CDRL Rd3 WRAP: Kangaroos maintain perfect start

Kangaroos coach Jared Allen is a happy man after his side completed a perfect start to their yoyo-like Cairns District Rugby League campaign. FULL RESULTS >>

KANGAROOS coach Jared Allen is a happy man after his side completed a perfect start to their yoyo-like Cairns District Rugby League campaign.

The Vico Oval club has endured a tough schedule.

They played round 1, had the bye last week, played on Sunday then will have another week off this week due to Easter.

As disruptive as that draw can be, and as easy it would be to use it as an excuse, Allen’s team has instead delivered two strong performances – and four valuable competition points.

It wasn’t perfect.

They dropped off a bit in the second half after a solid opening 40 minutes, and had a number of players seriously impress.

Daniel Woodhouse added another two tries to his tally for the season, while Tyson Phineasa was outstanding in his return from injury. “Tyson is just a big boy who runs the ball hard, and he’s so strong he can just grab guys and bring them to the ground,” Allen said.

“He was damaging.”

Kangaroos Nathaniel Tamwoy Picture: Brian Cassey

Add in some dominant showings from forwards Sonny Bin Garape and Kieran Hayes, and things are looking good at the Kangaroos.

Southern Suburbs enter the Easter break at 1-2, and will face a resurgent Tully on Sunday, April 24.

BROTHERS CONQUER LEPRECHAUNS

Brothers sit alone atop the Cairns District Rugby League ladder after three rounds but that clear air means absolutely nothing to coach Jordan Biondi-Odo and his troops this early in the campaign.

The Brethren beat Innisfail 28-22 at Callendar Park on Sunday, earning a mental blow against a fellow competition heavyweight and a club expected to be among those in contention for the silverware in September.

Click here for the full review, and to watch the replay.

KNIGHTS, STYLES, CLAIM FIRST WIN

THE monkey is off the back for Lindsay Styles but a 30-22 win against Yarrabah is just the start for Ivanhoes, as four young guns proved they are ready to be A-grade regulars.

Styles took the reins of the Smithfield club this season, and after a hard-fought loss to Brothers in their first game of the season last week, he had promised there was plenty of improvement to come.

His words were proved less than a week later, with a five-tries-to-four victory against the winless premier Seahawks enough to get both the Knights and Styles off the mark in the 2022 Cairns District Rugby League season.

But it was the form of four young guns who clearly impressed Styles, and should feature heavily when opposition coaches scout the Knights.

Zane Knowles has made the lock position his own, a year after being among the most consistent performers in the Northern Pride’s under-21s.

Knowles, known for doing the simple things right, is a goal-kicking lock with immense promise, who may have sewn up the No.13 jersey.

Beau Hodges made his A-grade debut on the wing, a week after being part of the Cairns Pirates’ Junior Cup State North-winning touch footy team, and made an instant impression playing against men.

Ben Dooley and Regan Herd were part of the first grade side last week but combined in the halves for the first time in their careers on Saturday, and, suffice to say, they could stay there for the next two months.

Which isn’t a bad result after Styles’ roster reshuffle.

“Rhylee was halfback last week but did his shoulder, and we’ve probably lost him for six to eight weeks,” Styles said.

“I had to shuffle some positions around so brought in Beau, and put Ben and Regan in the halves together.

“Beau is an exciting young talent. He’s earned the right to debut in A-grade, he’s good enough to play A-grade, and he was impressive.

“For us, lock is the right position, but Zane is someone who can play anywhere.

“(Ben and Regan), they bring a lot of enthusiasm, and are only going to get better.

“It’s exciting to have them in the middle.”

Styles said his team had to improve discipline and ball security ahead of what would be a tough clash with Atherton, who smashed Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 40-4.

Yarrabah’s start to the season could not go any worse, but they won’t play again until May 8 when they travel to Kangaroos. The Seahawks have the bye between Easter and the representative break, giving the club more than three weeks to regroup.

RESULTS

ATHERTON ROOSTERS 40 (Grogan 2, Skeen, Dumbrell, Blackman, C Foster, Coyle tries; Grogan 6 goals) def MOSSMAN-PORT DOUGLAS 4 (S Anau try) at Mossman Showgrounds.

IVANHOES 30 (Knowles, Fogelis, Timu, Messa, Hunter, Wallace tries; Wallace 2, Knowles goals) def YARRABAH SEAHAWKS 22 (Harris, Costello, Bann, I Schreiber tries; Harris 3 goals) at Smithfield Sporting Complex.

TULLY TIGERS 34 (Waireg-Ingui 3, Smith, Teaukura, Tauli tries; Nona 5 goals) def EDMONTON STORM 16 (Connolly 2, Adidi tries; Hunter-Flanders, Gibuma goals) at Petersen Park, Edmonton.

BROTHERS 28 (J Biondi-Odo, Davies, Heron, Purcell, I Wigness, Hooker tries; J Biondi-Odo 2 goals) def INNISFAIL LEPRECHAUNS 22 (Mooka, Galea, Morton, Fakaosilea tries; Morton 3 goals) at Callendar Park, Innisfail.

KANGAROOS 28 (Woodhouse 2, Phineasa, Stephen, King tries; Millard 4 goals) def SOUTHERN SUBURBS 16 (Tokarahi, Chambers, Jackson tries; Chinfat 2 goals) at Alley Park, Gordonvale.

MAREEBA had the bye.

RESERVE GRADE

Ivanhoes 44 def Yarrabah 12.

Mossman-PD 44 def Atherton 0.

Edmonton 28 def Tully Tigers 18.

Brothers 30 def Innisfail 20.

Southern Suburbs 24 def Kangaroos 16.

UNDER-18S

Ivanhoes 38 def Yarrabah 6.

Edmonton 32 def Tully Tigers 20.

Innisfail 36 def Brothers 20.

Kangaroos 56 def Southern Suburbs 6.

MATCH PREVIEWS

COULD this be the year in which Southern Suburbs storm back to the Cairns District Rugby League finals?

It’s a big call to make about a team which sits in the middle of the ladder with a 1-1 record, but coach Paul Stevens might have found just enough in this squad to believe they can return to September footy.

It’s why Sunday’s 22-20 loss to Innisfail stings so much.

“From round 1 to round 2, we were a lot better,” Stevens said. “It could have been that we played a better opposition that we didn’t get the win.

“Innisfail is always the benchmark of where you’re at., and we’re not that far off.

“We had our chances to win but we let ourselves down.”

Suburbs return home to Alley Park to host Kangaroos, who are halfway through a yoyo of a first six weeks during which they play just one game per fortnight courtesy of a club bye, Easter break, then the representative weekend.

Kangaroos beat Edmonton 40-28 in the first round, and will be refreshed after a weekend off, but Suburbs will present a whole new challenge.

Southern Suburbs’ Rhys Hanlon. Picture: Brendan Radke

The acquisition of Presley and Ritchie Lowe from the Gold Coast has provided Stevens’ squad with plenty of depth, though halfback Ritchie – and his four tries in two games – will be absent from Sunday’s Gordonvale clash.

Stevens will welcome back Aiden Day, the former Northern Pride forward who started the year in reserve grade. It shows the depth Suburbs now possess, a position Stevens said had made a big difference.

“We’re a new team, but having that depth has helped a lot,” Stevens said.

“Walking away from that loss last week, it didn’t feel like we were far off. We probably could have won.

“Our marker defence let us down, we did a lot of work on that in preseason so it was disappointing, and I wasn’t happy with some attacking sets.”

Kick-off is at 3pm.

Saturday
Ivanhoes v Yarrabah

The Knights showed plenty against Brothers, fighting back from a 22-0 halftime deficit to fall 28-12.

A first round bye meant it was Ivanhoes’ first game of the season, and coach Lindsay Styles would be encouraged by what he saw in the second half.

Relive the game here.

Yarrabah is 0-2 but are getting closer to full strength.

The defending champions have given up plenty of points in two weeks, but the traditional slow-starters will soon find their groove.

Mossman-PD v Atherton

The undefeated Sharks host an Atherton side which might be back to its best.

Mossman-Port Douglas ripped Yarrabah apart in week one then were forced to fight against the Storm, but in both weeks proved they handle the heat.

Atherton present a new challenge, with the Roosters showing some impressive form to start their campaign.

Sunday

3pm: Edmonton v Tully

The Tigers are on a high after winning their first game since 2018, and travel to Edmonton take on a Storm side chasing their first win of the season.

Tully’s win against Mareeba will do wonders for their confidence, and they will take a similar side to Edmonton as they chase two straight wins.

Edmonton ais 0-2 and desperate for a victory.

The losses haven’t been too close on the scoreboard with margins of 12 and 14, but given how close this competition is this season, they need to get on the board, and soon.

3pm: Innisfail v Brothers*

Two heavyweights will collide at Callendar Park.
Both sides are undefeated and will be chasing another early season win, not only to maintain their perfect records but to gain a mental edge.

Both teams have put together some impressive rosters, and this shapes as an early finals preview.

CLICK HERE to read the preview and watch the game live on Sunday.

Follow @MMcInerney89

Originally published as CDRL Rd3 WRAP: Kangaroos maintain perfect start