Foley Shield: The players to watch ahead of North Queensland’s biggest rugby league rivalries
It is one of the biggest weekends in rugby league in North Queensland and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Read about the top players to watch from each region.
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It is one of the biggest weekends in rugby league in North Queensland and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The annual Foley Shield will take place in Mackay running from Saturday May 4 to Monday May 6 featuring sides from Cairns, Mackay and Townsville.
The teams have been announced and we have taken a deep dive into who are the players to watch this weekend.
Men’s:
Mackay
Ben Barba
The former NRL and Super League player dazzled for Cairns in last year’s instalment of the Foley Shield to lead them to the title, but will figure for his hometown of Mackay this year having put pen to paper with RLMD club Sarina. Mackay coach Tom Heggie said Barba was untouchable for Cairns last year and was very glad he won’t have to come up against him.
Kane Linnett
Understandably, Linnett will be another Mackay player to keep an eye on. He also has an extensive NRL and Super League background and won a premiership with the Cowboys in 2015. The second-rower will bring leadership, smarts, and power to Mackay’s forward pack.
Cairns:
James Frazer:
Just a hard, tough player. Gives his all and just one of those blokes you know what you are going to get from him every time you run out with him. Coming out at Halfback.
Jayden Connors:
One of the strongest Hookers you will see coming out of Far North Queensland. This big bodied bull is a force to be reckoned with.
Townsville
Jeremiah Matautia
The former Kirwan Bears giant is a tall and mobile pforward that brings plenty of punch to the Townsville pack.
At 198cm, there’s every chance he’s the tallest player at the Foley Shield this season and he will cause havoc with his ability to bend the line and get an arm free to offload.
Matautia has previously represented the New Zealand under-16s and the Townsville Blackhawks, and he can now add Townsville’s Foley Shield side to his growing list of accolades.
The giant forward is also cousins with Cowboys NRL squad member D’Jazirhae Pua’avase.
Henry Teutau
Lining up beside big ‘Jerry’ Matautia in the Townsville forward pack is another young gun in Henry Teutau.
Teutau and Matautia have been terrorising Townsville’s A-Grade competition with the Burdekin Roosters and they offer a brutal one-two punch.
Former Ignatius Park College coach Christian Quabba even hailed Teutau as the most skilful big guy in the school’s recent history earlier this year when the rising talent signed a three-year Cowboys contract.
Townsville coach Matt Bowen said he was excited to see what Teutau and Mata’utia could bring to the weekend.
“Jerry and Henry are within the Cowboys system and are playing very well for Burdekin,” Bowen said.
“I had Henry a couple of years ago at the Western Lions and we’re really excited to see them play.”
Curtis Dempsey
Dempsey’s dad played Foley Shield football, so the games always have special meaning for Townsville’s reigning MVP.
The tough as nails hooker will be in the thick of it once more as he returns as captain for his third Foley Shield appearance.
Dempsey said his side would be out for vengeance against last year’s winners Cairns.
“We’ve got a bit of bad blood with Cairns from last year, they beat us in that last game,” Dempsey said.
“This year we’re going away with a good squad and I think we’ll just stick it to them.
“Anytime that I sit down with dad and talk about footy stories he definitely brings up his old Foley Shield stories.
“Back then the Foley Shield was a big thing.”
Women’s
Mackay
Rangimarie Edwards-Bruce
Edwards-Bruce is returning to rugby league after the birth of her child. The forward has previously represented the Maori All Stars and also have five NRLW games for the Knights on her resume.
Imogen Healy
The Mackay captain knows a thing or two about winning. One of the most formidable halves in Mackay’s A-grade women’s competitions, she most recently led Brothers to the 2023 premiership, and had plenty under her belt already. Expect her to dazzle in the halves, with smarts and a good kicking game to match.
Cairns:
Genavie Tabuai:
Cairns Captain is the complete package. Not just her leadership skills, but her explosiveness, pace, strength and everything in between is why she is determined to bring home the cup for Cairns.
Indianna Tillet:
Sister of current Cowboys halfback, Tillet grew up living in her sisters shadow a bit but now she is determined to show the region that she is her own person and ready to make a name for herself.
Townsville
Agnes Solomon
A Foley Shield veteran form the early days of the women’s inclusion in the historic event, Solomon will bring experience and a level head to the Townsville side as co-captain with Mateeka Nielson.
Although she played for Cairns last year, she’s back to her beloved Townsville training under the tutelage of her former Foley Shield teammate, Townsville coach Rothana Baira.
“I started my league journey with her (Baira) and her sisters, and I’m still going,” Solomon said.
“It’s tough. It’s all changed, when we used to play it used to be really lackadaisical but it’s really structured now so I have to listen.”
Toni Daisy
When it comes to famous Foley Shield names, none strike fear into the hearts of opposition players more than the Daisy clan.
Vern and Frank Daisy are synonymous with the North Queensland footy spectacle and are fames for their fearsome and fiery antics on the field.
Townsville will harness some of that history and presence with rising rookie Toni Daisy, who skipper Agnes Solomon tipped for a big weekend.
“We have a newcomer Toni Daisy, she’s very quick on her feet and is one to watch,” Solomon said.
“She’s very new to the game but I feel like she’s very eager to learn the game more.
“She has that background history and I think she’ll go out there and play for what the Foley Shield stands for.”
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Originally published as Foley Shield: The players to watch ahead of North Queensland’s biggest rugby league rivalries
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