Central Qld’s top 10 sports team performances in 2024

From drought breakers to history makers, we look back at the sporting outfits that shone in the past 12 months. Check out the list and see who claimed the number one ranking.

Central Queensland's top 10 sporting teams from 2024.

It’s been another exciting and inspiring year on the sporting stage in Central Queensland.

We turn the spotlight on the teams who left an indelible mark with their performances.

From the drought-breakers to the history makers and the seemingly unbeatable to the unlikely champions, we’ve ranked our top 10 here.

10. CQ Bushies (rugby union)

The CQ Bushies helped reinforce the region’s rugby union reputation with some solid performances.

Despite limited game time together, they reigned supreme after holding firm in a grandstand finish to the final at the Townsville Festival of 7s.

The Bushies demonstrated their ability when they finished runners-up at the hotly contested Roma Rugby 7s earlier this year.

The CQ Capras made the Hostplus Cup finals again this year. Photo: Luke Fletcher

9. CQ Capras (rugby league)

The CQ Capras men continued their consistent form.

They made the Hostplus Cup finals for the third year in a row, bowing out in week two at the hands of the Redcliffe Dolphins.

They have enjoyed an incredible change of fortune under head coach Lionel Harbin, who took them from wooden spooners in 2021 to finals series regulars.

The Rockhampton under-16 boys scored a brilliant come-from-behind grand final win.

8. Rockhampton U16 boys (indoor hockey)

The Rockhampton under-16 boys defied the odds to claim a well-deserved Queensland indoor hockey title.

They had just two training sessions heading into the three-day carnival in Townsville after the Rockhampton Indoor Hockey Association lost its playing headquarters after a change in lease arrangements.

But the resilient group would not be denied, winning a dramatic grand final in a sudden-death shootout.

St Brendan's after their Dolphins Cup win.

7. St Brendan’s First XIII (rugby league)

St Brendan’s College First XIII fell agonisingly short of a Phil Hall Cup grand final berth after they were beaten by Townsville heavyweights Kirwan State High.

The rugby league champions of their respective regions, they faced off in a brutal arm wrestle, with the northerners sneaking home for a 22-18 win.

St Brendan’s qualified for the regional showdown after winning the Dolphins Cup for the second time.

The victorious Frenchville Mambas celebrate their grand final win.

6. Frenchville Mambas (netball)

The Frenchville Mambas broke a decades-long premiership drought in thrilling fashion in the Rockhampton Netball Association Senior A division.

They edged out minor premiers Jetz in a grand final thriller, scoring in the dying seconds of extra time to win 50-49.

It was the first time Frenchville was etched on the premiership trophy, which dates back to 1985.

Emu Park celebrates its maiden A-grade rugby league premiership. Photo: Leeann Booth

5. Emu Park (rugby league)

The Emu Park A-grade men broke through for their maiden A-grade premiership in the Rockhampton Rugby League competition.

Their 28-12 grand final win over Yeppoon ”made amends” for their agonising three-point loss to the same opponent in last year’s epic extra-time decider.

Rockhampton Grammar won the Queensland Cricket state T20 competition.

4. RGS First XI (cricket)

The Rockhampton Grammar School First XI were crowned Queensland Cricket’s state T20 champions for the first time since 2015.

The team advanced to the state final in Brisbane by winning the Rockhampton regional round and then the Central Queensland round.

They then accounted for Ignatius Park from Townsville in the semi-final before skittling All Saints Anglican School from the Gold Coast in the final.

The Cathedral College open girls rugby league team had a big year.

3. TCC open girls (rugby league)

The Cathedral College girls rugby league team had a year to remember, finishing runners-up in two prestigious competitions.

The classy outfit finished runners-up in the NRL Schoolgirls Cup Queensland final (watch the replay) after an unbeaten run through the Dolphins Schoolgirls Challenge and steamrolling St Pat’s Mackay in the regional final.

TCC also finished runners-up in the Confraternity Carnival, with the decider played as the curtain raiser to the women’s State of Origin series decider in Townsville.

The Yeppoon Swans made it 10 straight in the AFL Capricornia senior men's competition.

2. Yeppoon Swans (Aussie rules)

The Yeppoon Swans continued on their triumphant way, winning a 10th straight AFL Capricornia flag in August.

While the Swans keep rewriting the local history books, they also hold a special place in the game’s national annals.

They claimed the national record for the most consecutive wins in Aussie rules history, making it 89 straight when they took out the 2020 grand final.

That streak continued to an incredible 128 games, halted only by Glenmore in Round 6 of the 2023 season.

The Rockhampton Cyclones won the NBL1 North competition. Photo: Amy Trinca

1. Rockhampton Cyclones (basketball)

The Rockhampton Cyclones exacted some sweet revenge on their way to winning the NBL1 North crown in August.

There were jubilant scenes as the Drew Fenton-coached outfit beat the Northside Wizards 2-1 in the grand final series in Brisbane.

Grand final redemption drove the Cyclones all season after they were beaten 2-nil by the Wizards the previous year.