CDRL season preview: Clubs primed to kick off after long break
Can Mossman-Port Douglas be the first team since the mighty Kangaroos side of the late 1960s and early 70s to win three straight Cairns and District Rugby League titles, or will a new king be crowned?
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Can Mossman-Port Douglas be the first team since the mighty Kangaroos side of the late 1960s and early 70s to win three straight Cairns and District Rugby League titles, or will a new king be crowned?
Brian Murgha’s quest to create more history with the Sharks will be one of the most intriguing subplots of the 2021 CDRL season.
The local competition returns to Far North footy fields this Saturday afternoon for the first time in more than 550 days, with 2019’s grand final between Mossman-Port Douglas and Innisfail the last CDRL match played under a competitive format.
The Sharks claimed back-to-back premierships with a thrilling 30-24 victory over the Leprechauns on that night at Barlow Park, and with a large chunk of the premiership-winning squad returning for the new campaign, it’s no surprise rival clubs are tipping the boys from the Shire as the team to beat again.
“Mossman, obviously,” said Roosters co-captain Jermaine Pedro when asked who would be the biggest title threat.
“I heard they’ve kept a lot of the same team — and then added some.”
Kangaroos’ strike weapon Bradley Stephen agreed.
“Mossman will be up there again for sure,” he said.
“They’ve got a lot of the same boys going around, that same core group.”
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The Sharks still boast an array of premiership-winning talent, such as Jimmito Harris, Noel Underwood, Joel Marama, Peo Abednego and Gabriel and Matthew Bon, as well as high-flying excitement machines Matthew Gibuma and Stanley Anau.
But they will also be bolstered by new recruits — Innisfail’s George Toby, Yarrabah’s Camden Patterson and former Ivanhoes hooker Ali Henley — not to mention former Gold Coast Titans- contracted player Davin Crampton.
A standout second rower during the Northern Pride’s Intrust Super Cup premiership-winning season in 2014, Crampton earned a one-year deal with the Titans for 2015, but had his NRL opportunity hampered by injury.
Following stints with the Townsville Blackhawks and Western Lions, Crampton will give the Sharks a massive boost as they go on the hunt for a third straight CDRL premiership.
But five-eighth Eddie Daniel, who will miss the start of the season with a shoulder injury, said while the goal was to complete the three-peat, it would not be easy.
“With the year off, it’s probably going to be all evened out,” he said.
“It’s hard to say which club is a big threat, but I think we’ll find out pretty soon.
“The main goal for us is obviously trying to win three in a row, but just getting (to the finals) is probably a smaller goal for us at the moment.”
The Sharks’ recent success will ensure they have a target on their backs in the new campaign, with 10 clubs eager to knock the reigning premiers off their perch.
Yarrabah was the last side other than Mossman-Port Douglas to raise the shield, in 2017.
Seahawks co-captain Dale Ambrym, who was part of the side that won the grand final four years ago, has returned to Yarrabah this season after a stint with Kangaroos in 2019.
“Hopefully we can try and get the premiership back again,” he said.
“We have a fairly different side compared to back then and they’re all fairly young, but I think we’ll go good.”
Brothers coach Jordan Biondi-Odo said he was eager to carry on the club’s rich history of success in his first season at the helm.
“We just want to win and be thereabouts at the end of the year,” he said.
“Obviously everyone wants to win it, but as long as we’re thereabouts at the end of the season, we’re on the right track.”
Ivanhoes prop Keelan White said the club was eager to improve after a lacklustre 2019 campaign.
“It’s a bit premature to be thinking about premierships and all that sort of stuff, but that’s why we play,” he said.
“We’re just really looking forward to getting back into footy for the first few rounds or so and then go from there.”
Kangaroos’ Stephen said the club was determined to break its finals drought under new coach Jared Allen.
“We haven’t played finals footy for nearly seven years now, so our goal is to get back there and then the ultimate goal is to win it all,” he said.
Edmonton’s Tyrell Anton said there were plenty of new faces at the club this season.
“Hopefully we can just get that chemistry and everyone bonding together,” he said.
“We might start off slow but we’re a very physical side so hopefully we’ll be there at the end.”
Mareeba hooker Clint Posselt said the side wanted to make Davies Park a fortress.
“We don’t want to lose at home and we’re going to hold that pretty highly,” he said.
“We’ve got a good local team, but the main thing we want to do is compete in every game and we’ll go from there.”
The CDRL made the decision to cancel the 2020 season due to the impact of COVID-19.
It was the first time since 1945 — in the midst of World War II — that the league did not run a competition, breaking a continuous 75-year run.
BIG THREES AND BIG THREATS
ATHERTON
Coach: Graham Clark Sr
Last season: 5th (22 points, 11-7)
Roosters season preview with five-eighth Jermaine Pedro...
Three Roosters to watch: Glen Dumbrell, Graham Clark Jr and James Coyle.
Three biggest threats: Mossman, Brothers and Ivanhoes.
BROTHERS
Coach: Jordan Biondi-Odo
Last season: 4th (24 points, 12-6)
Brothers season preview with halfback Jordan Biondi-Odo...
Three Brethren to watch: Isaiah Wigness, Nick Harrold and Quinlyn Cannon.
Three biggest threats: Mossman, Atherton and Innisfail.
EDMONTON
Coach: Anthony Satrick
Last season: 10th (10 points, 5-13)
Storm season preview with hooker Tyrell Anton...
Three Storm players to watch: Masi Nona, Mark Volpe and Steven Tatipata.
Three biggest threats: Innisfail, Mossman and Yarrabah.
INNISFAIL
Coach: Leon Hallie
Last season: 2nd(27 points, 12-3-3)
Leprechauns season preview with backrower Taulata Fakalelu...
Three Leprechauns to watch: Andrew Garrett, Dan Sagigi, Aaron Jolley.
Three biggest threats: Mossman, Brothers and Atherton
IVANHOES
Coach: Jono Zangrande
Last season: 9th (13 points, 6-1-11)
Knights season preview with prop Keelan White...
Three Knights to watch: Whyatt Barnes, Dallas Skardon and David Murphy.
Three biggest threats: Mossman, Atherton and Innisfail.
KANGAROOS
Coach: Jared Allen
Last season: 7th (15 points, 7-1-10)
Kangaroos season preview with fullback Bradley Stephen...
Three Kangaroos to watch: Daniel Woodhouse, David Nona and Bazie Jacko.
Three biggest threats: Mossman, Brothers and Atherton.
MAREEBA
Coach: Trent Barnard
Last season: 8th (14 points, 7-11)
Gladiators season preview with hooker Clint Posselt...
Three Gladiators to watch: Jack Pederson, Trent Barnard and Kurt Jackson.
Three biggest threats: Mossman, Innisfail and Ivanhoes.
MOSSMAN-PD
Coach: Brian Murgha
Last season: 1st (28 points, 14-4)
Sharks season preview with five-eighth Eddie Daniel...
Three Sharks to watch: Ali Henley, David Crampton and Noel Underwood.
Three biggest threats: Brothers, Innisfail and Atherton.
SUBURBS
Coach: Paul Stevens
Last season: 6th (18 points, 8-2-8)
Cockatoos season preview with five-eighth Rhys Hanlon...
Three Cockatoos to watch: Tom Thompson-Dodd, Chris Galea and Cephas Chinfat.
Three biggest threats: Brothers, Innisfail and Mossman.
TULLY
Coach: Paul Ketchell
Last season: 11th (1 point, 0-1-17)
Tigers season preview with president Anthony Emmi…
Three Tigers to watch: Mat Laumea, Steven Stafford and Tai Namaibai.
Three biggest threats: Brothers, Innisfail and Atherton.
YARRABAH
Coach: Eddie Prior Sr
Last season: 3rd (26 points, 13-5)
Seahawks season preview with backrower Dale Ambrym...
Three Seahawks to watch: Zacciary Mossman, Hayden Golchert and Hezron Murgha.
Biggest threat: Storm’s actually looking pretty good this year.
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