FNQRL 2024 LIVE: Watch Kangaroos v Innisfail, Round 1

Innisfail defied the rain and sloppy conditions to score seven tries in an impressive performance that is sure to make their FNQRL rivals take plenty of notice. Relive the action from all four games.

Innisfail Leprechauns threw down the gauntlet to their FNQRL title rivals with an impressive 36-6 victory over Kangaroos in awful conditions at Vico Oval on Sunday.

With the rain bucketing down and players doing well to stay on their feet, the Leprechauns scored seven tries to one, including a first-half double to Christopher Galea.

Innisfail led 26-0 at the break but it was the Kangaroos who opened the scoring in the second half through winger Daniel Woodhouse.

But late four-pointers from Graham Clark and Abraham Waireg-Ingui ensured they were in no danger of being caught.

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REPLAYS

Kangaroos v Innisfail (Reserves) — FNQRL Round 1

Kangaroos v Innisfail (Under-19) — FNQRL Round 1

Kangaroos v Atherton (Women)—FNQRL Round 1

PREVIEW

They are the most consistent club in the FNQ Rugby League, but Innisfail Leprechauns are tired of being the bridesmaid.

At the end of another disrupted pre-season, fuelled by the disappointment of another close shave in the grand final, Leprechauns coach Leon Hallie said his side were ready to rumble.

The Leprechauns have been one of the most consistent sides in the competition, having finished in the top five for the past six seasons and playing in four grand finals in that stretch.

The Leprechauns are tired of losing FNQRL A Grade grand finals. Picture: Brendan Radke

The only thing is, they lost them all.

“There is a fair bit of disappointment there, when you have lost four grand finals in six years it gets pretty hard, but you also get used to it,” Hallie said.

“It is a new season, and it is about starting this new season the way we want to start it.

“I am very proud of our record here. You forget about that when you lose grand finals, but we have been in the top five every year. We have a reputation as one of the top sides. We’re just tired of being the bridesmaid.”

It will be a new-look Innisfail side that takes the field against the Kangaroos having lost young gun Jason Hallie to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, while James Clark (Atherton) and Andrew Garrett have also departed the club in the off-season.

Leprechauns co-captain Tamati Huirama also appears to have jumped ship to grand final rivals Brothers Cairns after playing a pre-season trial for the club in Townsville.

Innisfail are not the only club dealing with a host of changes in the off-season with the Kangaroos also shedding some big game experience heading into 2024.

Star front-rower Aidan Day has moved up to the tablelands to join the Atherton Roosters, while crafty halfback Theo Majid has also moved on from the club.

Roos' bulldozing forward Aidan Day has left the club this season. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Tatipata brothers, Stephen and Brandon, have also left the Kangaroos in the off-season, and it is understood they will return to former club Edmonton.

Kangaroos coach Jared Allen said the Roos would rely on a swath of the club’s premiership-winning Under-18s brigade to make the big step up to A Grade, including exciting young centre Lachlon Rayson.

While most clubs endured a waterlogged pre-season, the Kangaroos didn’t miss a field session, albeit Allen was adamant it wouldn’t prove a huge advantage come Sunday.

“We had a good pre-season, but I still think every club starts in the same position come Round 1,” he said.

“We have changed a fair bit of our personnel in the off-season, and there is always a few extra errors and penalties in that first game back.

“We have gone with a lot of our younger boys to step up into A Grade this season. Our Under-19s won the competition last year and we have given them an opportunity to prove themselves at this level.

“We have lost a lot of experience, but the experienced guys we do have in the side, it will be there job to put those young blokes under their wings and bring them into A Grade.

“We have a bit of a point to prove this season after being knocked out in the semis last year.”

Originally published as FNQRL 2024 LIVE: Watch Kangaroos v Innisfail, Round 1