Ben Woolf says: “We’ll get better as we go. I wouldn’t be expecting us to set the world on fire in the early rounds but round one we will be better than we were in the trials.” Fan on the hill says: There’s been mass change but whether that can spark an upturn in results is to be seen. Tip: 14th.