The defending Intrust Super Cup champions, Burleigh Bears, will travel to Redcliffe while Tweed Heads Seagulls will host Ipswich Jets in Round One. Aquis Gold Coast Titans new affiliate club, the Central Queensland Capras, will open 2017 at home to the PNG Hunters.
An explosive Sunday afternoon grand final re-match between the Burleigh Bears and Redcliffe Dolphins will headline Round 1 of the 2017 Intrust Super Cup season on the first weekend in March.
With a passionate Redcliffe crowd tipped to turn out in big numbers, the Channel 9 match-of-the-round between last year’s September rivals will set the tone for another captivating season.
After falling one win short of lifting their first top grade trophy since 2006, the Dolphins will be eager to get one back on the Bears and kick-start their 2017 campaign in style.
DOWNLOAD THE INTRUST SUPER CUP 2017 DRAW HERE
The 2017 Intrust Super Cup commences on the weekend of March 4-5 and will include the following Feature Rounds:
· Play NRL Round – Rd 3 (March 18-19)
· Zaidee’s Foundation Round – Rd 5 (April 1-2)
· XXXX Rivalry Round – Rd 6 (April 8-9)
· Indigenous Round – Rd 17 (July 1-2)
· Men of League & NRL Foundation Round – Rd 19 (July 15-16)
· ‘Get in the Game’ Country Week – Rd 20 (July 22-23)
· Women in League Round – Rd 22 (August 5-6)
· Turn to Me Round – Rd 25 (August 26-27)
The competition will be played over 25 rounds, with all clubs having 11 home games, 11 away games and two byes in addition to the popular Country Week Round.
QRL Head of Football Neil Wharton said all clubs were granted their priority requests following consultation with Competitions Manager Dave Maiden.
“It’s not an easy task to put a draw together of this magnitude and meet the requests of all the clubs,” Wharton said.
“To be able to have an 11 home and 11 away (fixture season), a full round of Country Week matches and two byes that will potentially help teams with their run into the big games at the back end of the season speaks volumes about the work Dave has put in.”
Wharton said Country Week in Round 20 again promised to be a wonderful occasion for so many.
“This initiative is an outstanding opportunity for us to showcase our premier competition throughout the whole of Queensland,” Wharton said.
“We’re really pleased to accept the support of the Queensland Government who have actually increased their funding over the next three years.
“This will allow us to take games to remote areas. Country Week is a great concept and it is one that we thoroughly enjoy, but more importantly it’s about providing opportunities for players and local communities.”