FNQ code-hoppers testing themselves in gridiron
It came down to the final seconds, but Cairns was able to snag its first victory prior to this weekend’s historic showdown in the Far North.
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Although gridiron is still finding its place in Australia’s saturated sporting landscape, there are a number of Far North athletes eager to give it a crack.
A spate of rugby league, rugby union and Australian rules players are trading their Steedens, Gilberts and Sherrins for pigskins this summer in the North Queensland Gridiron League.
HOW TO WATCH ROUND 2 OF THE NQ GRIDIRON LEAGUE
While most of the code-hoppers have crossed over from other contact sports, there’s also a former footballer, cricketer and state cross-country representative in the mix.
The Cairns Post has compiled a list of the region’s athletes who are trying their hand at gridiron this season, with many of them first-time players.
MULGRAVE VIKINGS
Jorden Vali – Northern Beaches Mudcrabs (FNQ Rugby)
Patrick Callaghan – Cairns Brothers (FNQ Rugby)
Tobias Drahm – Southside Crusaders (FNQ Rugby)
Jake Leumann – Cairns Brothers (FNQ Rugby), Kangaroos (CDRL)
Amuru Twist – Southside Crusaders (FNQ Rugby)
Derek Bowie – Former North Cairns Tigers player (AFL Cairns)
Alex Carter – Manunda Hawks (AFLCairns)
Hare Coakley – Cairns Brothers (FNQ Rugby)
Dudley-Thomas Miles – JCU Mariners (FNQ Rugby)
Josh Oliver – Southern Suburbs (CDRL)
Rapata Coakley – Cairns Wanderers (FNQ Rugby)
Tyler McKeich – Cairns Brothers (FNQ Rugby)
Scott Neil – Manunda Hawks (AFL Cairns)
CAIRNS FALCONS
Kris Wilkins – South Cairns Cutters (AFL Cairns)
Brady McIntyre – Former state cross-country representative
Adam Rolles – Bilambil Jets (Gold Coast Rugby League)
Cameron Scott – Northern Beachs Mudcrabs (FNQ Rugby)
Elliott Lovejoy – Barron River Cricket Club (Cricket Far North)
Brian Laws – Cairns Brothers (FNQ Rugby)
Zak Rookwood – Cairns Kangaroos (CDJRL)
Eric Phillips – Former Barron-Trinity Bulls player (FNQ Rugby)
Reilly Lamprecht – Former Stratford Dolphins junior (FQ Far North and Gulf)
Shadrach Cane-Toby – Northern Beaches Mudcrabs (FNQ Rugby)
HOW FALCONS EARNED FIRST WIN
THE Cairns Falcons earned its first win of the North Queensland Gridiron League season in dramatic fashion, but the side will seek to shore up its defence for the inaugural Cairns Derby against newcomers Mulgrave Vikings this Saturday night.
Leading by two touchdowns entering the final quarter, a costly pick six from Falcons quarterback Kris Wilkins handed Mackay Mavericks momentum at Townsville.
HOW TO WATCH ROUND 2 OF THE NQ GRIDIRON LEAGUE
A quarterback sweep play at the Mavs’ two yard line then brought the team within two, but excellent Falcon coverage on the two-point conversion stuffed Mackay short of the comeback.to win 14-12.
“The defence showed up a lot,” said Falcons head coach Jake Price.
“Watching film, we knew they sweeped a lot.
“We probably could’ve made the tackle earlier [on the final play], we just need to work on our hitting and sticking this week because that was two weeks in a row we’ve given extra yardage when we shouldn’t.”
With a lot of newer players on board for the Falcons’ 2021-22 campaign, Smith said he was pleased to see his squad adjust early and produce a win.
“I think the first round might have worried some of them that we might’ve been in for a long season,” he said,
“The fact we showed up in the first half shows we’ve got the ability to stick with sides.”
The Falcons’ attention will turn to its upcoming match against the newly former Vikings, who were felled in their second ever game 44-8 by the Townsville Cyclones.
As for defending their turf, Price was eager for the chance to assert the club’s position as ‘Cairns’ team.
“It’s great there’s a new, but we don’t want to be losing,” Price said.
“There’s going to be that hunger there of being the top Cairns side.”
First-year Falcon has new thirst for gridiron knowledge
The Vikings boast many talented former Falcons who jumped ship after the club’s 2021 Reef Bowl-winning season, including former QB Brenden Kruger.
Price said that did not necessarily mean familiarity would be an advantage.
“I’ve been telling the guys to not be expecting what they were like last year because they’ve had an offseason as well,” he said.
“I’d seen some of the flyers they’d put up so that sort of piqued my interest, and the strength and conditioning coach, I know him from World Gym and we got talking about different sports and I said I was looking at joining a team sport but just wasn’t sure what to do,” Rancourt said.
“He said come down to Falcons training and meet the coach, meet some of the players, watch some of the practice and see if you like it.
“I went down on a Monday evening and met the coach and he gave me the run down of the season, and I was there for the next training session.”
While his knowledge of gridiron was limited at the time, Rancourt said he had since become a big fan of the sport and was trying to soak up as much about the game as he could.
“I’d seen a few movies like The Longest Yard and you get a bit of an idea about it but it’s very different once you start playing it – I didn’t realise how complex the game gets once you start getting into it,” he said.
“I’m really liking the physicality of it, in terms of the athletic side – the running, the footwork, the handwork, and getting all those skills combined – and even though you’re wearing pads and helmets, it is still quite rough.
“There’s some big boys out there and if you’re not careful they’ll run right over you, but it’s been good fun so far.”
Playing as a receiver, either at tight end or slotback, Rancourt said he was now looking for ways to improve his game.
“I’ve started recording the (NFL) games on Monday morning and I’ve been watching some of the highlights and the newscast stuff they put up post-game,” he said.
“Just trying to pick up some things to include in my own training and in my own game, in terms of positioning and footwork and that kind of thing.”
While the thought of trying something completely new would be daunting for most, Rancourt said the Falcons’ welcoming nature made it easier for him to step outside of his comfort zone.
“I’d never actually played a football code before, and I hadn’t played a team sport since I was in high school so it had been a while since I had done anything along those lines,” he said.
“Having never played a football code before and joining a game that I never really understood too well, there’s a lot to pick up, but all the boys have been great in terms of giving tips and pointers, telling you what you’re doing well, telling you where you need to improve, and just in general the whole team is very supportive of each other.
“We had our first game last Saturday and although we lost the coaches were very happy with how we played the game. We’re just working on tweaking those little things.”
The Falcons take on the Mackay Mavericks in Townsville this Saturday at 3.30pm, before the Mulgrave Vikings face Townsville Cyclones at 7pm.
HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR VIKINGS AFTER FIRST MATCH
EARLY mornings, long days and late nights were vindicated when the Mulgrave Vikings took to the field for their first North Queensland Gridiron League match.
And while they didn’t get the desired result in the historic clash, going down 22-0 to the Mackay Mavericks at the Townsville Sports Reserve, there was an overwhelming sense of relief among the playing group on the night, especially quarterback and club president Brendon Kruger.
“There’s definitely been a few long days and late nights, not just committee work but trying to fit in other personal stuff as well and just getting the boys ready,” he said.
“Our shoulder pads arrived late so we were trying to organise that, our helmets turned up late so a group of us got together to paint them on the weekend, plus marking fields and just making sure the players know all the formations.”
Kruger said the club’s existence was down to the hard work of the committee.
“I’m so relieved,” he said.
“It was good to come on for that first drive, and just warming up with the boys.
“It’s a big achievement on the committee’s behalf. We’ve dug deep to make it happen.”
Kruger that said with the first match out of the way, the Vikings were now focused on notching a historic first win.
They will have a chance to do just that on Saturday when they take on the Townsville Cyclones, who are coming off a 38-12 win over the Cairns Falcons in round one.
“I think there was a lot of nerves in the group (last week) – they were excited to be there and to try something new, but I think the nerves got a hold of us at the start there,” he said.
“The boys dug in deep … but it just didn’t happen for us.
“Townsville’s a big task so I think we’ve got a game on our hands, but if we go out there and give it all we got, I think we’ve got a chance. To just go out there and compete, that’s all I could ask from the boys.”
The club is somewhat of a family affair, with Kruger’s mother Sandy as the club’s secretary and his partner Ashleigh Neal as the club’s treasurer.
FALCONS SEE PLENTY OF IMPROVEMENT AFTER OPENING LOSS
JAKE Price has started his stint coaching the Cairns Falcons with a loss, but he sees plenty of potential in his team in their Reef Bowl championship defence.
The Falcons had their wings clipped by Townsville Cyclones – the same team they beat in last season’s championship game – in the first game of the new season on Saturday, but there was a lot to like about the Falcons despite the lopsided 38-12 final score.
The introduction of another FNQ club, the Mulgrave Vikings – who fell 22-0 to Mackay Mavericks in the first game of their history – drew plenty of players from the championship winning Falcons team.
It meant Price had a large cohort of men who had yet to experience playing gridiron, but he’s been encouraged by what he saw in what was, for many, their first game.
“A win would have been great but we were asking for a lot from our new guys,” Price said. “We have a lot of rookies in our squad this year.
“I’m actually pretty happy with the boys’ performances.
“There’s a lot to build on, but I wouldn’t be mad about the performance at all.”
Liam Nolan was outstanding on the defensive end, while safeties Mitch Jensen and Zak Rookwood had strong outings.
Brady McIntyre impressed in his first game for the Falcons too, scoring a touchdown from the kick-off return and showing glimpses of how damaging he might be with a bit more experience under his belt.
But the key, for Price, was that every player did their job, and he will look for a similar return when the Falcons return to action against the Mavericks this Saturday.
“Everyone understood what they needed to do, and that shows that the focus at training has been paying off,” he said.
“A bit of the offensive stuff is on me – I wanted to test the boys, but I’ll be more concentrated this week. We’ll watch the tape of Mackay. They play a different style to Townsville.”
Originally published as FNQ code-hoppers testing themselves in gridiron
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