CDRL Rd8 WRAP: Gladiators ‘turn the corner’ in crucial win
Round 8 of the Cairns District Rugby League season is over with a few decisive victories in heavyweight bouts. EVERY RESULT >>
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Round 8 of the Cairns District Rugby League season is over with decisive victories in heavyweight bouts.
REPLAYS:ACCESS REPLAYS OF ATHERTON v INNISFAIL, AND TULLY v BROTHERS
A-GRADE
GLADIATORS TURN THE CORNER
MAREEBA have their first win on the board, and coach Chris Sheppard believes his team has turned the corner after a win which might have extinguished Southern Suburbs’ finals hopes.
The Gladiators broke through for a tense 18-16 win at Davies Park, the first time Sheppard’s troops have saluted since he returned to his junior club this season.
Sheppard always believed his side would be better in the back half of the campaign compared to the start, and with this win built on toughness, it could be the light bulb moment he’s been waiting for.
“I think we just played tough,” Sheppard said.
“We copped a few injuries, we had people playing out of position, but they just got to work.
“They turned a corner.
“Understanding what it takes to compete and win at this level, knowing that when the opportunity comes, you have to take it.”
The Gladiators should welcome back some members from the casualty ward soon, but there is still plenty of work to be done.
“We need to work on a few things, we’ve got Innisfail, Atherton then the bye so we’ll get up for every game,” Sheppard said.
“We’re getting back a few guys soon which will help. There’s a handful who are gone for the season but we can’t help that.
“It’s giving the young fellas an opportunity.”
Both Mareeba and Suburbs are long odds to make it to the finals.
They are both currently three wins behind Innisfail and Ivanhoes, who have been in good form, and would need to go on one of the greatest winning runs in CDRL history to make the post-season.
The challenge is set.
WOODHOUSE WINNER SINKS STORM
YOU have to feel for the Storm.
Just as Edmonton was about to chalk up their first win of the Cairns District Rugby League season, up stepped one of the most talked-about wingers to snatch it for Kangaroos in the dying minutes.
Daniel Woodhouse scored two tries in the final seven minutes to hand Kangaroos the 28-26 victory, with Bradley Stephen’s ice cold conversion on fulltime the difference.
We were told it had more to do with Theo Majid, the former Brothers playmaker who joined the Mooroobool club this season and has taken full control of the side.
With the game on the brink, it was Majid who stepped up and brought home the result, a much-needed two points for Kangaroos who stay equal fifth with Innisfail.
That final try tells two tales in one swift action.
Edmonton fielded their strongest lineup of the season, and while they missed a few troops went agonisingly close to a breakthrough victory.
They muscled up on both sides of the ball, they took advantage of their field positions, and they put together a genuinely good performance.
But Woodhouse is regarded as one of the CDRL’s premier finishers for a reason, and he showed that off with two slick tries to put the game to bed.
Woodhouse, who is on the cusp of a Hostplus Cup debut for the Northern Pride, is among the leaders in our search for the best outside back in Queensland A-grade competition.
Vote at cairnspost.com.au/sport
SHARKS DOWN SEAHAWKS
MOSSMAN-Port Douglas completed the season sweep of the Seahawks at Coronation Park, overcoming Yarrabah 38-24.
The Sharks maintained pace with the teams at the top of the table as they secured their fifth win of the 2022 campaign, but they didn’t have it easy.
Yarrabah were smashed by 60 points when these teams first met (which you can watch here), but the Seahawks of Saturday night were a vastly improved outfit.
They were forced to finish with just 11 men however after Sam Bann and Camden Patterson were sent off in the final 20 minutes.
ROOSTERS CRUSH LEPRECHAUNS
ATHERTON has locked in their status as Cairns Distrit Rugby League premiership contenders with a 32-12 thrashing of Innisfail Leprechauns.
While the Roosters sat atop the CDRL ladder with Leps a few rungs below, this game was still seen as a measure of how serious Atherton’s claim to being contenders really was.
And didn’t they prove it.
The Roosters ran in six tries to two at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium, puting on a serious show for the club’s loyal fans.
Ty Grogan maintained his outstanding form with two tries, part of a 16-point haul which made him the first person to pass the 100-point mark this season.
It capped an outstanding day for the home side, which claimed victories in all four grades.
BROTHERS HOLD OFF TIGERS
TULLY Tigers almost pulled off a major upset in front of a packed crowd at the Tully Showground, but the might of Brothers proved insurmountable by the final siren.
The Manunda side held on in a nailbiting finish to run out 20-14 winners after weathering a late fight back from the Tigers, to maintain the Brethren’s share of the competition lead.
It was a long way from the first meeting between these two club’s — a 60-point drubbing for Brothers in the opening round — which had the Tully crowd on the edge of their seats.
In the end it was a telling 20-minute period after halftime, in which Brothers ran in three uncontested tries, which proved the difference.
Tully grew their teeth in the first half with a powerful display from their forward pack to score through Darian Burton and take a 6-0 lead.
But a piece of individual magic from Brothers five-eighth Lachlan Biondi-Odo sent the sides into the halftime break level at 6-6.
Brothers crossed three more times via Devante Heron, Nicholas Harrold and Elijuwhon Suavai to extend their advantage.
Tully scored a sizzling try through winger Maselusi Uelese in the final 10 minutes, and a clutch sideline conversion from fullback Phil Nona got them within touching distance of an unlikely result.
But the home side couldn’t find that final blow despite the best efforts.
WOMEN
KANGAROOS LAND FIRST BLOW
KANGAROOS landed the first blow between the teams believed to be biggest contenders for the Cairns District Rugby League Women’s premiership on Sunday.
The Mooroobool club faced Edmonton for the first time this season at Petersen Park and, with numerous Cairns Foley Shield representatives spread across both sides of the park, there was no doubting the quality of the clash.
Ultimately Kangaroos ran home 28-18 winners to land the first blow against the Storm, and improve their record to 2-0.
The new Tablelands team enjoyed success in their first outing.
The result of a merge between Mareeba and Atherton’s teams to ensure they had enough depth to compete this season, Tablelands beat Innisfail 36-20.
Yarrabah earned a win in their first game of the season as well, easily accounting for Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 46-4 at Coronation Park on Saturday afternoon.
RESULTS
MOSSMAN-PORT DOUGLAS 38 M Gibuma, Nona, A Daniel, E Daniel, K Anau, S Anau tries; E Daniel 5, Gibuma, Amber goals) def YARRABAH SEAHAWKS 26 (Harris 2, C Murgha, Mossman, Myngha tries; Harris 2, Smith goals) at Coronation Park, Mossman.
MAREEBA GLADIATORS 18 (king, Grogan-Hayes, Elu tries; Banjo 2, S Stephens goals) def SOUTHERN SUBURBS 16 (McInnes, Jackson, Sekei ties; Chinfat 2 goal) at Davies Park, Mareeba.
BROTHERS 20 (L Biondi-Odo, Heron, Harrold, Suavai tries; Peni 2 goals) def TULLY TIGERS 14 (Burton, Uelese tries; Nona 3 goals) at Tully Showgrounds.
ATHERTON ROOSTERS 32 (Grogan 2, N Curcio, Wyatt, Pratten, R Griffin tries; Grogan 4 goals) def INNISFAIL LEPRECHAUNS 12 (M Stephens, Y Stephen tries; Morton 2 goals) at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium, Atherton.
KANGAROOS 28 (Woodhouse 2, Lowah, Stephen, Hodge tries; Stephen 2, Millard 2 goals) def EDMONTON STORM 26 (Tom, Bowie, Crathern, Rosendale, Heidemann tries; Harrison 3 goals) at Petersen Park, Edmonton.
IVANHOE had the bye.
Women
Tablelands 36 def Innisfail 20.
Yarrabah 46 def Mossman-PD 4.
Kangaroos 28 def Edmonton 18.
Reserve grade
Brothers 28 def Tully Tigers 20.
Mossman-PD 36 def Yarrabah 20.
Mareeba 24 def Suburbs 22.
Atherton 22 def Innisfail 16.
Kangaroos 14 def Edmonton 12.
Under-18s
Brothers 34 def Tully Tigers 26.
Mareeba 56 def Suburbs 6.
Atherton 30 def Innisfail 10.
Kangaroos 38 def Edmonton 12.
Yarrabah and Ivanhoe had the bye.
FIXTURES: Round 9
SATURDAY, JUNE 4
Edmonton Storm v Ivanhoe Knights at Petersen Park, Edmonton.
Kangaroos v Tully Tigers at Vico Oval, Mooroobool.
Mareeba Gladiators v Innisfail Leprechauns at Davies Park, Mareeba.
SUNDAY, JUNE 5
Brothers v Yarrabah Seahawks at Stan Williams Park, Manunda.
Southern Suburbs v Mossman-Port Douglas at Alley Park, Gordonvale.
Atherton have the bye.
Kick-off times not listed at time of print.
MATCH PREVIEWS
MOSSMAN-PORT DOUGLAS v YARRABAH SEAHAWKS
Coronation Park, Mossman, on Saturday from 6pm.
YARRABAH will be out for revenge when they travel to Mossman to take on the Sharks.
The Sharks embarrassed the defending premiers in Round 1 when they an in 13 tries to thrash Yarrabah 72-12 on their home turf.
The Seahawks were severely understrength but that didn’t stop the Sharks from showing no mercy on the footy field.
Yarrabah have welcomed back plenty of talented players since that encounter, and have looked a better team in their few wins.
Mossman-Port Douglas is third, just one win behind the leaders, and will be out to prove why they are perennial premiership contenders.
They overcame a poor first half and 12-4 deficit against Kangaroos last week to run out convincing 40-12 winners.
MAREEBA GLADIATORS v SOUTHERN SUBURBS
Davies Park, Mareeba, on Saturday from 6pm.
THE dream of playing finals footy could be extinguished for one of these teams by 8pm on Saturday night.
Mareeba is yet to win a game this season and sit 10th, while ninth-placed Suburbs have two wins to their name.
Innisfail, the fifth-placed team heading into the weekend, has five wins to their name and have been in good form.
It is not impossible, but the mountain is getting higher for both the Gladiators and Suburbs to climb if they are to be any chance of playing in September.
Mareeba enters the clash after a 66-22 loss to Ivanhoe Knights, while Suburbs fell 30-12 to Yarrabah.
Suburbs won 24-22 when they met in Round 1.
TULLY TIGERS v BROTHERS
Tully Showgrounds, Tully, on Saturday from 6.20pm. WATCH HERE
BROTHERS wiped the floor with the Tigers when they met in the first round, but Tully will be out to bounce back when they clash on a massive day for the club.
Tully is hosting the Hostplus Cup clash between Souths Logan Magpies and Northern Pride, which will lend a huge day of rugby league at the venue.
The Tigers broke through for their first wins in more than two full seasons earlier this season.
But now that monkey is off the back, the Tigers want more, with a focus on their performances.
Brothers, meanwhile, want to erase last year’s finals failure as they chase a breakthrough premiership.
The club won the minor premiership by a long way but were eliminated in straight sets before the decider.
They have started well, with the best attack and second-best defence in the league, and after a week off courtesy of the bye will be out to make a statement.
ATHERTON v INNISFAIL
Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium, Atherton on Saturday at 7pm. WATCH HERE
A Hostplus Cup return is imminent for Joseph Ratuvakacerivalu, but the barnstorming Northern Pride prop will likely be sent to Atherton to face some of the toughest men in the Cairns District Rugby League.
Ratuvakacerivalu made his return from a foot injury for Innisfail in the Leprechauns’ win against Tully Tigers in the Cassowary Coast derby, putting in a solid shift as he eyed a return to the Hostplus Cup.
The former Redcliffe Dolphin made a good start to his tenure at the Pride prior to injury, and was named in the Pride’s extended squad for the clash with Souths Logan on Saturday.
Pride coach Ty Williams said Ratuvakacerivalu was unlikely to add to his three Cup games for the club this weekend, with the 25-year-old set to suit up for the Leprechauns a second time.
Innisfail will travel to Atherton to face the high-flying Roosters on Saturday, where Ratuvakacerivalu will come up against former Pride forwards Graham Clark Jnr, James Clark, and premiership winner Rod Griffin.
“The big thing with Joey is, because he had an extended break on the sideline, that he needs to keep getting those minutes,” Williams said.
“He’s on an extended bench for us this week but I need him to play some more solid minutes.
“Innisfail have got Atherton this weekend, so that will be a pretty good test for him up against the likes of the Clark brothers and Rodney Griffin.
“I need him to play big minutes. How he plays them, it’s completely up to the Innisfail crew, but I’m looking for major minutes from him.”
EDMONTON STORM v KANGAROOS
Petersen Park Edmonton, on Sunday at 3pm
DOCKED four competition points and winless after six games, Edmonton Storm remain the only team in the Cairns District Rugby League with a negative points balance.
Edmonton’s finals hopes were all but dashed when FNQ Rugby League dealt the hammer blow – the loss of points for fielding an ineligible player, leaving the team very little to play for in 2022.
But, according to coach Anthony Satrick, that’s exactly why they must be feared.
“We’ll be a pain for these other teams in the end,” Satrick said. “They’ll have to play an Edmonton team with nothing to lose.
“All we need is a good 80 minutes.”
Satrick isn’t interested in talking about the issue which led to the punishment of four competition points.
Instead, his task has evolved into keeping the players interested in rugby league this season so they return in 2023.
“Our season was over before it really started,” he said.
“As a coach, the job is keeping the guys engaged, showing up for training and games.
“With the -4 points and being 0-6, it’s not looking great at all. But the challenge is to keep them here for next year.”
That starts with Sunday’s home game against Kangaroos, who have slipped to three straight losses since leading the league earlier this year.
Kangaroos slipped from first to sixth over a few weeks, and, now sixth, need a win to reinvigorate a roster which should be able to mix it with the best in the CDRL.
Edmonton are set to welcome back influential forward Lee Kennedy and Colt Salmond, providing the engine room some handy players who can make a serious difference against a team laced with outstanding outside backs.
It’s where Satrick believes the difference will be, though he will rely on yet another team effort to keep close – or even cause an upset.
“Clubs usually do 3-2-1s after games but we don’t, we’ve given out six 1s in recent weeks because there’s not been a standout player,” Satrick said.
“Everyone is playing, lifting.
“We’re working hard to get the results. The past few weeks, we’ve been close but just haven’t put in a full game.
“We’re excited to take on Roos. Their outside backs are strong but we think we can get them in the middle.”
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
Originally published as CDRL Rd8 WRAP: Gladiators ‘turn the corner’ in crucial win
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