North Cairns Tigers jump to third on the ladder after a fierce contest against the Hawks

THE North Cairns Tigers have had their best start to a season in a decade after a fierce contest at Cazalys Stadium.

THE North Cairns Tigers have had their best start to a season in a decade after a fierce contest at Cazalys Stadium.

Coming off a four-day break, The Tigers led at every break against the Manunda Hawks to eventually run out winners by 24 points.

New recruit Jay Kirwood was among the best players for the Tigers, with his explosive run off the half back.

North Cairns Tigers player-coach Jason Tom celebrates kicking one of his four goals in their clash against Manunda Hawks at Cazalys Stadium. Picture: Nuno Avendano

Kirwood said it has been a great move for him to play footy in Cairns.

“I love it up here, it is hot but the boys get around each other and we are on the right path,” Kirwood said.

“We believe in what we are doing and we can see where we are heading.

“It is credit to the coaches and all the players, we back each other up and just keep doing what we are doing.

“We have created a brand of football that we all have loved and are enjoying, so we will keep bringing that.”

The Tigers showed glimpses of their run and carry throughout the heavily contested contest.

North Cairns led at every break but never really took control of the game until the final quarter.

Despite having 11 more inside 50s in the first half, the Tigers led by just 13 points.

Player-coach Jason Tom kicked four goals for the Tigers and was a major influence throughout the game.

Tom said the four-day break was tough but so good to get the win.

“Never in my 25-years of football have I come off a short turn around like we have this week,” Tom said.

“To get up and play today, knowing full well what Manunda bring with the contested footy is a full credit to all players.

“It is incredible to get the best start in a decade, everyone in the club is just working on what we spoke about during pre-season.

“Two wins is great, but I want more and so do the boys, so that is what we will keep working towards.”

The win for the Tigers ruined the homecoming for Hawk Jarrod Harbrow, who was one the best players for Manunda, showing his class throughout the game.

The Tigers move to third on the ladder with the Crocs and Saints the two undefeated sides.

Port Douglas defeated the Bulldogs by 45 points while the Saints defeated the Cutters by 20 points.

SCORES

Hawks – 1.4, 4,7, 5.11, 6.13 (49)

Tigers – 4.4, 6.8, 7.10, 10.13 (73)

GOALS

Hawks – Frank 3, Flint, Reade, Troy Barbero 1.

Tigers – Tom 4, Jackson, Tarlinton, Clee 2.

BEST

Hawks – Trent Barbero, Fomekong, Troy Barbero, Newman, Harbrow, Misener, Frank

Tigers – Jackson, Nai, Welch, Bosuen, Rogers, Neale, Tom, Kirwood

‘Never thought of leaving’: South Cairns vice-captain talks about toughest times at the Cutters

The South Cairns Cutters will take on their biggest challenge this season in round three, a game you wouldn’t have marked in your calendar at the start of the season.

The Cutters, currently sitting first, are undefeated after two strong wins against Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs and North Cairns Tigers.

In round three, they will take on the other undefeated side for this season, the Cairns Saints, who also currently sit on 41-consecutive wins in a row.

Cairns Saints and South Cairns Cutters will face off in the ‘match of the round’ for the women's competition at Griffiths Park. (AFL Cairns – Round 4 2021.) Picture: Stewart McLean

South Cairns vice-captain Jocelyn Bowditch said the rebuilding years are paying off.

“Our performance from the first two rounds is credit to the hard work everyone has put in during the pre-season,” Bowditch said.

“We will take every game as it comes, full respect to every opponent we come up against.

“It is great that we are two from two but the hard work doesn’t stop after just two games.

“We will keep our heads together for the clash with the Saints, all we can do is give it our best crack really.”

Bowditch has been through it all with South Cairns, taking up football in 2017, she was part of the only Cutters winning premiership side.

The following two seasons, the Cutters were knocked out of the finals by the Manunda Hawks.

From there, the Cutters would go onto win just three games over the next three seasons, including the winless year of 2021.

Bowditch said she never thought about giving up football or leaving the club.

“I knew there was going to come a time where we would bounce back as a club,” Bowditch said.

“Every club will go through tough times both on and off the field and some clubs it takes longer to rebuild than others.

“But I never thought about leaving them, I am a Cutter through and through.”

Lance Henderson continued on as coach for the Cutters after a tough year with only one win in season 2022.

Henderson said the great start to the year is credit to everyone’s hard work.

“Everyone put in the hard yards early on in pre-season and that has us in a strong position early on this season,” Henderson said.

“But it is just the start of the year and we have a really tough challenge this Saturday against the Saints.

“It would be great to end the record, but that isn’t our priority, we need to stay focused on what we want.

“It is always good to come up against a tough opponent, especially early on in the season.

“Playing the Saints will show us where we are at as a team.”

The Saints will host the Cutters on Saturday at 5:15 in the twilight game at Griffiths Park.

Favourite son returns to Manunda Hawks Nest in ‘match of the round’

THE round three clash between the Manunda Hawks and North Cairns Tigers has been labelled by AFL Cairns as the ‘match of the round’ as beloved son returns home.

The Hawks will welcome there biggest off-season recruit Jarrod Harbrow for his first senior game in the Far North.

Harbrow played his junior football at both the Hawks and South Cairns Cutters, including one senior game for the Cutters before being drafted in 2007 to the Western Bulldogs.

The 262-game veteran said it is great to be back in the brown and gold.

Jarrod Harbrow will play his first game of senior football for the Manunda Hawks on Saturday against North Cairns Tigers. Picture: Sam Davis

“I always wanted to come back to Cairns once I finished my career and looking forward to doing it for the Hawks,” Harbrow said.

“It is great to be able to come back to a club I played my junior footy at and give back to them and the community.

“To be able to put the boots back on and run out onto Cazalys again for the Hawks is what I am really pumped about.

“The focus is always to get the win but if I can help anyone at the club then that is also a win.”

Playing with the Bulldogs between 2007-2010, Harbrow played 70 games before joining the Gold Coast Suns for their inaugural season in 2011.

The 2018 club champion played 192 games for the Suns, including the first player to muster up 100 games for the club.

He also was the first player to play 150 games for the Suns, with the club awarding him life membership.

In 2021 and after 262 games, Harbrow retired from the AFL and took up the role as the Indigenous Programs Lead at the Gold Coast Suns.

“Cairns has always been my home, so to be able to return and play some footy is something I always was going to do,” Harbrow said.

“It was just a matter of do I go to the Hawks or the Cutters because I played juniors at both clubs.

“Went to the Hawks because it always held a special place for me, my brother has trained a few times this season.

“His knee is still pretty shot so don’t know if he would get up for a game together but we will see how we go.”

The Harbrow brothers created Harbrow Mentoring in 2010, a program which assists young people and their communities through influence of health, education and employment.

The Hawks are coming off a 58-point loss to the Crocs last Saturday, while the Tigers are coming off a four-day break with their win over the Cutters on Tuesday’s Anzac Day.

Their clash is held at Cazalys Stadium on Saturday April 29, bounce down at 2:30 with a strong crowd expected.

Originally published as North Cairns Tigers jump to third on the ladder after a fierce contest against the Hawks