CDRL Rd5 WRAP: How Atherton became the best defenders

Atherton have become the CDRL’s best defenders, but the coach wants to see his side become more ruthless. FULL CDRL WRAP HERE >>

FRIENDLY competition may be behind Atherton’s rise to becoming the best defensive team in the Cairns District Rugby League, but coach Graham Clark Sr has called for his team to unlock their ruthlessness as they make a case to be premiership contenders.

The Roosters thumped a plucky Mareeba Gladiators 32-12 in the first Tablelands Derby of 2022 at Davies Park on Saturday night, scoring six-tries-to-two in what was a typically tough clash between the rival clubs.

*scroll down for full results*

And while the result itself sends Atherton to the top of the ladder, it is the 12 points they allowed which has attracted the most attention.

It makes the Roosters leapfrog Brothers as the best defenders in the competition, and while it is only early in the season, that, combined with the win-loss record, is enough to prove this Atherton team should be considered among the best in this league.

WATCH THE TABLELANDS DERBY LIVE HERE

Their effort off the ball is not by any mistake, with Clark Sr revealing a competition between the edges has provided the spark this unit needed.

“The middle and two edges are competing,” he said.

“They have a thing about whoever leaks the most points, and each week we discuss what we need to fix.

“That friendly competition just makes them better. And if we can bring more of that competition into the team, and competition for spots, it brings out the best in them.”

Atherton’s Jermaine Pedro. Picture: Brendan Radke

Atherton had to overcome the early loss of Caleb Foster to a dislocated elbow by bringing on Ned Blackman as a replacement playmaker, but it was hooker Glenn Dumbrell who orchestrated the Roosters’ success from dummy half.

Dumbrell was unsurprisingly named best on ground for his work at hooker, scoring one try from dummy half, setting up another, and proving a handful for the Gladiators on both sides of the ball.

Clark Sr was impressed by how Mareeba took the fight to their higher fancied opponents, but was proud of the way his team shut them down.

“I liked them a lot,” Clark Sr said. “They competed really well. They threw a bit of shape at us and scored two tries down our right side.”

As Atherton prepares to face Kangaroos, Clark Sr said he wanted to his side be more ruthless.

“We had opportunities but we’d push passes of make mistakes,” he said.

“We need to be more ruthless, especially with Kangaroos next week.”

BROTHERS YOUNG GUN IMPRESSES

BROTHERS flyer Saifu Savage has the talent to take his game to the next level, as the young gun showed off his pace and finishing ability in the club’s 36-28 win against Southern Suburbs.

Savage scored two tries as Brothers overcame another slow start to claw their way to a fifth victory this Cairns District Rugby League season.

Head of coaching Tim Rumford said it was another case of “a win is a win” for Brothers, who have been guilty of slow starts in recent weeks.

Brothers flyer Saifu Savage scores a try. Picture Emily Barker

“We seem to be struggling at the start of games, it’s happened in the past few weeks now,” he said.

“Suburbs caught us early and put us on the back foot. After our first error we probably didn't touch the ball for six or seven minutes.

“That’s two games now where the opposition has scored in the first few sets of the game.

“Suburbs were pretty good, they threw the ball around well. I’m happy to get away with the win.”

Taniela Ta’ufo’ou also scored a double, continuing his outstanding season which netted a start for Cairns at the Foley Shield a week ago.

Savage, who now has three tries for the year, has fought his way into Jordan Biondi-Odo’s Brothers’ line-up and kept his spot.

Rumford said Savage had returned from Ipswich during the off-season and was rewarded for had work.

“Credit to our juniors, they shaped him into a good player,” Rumford said. “He’s the kind of player that can go to the next level. His effort is key.”

Brothers will face Mareeba Gladiators on Saturday.

RESULTS

BROTHERS 36 (Ta’ufo’ou 2, Savage 2, Roesler Hohaia, Purcell, Hepworth tries; Peni 4 goals) def SOUTHERN SUBURBS 28 (Sosiak 2, Wallis 2, Watson tries; Chinfat 4 goals) at Stan Williams Park, Manunda.

INNISFAIL LEPRECHAUNS 26 (Laza 2, Addo-Nona, Jolley tries; Addo-Nona 3, Jolley 2 goals) def MOSSMAN-PORT DOUGLAS SHARKS 22 (S Anau, Nona, B Gibuma, C Gibuma tries; Daniel 3 goals) at Callendar Park, Innisfail.

ATHERTON ROOSTERS 32 (Pedro, Coyle, Dumbrell, A Curcio, N Curcio, G Clark tries; Grogan 3 goals) def MAREEBA GLADIATORS 12 (L Palakani, Patolo tries; Stephens goal) at Davies Park, Mareeba.

YARRABAH SEAHAWKS 30 (Smith 2, Harris, Mossman, Dabah, Harris 5 tries; goals) def KANGAROOS 18 (Hodge, Sang-yum, Ganaia, Stephen tries; Millard goal) at Vico Oval, Mooroobool.

IVANHOE KNIGHTS 32 (Foeglis 2, J Dooley, Young, Wallace, Messa tries; Wallace 3, Knowles goals) def TULLY TIGERS 18 (Uelese 2, Wilkie, Waireg-Ingui tries; Nona goal) at Smithfield Sporting Complex.

EDMONTON had the bye.

RESERVE GRADE

Southern Suburbs 12 def Brothers 6.

Innisfail 38 def Mossman-PD 22.

Mareeba 16 def Atherton 10.

Kangaroos 32 def Yarrabah 10.

Ivanhoes 34 def Tully Tigers 12.

Edmonton had the bye.

UNDER-18S

Brothers 40 def Southern Suburbs 0.

Atherton 42 def Mareeba 16.

Kangaroos 38 def Yarrabah 0.

Ivanhoes 18 def Tully Tigers 6.

Edmonton and Innisfail had the bye.

FIXTURES

Round 6

SATURDAY, MAY 14

6pm: Innisfail Leprechauns v Ivanhoe Knights at Callendar Park, Innisfail.

6pm: Atherton Roosters v Kangaroos at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium.

7pm: Mareeba Gladiators v Brothers at Davies Park, Mareeba.

SUNDAY, MAY 15

3pm: Southern Suburbs v Edmonton Storm at Alley Park, Gordonvale.

3pm: Tully Tigers v Yarrabah Seahawks at Tully Showgrounds.

Mossman-PD Sharks have the bye.

GRIFFIN RELISHES RETURN TO JUNIOR CLUB

ATHERTON prop Rodney Griffin has relished his return to his junior club after a long and successful career in the state league.

Griffin ended his Hostplus Cup run with the Northern Pride last season, ending a 17-season run since his 2005 debut in Queensland’s premier competition.

WATCH THE TABLELANDS DERBY LIVE HERE

He moved between several clubs over his career, with stints at Wynnum-Manly, Tweed, Townsville, Ipswich and the Wests Tigers and Bulldogs in NSW, but come back to roost at Atherton.

Ahead of the Tablelands Derby between Atherton and Mareeba, one of the most hotly-anticipated clashes on the CDRL calendar, Griffin said he had enjoyed life since stepping back from the Pride.

“It’s good, like a breath of fresh air,” Griffin said.

“Being around the local boys has been good. The training load is a lot easier, I can train in my own time or do extras I need, and when it comes to the games I’m not away every second weekend.”

That last point, the travel, played a major part in his decision to hang up the boots - at least, at Hostplus Cup level.

“It gives me more time to spend with my family,” Griffin said. “My boys are getting into footy and I’ve been able to be around them more.

“I got to play in a few grand finals, took a few out, and now it’s about them.”

While Griffin starts in the front row, his 2010 premiership winning teammate at the Pride, Chris Sheppard, will coach Mareeba.

Sheppard is slowly building his squad at Davies Park.

Rocked by injury in recent weeks, Mareeba is a team which will take some time to develop into a threat before becoming a tougher opponent as the season goes on.

Still, this is a rivalry game, and that history will have both sides lifting to another level.

“I remember when I was a kid, I was ball boy just watching these teams play - this is when they were playing grand finals - and I remember thinking they were the best teams in the world," Sheppard said.

“It’s always a tough game.

“We took some good steps against Kangaroos, we’ll focus on a few little things and keep improving each week.

“They’re a really good side. They’re built to win now.”

Griffin said he was looking forward to facing Sheppard as he gave back to his junior club.

“Playing for the junior club has always been special,” Griffin said. “It’s great to have the opportunity to give back.

“Footy is massive at the Tablelands. There’s a lot of raw talent, and being able to talk to them and work with them has been great.

“We’ve got some great 18s coming through too so the future is looking good.”

■ Sterling Addo-Nona has been named for his first game for Innisfail Leprechauns.

Addo-Nona, who formerly played for Edmonton, has spent the season with the Northern Pride’s under-21s.

He will slot into five-eighth alongside Andrew Garrett when the Leprechauns host Mossman-Port Douglas.

■ Yarrabah will welcome premiership players Coleridge Dabah and Charles Murgha into their side when they face Kangaroos.

Dabah has been named at halfback, with Murgha listed as 18th man. They partnered in the halves when Yarrabah won the premiership last year.

ROUND 5

Saturday

4pm: Brothers v Southern Suburbs at Stan Williams Park.

6pm: Mareeba Gladiators v Atherton Roosters at Davies Park.

6pm: Innisfail Leps v Mossman-Port Douglas at Callendar Park.

Sunday

3pm: Kangaroos v Yarrabah at Vico Oval.

3pm: Ivanhoes v Tully Tigers at Smithfield Sporting Complex.

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Originally published as CDRL Rd5 WRAP: How Atherton became the best defenders