Cairns league club loses top spot after QRL behaviour crackdown

There should be no doubt as to the seriousness of the QRL’s intent to clean up the game after an on-field incident from July turned a team’s hold on top spot into a fight to stay in the finals.

THERE should be no doubt as to the seriousness of the Queensland Rugby League’s intent to clean up the game after an on-field incident from July has finally turned a team’s hold on the minor premiership into a fight to simply stay in the finals.

The QRL’s Positive Environment Program might have been overlooked since its inception, another document which sat in the background as the rugby league show moved on.

But if there’s anything the past month or so has proved, it’s that the QRL could not be more serious about taking action - and people need to take notice.

Breaches of the PEP, which was introduced across the state to “proactively tackle behaviour issues” and create a “positive environment” at community rugby league games, can carry punishments which impact on-field performance.

Among the penalties or punishments for breaching the rugby league code of conduct is the loss of competition points, and two Far North clubs have copped the full force of a six-point loss.

Yarrabah was stood down for one week, and faced expulsion, from the Cairns District Rugby League A-grade competition in the most highly publicised incident this season.

The Seahawks spent two weeks fighting for their survival after being stood down by the FNQ Rugby League.

The ruling related to a number of incidents on and off the field this season, with their fiery clash with Edmonton the last straw.

They have since returned, and made a point of rediscovering the fun of footy by fielding players in foreign positions - think props at fullback - in their two games since the ban.

Yarrabah’s A-grade side slid down the ladder to ninth after losing six competition points as a result of the PEP’s demerit point system.

Yarrabah has been in supreme touch since being stood down for a week. Picture: Brian Cassey

Meanwhile, Ivanhoes have gone from fighting for first spot in CDRL’s reserve grade competition to simply saving their spot in the finals.

The Knights were stung six competition points for an incident in the game against Brothers at Stan Williams Park on July 3.

Brothers led the clash 22-6 when hell broke loose just past the hour mark.

Three players - two from Ivanhoes and one from Brothers - were sent off, while another one each were sin-binned.

But six weeks after the fixture, Ivanhoes have had six points deducted after an accumulation of demerit points.

Three Ivanhoes players and two LeagueSafe officials left the bench and joined the melee, and while they didn’t throw any punches the rules state they cannot leave the bench and enter the field.

Ivanhoes were in the fight for the minor premiership, but now they must win their remaining games against Tully and league leaders Southern Suburbs just to qualify for the top five.

And if the league community needed any more proof as to how serious the QRL is, two Ipswich A-grade teams were suspended after an incident last week.

Emergency services were called to an Ipswich football field after the clash between Norths Tigers and Redbank Plains Bears on August 6. Both teams were rubbed out indefinitely, until after investigations are complete.

THE ‘UNLUCKY’ 50-POINT LOSS

Northern Pride’s Hastings Deering Colts suffered an unfortunate 72-22 loss to Tweed Seagulls in the most recent of what’s been incredibly difficult season for the lads.

But when the Pride posted the score on social media, they chose a different ‘u’ word.

“Unlucky finish for our HDC under 21 boys,” the post read.

Accompanying it, was a graphic with the 72-22 scoreline - which isn’t the heaviest loss of the season but the choice of words attracted a bit of attention in the comments.

“Unlucky? What they didn’t score 100,” said one.

“Unlucky? Wow,” added another.

Sterling Addo-Nona scored for the Pride’s colts. Picture: Brendan Radke

Tweed led 28-16 at halftime before a Sterling Addo-Nona converted try brought the deficit back to six points with half an hour to play.

But then, the floodgates opened, as Tweed ran in eight tries in the last 28 minutes of the game.

The Pride have won just one of their 14 games, have the worst defensive record at 848 points (60.57 per game) and boast a points differential of -606 with games to come against Redcliffe (3rd) and Ipswich (12th).

They play their final game at Barlow Park on August 27, and could use plenty of support in the stands to show some appreciation of their completing the journey.

MINOR PREMIER COULD BE CROWNED

THE 2022 CDRL A-grade minor premier could be crowned at Mossman’s Coronation Park on Saturday in what will be a potential grand final preview.

Mossman-Port Douglas flyer Matthew Gibuma. Picture: Brian Cassey

The league-leading Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks will host Innisfail Leprechauns under lights, with the result likely to decide the minor title.

If the Sharks win, it’s theirs.

But if Innisfail, who trails Mossman-Port Douglas by two points on the ladder, can jag a win we could have a three-way tie heading into the final round.

Brothers moved into second, level on points with Innisfail, with their big win against Mareeba on Sunday, and are expected to beat Suburbs in what would be another boost to their points differential, which is already the best of these three teams.

It could set up a massive final round of fixtures and the closest finish seen in the CDRL for years.

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Originally published as Cairns league club loses top spot after QRL behaviour crackdown