VOTE NOW: The moments that defined sport in North Qld
We’ve picked the moments that set the trends, now it’s time to have your say. Which local sporting event in regional North Queensland is your favourite?
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
They are the moments that bring us joy, inspire us, and unite as community, sporting fans and just proud North Queenslanders.
We take a look at some of the defining moments in North Queensland sport.
Let us know what you think by voting in our below at the end of the story.
Mackay swimming icon Meg Harris takes gold
Mackay’s very own Meg Harris reached the pinnacle of her sport when she helped continue Australia’s dominance in the 4x100m women’s freestyle relay, winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
She also won silver in the 50m freestyle and the 4x100 medley relay. But without the tutelage of a local legend, it’s fair to say Harris may never have had the chance to stand on the podium on the world’s biggest stage.
Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena hosts top-level talent, secures major election promise
From Gold Coast AFLW games, to a pair of women’s T20 Internationals and a hotly anticipated Australia A bat off, Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena played host to some thrilling sporting events of national significance.
The continued rise to national prominence helped Harrup Park to secure $23.5 million in funding as part of election promises from both major parties prior to the Queensland state election earlier this year.
With the 2032 Olympics well and truly on the horizon who knows where Stage 2 redevelopments could take Mackay.
Sarina wins a nail biter to take out 2024 RLMD premiership
Sarina reigned victorious over the Rugby League Mackay and District A-grade competition as they bested Brothers in a thrilling showdown in the grand final back in early September.
Clinging to a 16-14 lead and down to 12-men after a sin binning for the final 10 minutes, the Crocs staved off a valiant Brothers outfit until the final siren and thus hoisted the trophy in a dramatic finale.
Grand final winners on the siren
Two AFL Mackay grand finals were decided in the most thrilling way possible, with goals kicked on the siren to secure victory.
Riley King kicked a goal from right on the boundary near the 50-metre arc to lift Moranbah Bulldogs over North Mackay Saints in the under-17 grand final.
Later in the day, it was Indiana Brough’s turn to be the hero, as she coolly slotted a set shot to lift Bakers Creek over a previously undefeated Saints team and deliver them back to the promised land.
Brett, Green hat tricks in Mackay Cricket’s lower grades
Norths’ Robbie Brett and Walkerston’s Jimmy Green both secured an auspicious accomplishment this season as they each took hat tricks in second grade and third grade respectively.
Brett’s hat trick came way back in round 2 against Brothers, as he helped Norths romp through their opponent’s lower order, reducing them from 3/121 to all out for 168.
Remarkably, Green’s hat trick, and eventual five-wicket haul, made up the sum total of all the wickets he has taken for the season so far. He wreaked havoc on Souths’ third grade batting line-up in Walkerston’s round 5 win.
Beattie’s goalkicking perfection lifts Souths in elimination semi-final
Souths Sharks’ Mikaere Beattie produced a goalkicking performance for the ages to lift his side over Moranbah Miners in the RLMD elimination semi-final.
Nailing all four of his conversion attempts, including an early penalty kick, got his side over the line despite them only scoring three tries to the Miners’ four.
With the Sharks adding a host of talent to their list for 2025, they’ll be hoping to progress even further this coming season.
Dyer’s dream run in local and rep cricket
There would hardly be a cricketer in the country who had a better run of form to start the 2024-25 season than Daryn Dyer did for Mackay-Whitsunday and Pioneer Valley.
Kicking things off with a monster 144* (65) for Kingfishers in the Mackay T20 Smash, Dyer followed it up with back-to-back tons for the Nitros in the Bulls Masters T20 competition. Closing out his run of form was a massive 28-boundary 156 (76) for Pioneer Valley against his old club Norths.
Swans secure 2024 AFL Mackay premiership
Eastern Swans were finally able to topple AFL Mackay’s powerhouse club in North Mackay Saints, thwarting their attempt at a seventh straight premiership.
The Swans were the team to beat all season long, losing just one game in the home and away season and clean-sweeping their finals campaign.
Culminating in a strong 8.5 (53) to 2.7 (19) win over the Saints, the Swans produced a fitting end to a strong 2024 campaign.
Cairns Ironman
Less than six months on from hearing he might completely lose his foot, West Australian Matt Burton claimed the 2024 IRONMAN Cairns Championship. Burton had a foot infection and was told by the doctors he could ‘lose his foot’ and never did he think he would be standing on the podium as the winner of the 2024 IRONMAN Cairns Asia-Pacific Championship.
Cairns City Lions – Cairns AFLW premiers
The Lions roared in 2024. They were the best team all season, only going down once during the home and away season against the 2023 premiers Manunda Hawks in round 12. But it was from there where they flicked a switch and dominated the competition with an average winning margin of 45 points, winning eight of the next nine games. The Lions went down to the Tigers in the qualifying final by seven points, but had the tougher bite in the grand final, claiming their first premiership by 43 points in a blitzing display.
South Cairns Cutters – AFL Cairns mens premiers
A lot has happened since 2003, just ask any die hard South Cairns Cutters fan but even though it had been 21 years of heartbreak, those years are now a distant memory after the side claimed the AFL Cairns mens premiership against a red hot North Cairns Tigers. With new coach Daryn Creswell taking over in 2024, he brought in the ‘Bloods’ (Sydney Swans) style of football, which even featured Swans premiership coach Paul Roos in the coaches box this season.
Kangaroos – FNQRL women's premiers
Similar to the Cairns Brothers, the Kangaroos became a dynasty in 2024 after they claimed their third premiership in four years, knocking off the only team who beat them, Atherton Roosters. Going through the regular season undefeated, the Roos went down in the qualifying final but ultimately got their revenge with skipper Genavie Tabuai leading her side to glory in August.
North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans – NRLW pre-season match
It’s not often that Cairns is lucky to feature elite content in the region, especially women's rugby league but July 14 the region was fortunate enough to witness the 2023 grand finalists Gold Coast Titans take on the North Queensland Cowboys in Gordonvale in what was a day filled with girls and women’s rugby league content. On the back of a big year for the Cowboys, they also announced the women’s team would be moving to Cairns in 2027.
JCU Mariners – FNQ Rugby
Three premierships is an incredible feat to do but four is better and that was what the JCU Mariners did in 2024 claiming their fourth premiership in a row. Taking on rivals Barron Bulls in this years decider, the Mariners were two strong, claiming the premiership by seven points. Three years ago, the Bulls were coming off three straight premierships and were in the prime position to capture a fourth FNQ Rugby premiership in four years but were defeated by a rising Mariners side which has now gone on to win the past four.
Hawthorn Hawks v Melbourne Demons – AFLW Indigenous Round
The Hawks signed a three year deal in 2023, agreeing to play their Indigenous Round clash in Cairns for the next three season. The match against the Demons did not disappoint, with more than 2600 fans turned out to watch the Hawks and Demons play an exciting brand of footy with both teams leaving nothing in the tank when the final siren blew. The Hawks managed to hold on by six points, locking down a top four spot while the Demons said they would like to be back to claim their redemption in 2025.
Cairns Brothers – FNQRL mens Premiers
It is hard to go past a premiership team and the highlights they had throughout the year but even harder when The Brothers made it their third in a row to become a powerhouse of the FNQRL competition. Captain-coach Jordan Biondi-Odo was also crowned the best senior coach of the region with the club claiming the best rugby league club of North Queensland.
Victoria claims Country Champs double
Victoria has proven to be home to the most dominant cricketers in regional Australia after claiming the men’s and women’s Australian Country Cricket Championships. Here’s how it played out.
‘Emotional day’: Star filly Hi Barbie chases racing dream
Jennifer Acton’s filly will be racing for much more than just a share of the rich prize purse in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast on Saturday.