The 32 cricket talents who must make combined North Queensland-Far North Queensland sides
After blowing away our reporters with their performances at the NQ Zone Championships, the Cairns Post and Townsville Bulletin nominate our can’t-miss prospects for the combined NQ side.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
North Queensland recaptured its representative mojo with clean sweep over regional rivals Far North Queensland in both the open mens division at Riverway Stadium over the weekend.
Captain Sam Lowry led North Queensland’s men to a six wicket one-day victory on Saturday and backed up with a gritty 47 not-out and a key run-out to haul his side out of the fire for a memorable victory in Sunday’s T20 clash.
Nine months on from North Queensland’s defeat to FNQ in the Bulls Masters T20 Grand Final at the Gabba, an almighty “choke” from the visitors delivered an icy cold serving of T20 revenge.
“They definitely choked today,” Lowry said.
“We outplayed them on Saturday but they had all but won by halftime. We bowled really well and they choked.”
32 CAN’T MISS PROSPECTS FROM NQ ZONE CHAMPIONSHIPS BELOW
A horror start had left North Queensland down four wickets in the first eight deliveries of the first innings.
At 4-8 Lowry put the team on his back, carving out partnerships with Cooper Guest, Herbie Heuir and Travis Busch to limp to 7-107 at the change of innings.
It was a critical stand with Queensland Country batting powerhouse Jake Roach waiting in the wings for FNQ.
FNQ batted methodically as Aidan Firman, Matthew Wilkins and Andrew Phelps guided the visitors to 3-75 midway through the 16th over.
The equation read 32 required from 22 balls when Wests Townsville spinner Jack Raffles struck, removing Phelps via a catch in the deep to Lachlan Ford and bringing Roach to the crease.
The Country star was the hero of the Bulls Masters triumph last summer, blasting 49 runs from 26 balls to stun North Queensland at the home of Queensland cricket.
There would be no repeat on Sunday.
In a match-turning play Roach was run-out on the arm of Lowry, returning to the pavilion with one run to his name.
“We knew Roachy had it in him to win it from there,” Lowry said.
“He got burgled by his mate (Angus Warnock, on strike). He moosed one at me and called yes when there wasn’t really a run there. Roachy probably should have stood his ground and let the other fella run himself out but that’s the kind of bloke he is, a nice fella.”
With their stars out of commission FNQ failed to accelerate, leaving their rivals to escape with a memorable win.
NQ Spinners Raffles, Ford and Heuir bowled brilliantly to restrict the flow of runs on a bat-friendly pitch.
OPEN MEN
Justin Dixon (3-30) v FNQ
North Queensland’s alpha paceman finished with match-high figures in North Queensland’s opening one-day clash against Far North Queensland.
Dixon bowled opener Justin Reid in the first over of the match and took the wicket of talented No.3 Andrew Phelps to set NQ off to a strong start.
Aidan Firman (65) v NQ
The Norths gun provided the only significant score of Far North’s weekend with a battling half-century to undesrscore his potential.
Firman hit eight boundaries and a six to resist NQ’s fearsome bowling attack and boost Far North to a competitive total before he was run out for 65.
Ryan McCarron (3-32) v FNQ
Rising star Norths quick Ryan McCarron went for just over five runs an over from his 6.5 over one-day spell but made it count with three wickets – including a golden duck to FNQ wicketkeeper Angus Warnock.
Andrew Phelps (30) v NQ
The two-time Cricket Far North player of the year was brought undone just as he was getting going in the 50-over clash with NQ.
Phelps, who now plays at Rovers, hit four boundaries on his way to 30 before sending one straight to Samuel Bray to bring his innings to a close.
Sam Lowry (2-20 and 35; 47no) v FNQ
The North Queensland and Queensland Country was the key player for his side in the two match series.
Lowry dismissed FNQ danger man Jake Roach in the one-dayer and backed up with a tidy 35 as North Queensland rolled to a six-wicket victory.
His T20 performance was even better, gritting his teeth to bat out all 20 overs as NQ emerged from a 4-8 hole in 1.2 overs to set a defendable total of 107.
His run-out of Roach in the second innings was a decisive play to ensure the clean sweep.
Blake Raper (3-20) v NQ
The Mulgrave seamer ripped through NQ’s top order, dismissing Bray, Jamie Heit and Lachlan Ford in quick succession to leave NQ reeling at 4-8 in Sunday’s T20.
Raper finished with figures of 3-20 from four overs, which included a maiden, in a solid individual outing.
Jamie Heit (64) v FNQ
The Townsville Brothers recruit posted the highest score of the tournament in the one-day clash with FNQ.
Heit hit 10 fours across a composed 79-ball innings, striking at 75.94 in a match-winning partnership with Ryan Eaton to chase down the visitor’s total.
Herbie Heuir (2-17) v FNQ
North Queensland’s veteran chief spinner drew the plaudits of his captain for his tight bowling on a pitch that was not conducive to spin bowling.
Heuir used the wind to full advantage, stunting Far North’s chase and pocketing the best bowling figures of the NQ innings in the T20 victory on Sunday.
Ryan Eaton (50) v FNQ
While Heit scored two-thirds of his runs from the boundary, Townsville Wanderers skipper Ryan Eaton was closer to one-third.
Striking at around 75, Eaton’s running between wickets was tremendous as he partnered Heit to within reach of the final runs.
OPEN WOMEN
Laura Bates (53) v FNQ
The former Queensland Fire player was ruthless in the first T20 against a rookie FNQ side. Bates was run out for 53 after facing 48 deliveries, hitting a match-high seven boundaries – more than double that of the next highest fence-clearer. Bates partnered well with Taylah Rix.
Courtney Hewitt (3-5) v FNQ
The star of the second T20 was undoubtedly Hewitt. The Norths gun began her spell with a triple wicket-maiden and conceded just five runs in her second and third combined. According to MyCricket, that was a career-best bowling performance and it contributed to a dominating eight wicket victory.
Chloe Murphy (43no) v FNQ
After Hewitt swept through the FNQ batting line-up, it was reigning Townsville MVP Murphy’s turn to do the same with the bat. Murphy saw out the entire chase after opening the batting, adding 43 runs in 43 balls including the only six of the innings.
Rhiannon Heyboer (31) v FNQ
Townsville’s 2022 Women’s League MVP saved her best with the bat for last, partnering Jess O’Connor in a 54-run opening stand in the third T20. Heyboer faced just 18 balls and dispatched five of them to the boundary, clearing the fence once. She set the tone for a tournament high runs tally for North Queensland with a 119 run first innings.
Jessica O’Connor (37) v FNQ
Not quite as explosive as Heyboer but hung around longer and returned to the pavilion with a higher score because of it. O’Connor was the architect of the innings, staying in the middle until she was run out – the third NQ player to be given out in this manner in the space of 20 balls.
Kate Teichmann (2-8) v FNQ
With an imposing total to defend, young gun Kate Teichmann bowled with confidence to remove FNQ opener Abby Toschach and No.4 Soraya Houghton in the single digits. The wicket of Houghton sparked a collapse, exposing the visitors’ incoming bats to a run of 4-6.
UNDER-25 MEN
Kobi Johnston (60 from 61, 71 not out from 61) v NQ
Kobi Johnston barely put a foot wrong in an outstanding weekend at Townsville.
Far North were in a bit of strife at 4-42 in their first clash when Johnston strode to the crease but the Atherton gun made every moment count to lead the successful hase.
Johnston hit eight boundaries and sent two more over the fence as he contributed 40 per cent of Far North’s runs in the two-wicket win.
He followed up that effort in Sunday’s T20 clash, smashing six fours and two sixes on his wya to a match-winning 71 not out in the five-run win.
Sam Woodbury (4-19) v FNQ
Murray’s heroics with the bat at the close of the first innings were matched by Sub Parks seamer Sam Woodbury with the ball. Woodbury took the new ball and tore through FNQ to dismiss both openers in the single digits. Woodbury returned to the attack and scalped Far North’s No.7 and No.8 to create a tense conclusion to the opening 50-over clash.
Thomas King (3-36) v NQ
The Rovers bowler rocked the openers on his way to a team-leading three-wicket haul.
King dismissed North Queensland’s opening duo just as they were getting settled,.
He completed the haul with the removal of potentially dangerous late-order batsman Oskar Morrison-beard.
Declan Murray (33) v FNQ
Murray’s rearguard 33 gave his side a chance in the first one-dayer against FNQ. The Brothers A Grade quick entered the fray at 8-99 and dug in with an impressive 33 from 29 to leave his side 9-142 with his dismissal. Murray’s seven boundaries from No.10 was not enough to save NQ, as FNQ squeaked past for a two-wicket victory with seven overs to spare.
Harry Mulville (2-24) v FNQ
Wanderers recruit Mulville took over Woodbury’s end at the conclusion of his spell and made an instant impact to dismiss FNQ No.3 Chris Adams with his seventh delivery. Adams had salvaged a poor start to regain command of the match until hitting a catch to Luke Lamborn. Mulville bowled Adams’ partner, No.5 Jack West, for 18.
Luke Lamborn (32) and Quinlan McMahon (35) v FNQ
Set 123 for victory in the U25s T20 fixture, North Queensland suffered an inglorious start when opener Christian Payne was caught for a golden duck. Lamborn and McMahon steadied the ship with a 52-run partnership. North Queensland ran out of time in a five-run defeat but were only in with a chance at all because of the work of Lamborn and McMahon at the top of the order.
U15 BOYS
Hunter Brischetto (3-8 and 36no; 83) v MW and FNQ
Brischetto’s star continues to rise. The all-rounder was North Queensland’s most valuable player in its clean-sweep of the three-game 50 over series. Against Mackay-Whitsundays Brischetto helped bowl out the southerners for 155 with figures of 3-8 then led the chase, alongside opener Henry Jesberg, to pilot home the win. Against rivals FNQ Brischetto rose to another level again, producing the highest score of any North Queensland player this representative weekend. His 83 not-out saw the U15s chase down an FNQ total of 195 for a five-wicket victory. This was not a hack-and-slash job. More than half of Brischetto’s runs were earned running between the wickets, not blasting over the fenceline.
Archie Ferguson (55 off 93) and Kalan Wilson (32 from 56) v NQ
A strong top order batsman from Rovers, Ferguson found the fence five times in a patient knock as he and Wilson shared in a 51-run stand.
Wilson, who opened the batting, hit three fours in his stint at the crease, helping to put Far North on track to a good score.
Kade Corby (4-34) v Mackay
A punishing Jack Law innings (104 from 95) ensured Mackay-Whitsundays racked up a massive total, but Corby was a thorn in the CQ team’s side throughout the 40 overs.
Corby conceded just under five runs an over on his way to four wickets, one of which was the prized scalp of Law.
Kye Harris (41 not out) v Central Queensland
A spectacular piece of late-order resistance from Harris helped Far North post a competitive total after Central Queensland rolled through the list.
Many struggled to handle CQ’s heat but Harris proved up to the task, hitting just three boundaries in a patient and crafty unbeaten 41 from 66 balls, as he and Tadhg McDavitt (20 not out) lifted the total.
Beau McKenzie (2-24 and 2-16) v FNQ and CQ
McKenzie scored the best figures of the North Queensland innings in a tough day in the field. FNQ romped to 195 in the first innings but the damage could have been greater if not for McKenzie dismissing opposition opener Max Holt (6) and No.3 Archie Ferguson (55). McKenzie was the only bowler to take multiple wickets this innings. His two quick-fire wickets against Central Queensland sealed victory for North Queensland – leaving McKenzie on a hat-trick next time he plays.
Henry Jesberg (38) v MW
Brothers opener Jesberg picked his moments well, hitting eight boundaries in 47 balls for a match-high 38. His partnership with Hunter Brischetto delivered NQ to an opening round victory over Mackay Whitsunday.
Lachlan Patterson (38) v FNQ
Patterson’s power and timing contributed to an explosive 38, smashing six boundaries to keep North Queensland firmly in control of the run rate in the second 50 over match of the campaign. With Brischetto rotating the strike it was Patterson’s clean striking that ramped up the pressure on rivals FNQ.
Oscar Storor (33) v FNQ
When Patterson lost his wicket it was Storor who stepped up, proving a rock opposite Brischetto. His 33 from 45 was a valuable support.
Ethan Golder (3-23) v CQ
Golder helped ensure Central Queensland could not chase down down the 142 required for victory. His figures of 3-23 included opener Axel Amos, No.3 Harry Wright and No.7 Sidney McCullagh.
Nate Antoniazzi (2-17) v CQ
The Ignatius Park College quick bowled a team-high two maidens from his six overs with the ball and that pressure contributed to two wickets.
More Coverage
Originally published as The 32 cricket talents who must make combined North Queensland-Far North Queensland sides
SCRU A-Grade: Standout players named in round 2 team of week
The Sunshine Coast A-grade rugby union competition produced a number of tight results over the weekend with the round 2 team of the week headlined by a new look Maroochydore fly half, University attacking weapon and key Brothers breakaway forward. See who made the side.
Gold Coast Rollers 2025 QSL men’s squad breakdown
The Gold Coast Rollers men’s QSL side is eyeing a place in Queensland basketball history as they chase a fourth-straight championship. Complete analysis of every player on the roster here.