Mudcrabs primed for big FNQ Rugby season
It has taken years of hard work but the Northern Beaches are primed to be the big movers in FNQ Rugby. The Mudcrabs face Brothers in the season-opener on Thursday night.
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It has taken years of hard work but the Northern Beaches are primed to be the big movers in FNQ Rugby.
The Mudcrabs will kick off the condensed 2020 season at their Yorkeys Knob home on Thursday night with a new sense optimism after several years of being towards the bottom of the A-grade ladder.
A long arduous rebuilding program is set to pay off as the club boasts healthy numbers across all three teams: A-grade, reserve grade and women’s.
So much so, that coach Russell Todd welcomed more than 60 players to training in their last session before kick-off.
“We’ve been rebuilding with a number of younger players, and with the addition of a few new faces, it’s looking really good,” Todd said.
Mudcrabs won the reserve grade title last year but it’s A-grade side finished at the bottom of the ladder.
It was common for players to back up and play both grades, but the club might have reached the light at the end of the tunnel.
Cam Scott will captain the side from the front-row, with exciting prospect Dharzell Roberts named at fullback.
Steering the ship at fly-half will be Ernest Suavai, who is back in Cairns after a stint with the Tuggeranong Vikings in Canberra, and Jacke McAnally at the base of the scrum.
They will face a Brothers side which struggled to attract numbers during the off-season, along with the departure of former coach Sven Schafer, who moved to the Mudcrabs.
Brothers flanker Jason Furze said the new-look side would expect a fast-paced young Mudcrabs outfit with the dangerous Suavai leading the charge.
“Ernest is a really good player, and they look like a young side so I think they’ll be looking to play pretty fast,” Furze said.
“The last few weeks of training, things have been pretty good.
“We’ve kept the core group together but there’s a lot of new faces.
“I’m not really sure how we’ll go - I’ll be able to tell you after (the game) but if we can challenge those top teams like Barron and JCU I’ll be happy.”
Despite Brothers’ struggles, Todd won’t be taking any chances.
“They’ve been the team with the question marks over them but they always have a XV, and they all play for the jersey,” Todd said.
Kick-off is at 8pm.
HOW THEY’LL LINE UP
Mudcrabs: Cam Scott (c), Sam Taylor, Ezekiel Suavai, Dan Healy, Alex Hampton, Phoenix Inglis, Tommy White, Sam Kupa, Jake McAnally, Ernest Suavai, Jesse Backhouse, Harley Lyons, Nic Serafino, Joey Drahm, Dharzell Roberts. Reserves: Jarrod White, Alex Dixon, Shadrach Cane-Toby, Nick McNeil, Toby Drahm, Madi Barriball, Jordan Riesen, Kini Nanovo.
Brothers: Michael Stanton, Esera Fa’aofo, Stewart Gibson, Brian Laws, Andrew Hammil, Machiel Malan, Jason Furze, Pati Laumatia, Patrick Williams, Jason Salawagen, Eddy Brownsey, George Cantarakis, Danny Cally, Alphonse Gima, Kelemedi Dege. Reserves: Connor Hoban, Derek Fa’aofo, George Fennemore, Jamal Fono, Tilly Kofe, Avimeleki Raivaroro.
Originally published as Mudcrabs primed for big FNQ Rugby season