Tiwi Bombers still tight-lipped on Cyril Rioli’s debut with the club

CYRIL Rioli’s NTFL debut with the Tiwi Bombers may be closer than we think

Tiwi Bombers senior coaches Jamie Scrymgour and Shane Tipuamantimirri, second and third from left, with assistants Brenton Toy, at left and Cyril 'Junior Boy' Rioli at right. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFLNT Media

CYRIL Rioli’s debut with the Tiwi Bombers may be closer than we think.

Footy fans around the Territory are waiting for the Hawthorn champion to pull on the red and black of the Tiwis throughout the 2019-20 NTFL season.

Already locked in as an assistant coach under rookie Premier League joint coaches Shane Tipuamantimirri and Jamie Scrymgour, much speculation surrounds his return to NTFL action for the first time in 12 years.

The 30-year-old won four flags with Hawthorn in a 189-game career at the top level.

He won the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the ground in Hawthorn’s 2015 grand final win.

A knee injury in a 2018 game against Melbourne was the last time he played for Hawthorn, calling and end to his career while recuperating with his family in Darwin.

Tupuamantimirri was not giving anything away when asked if Rioli’s No.33 jumper would debut as soon as the Round 1 game Darwin..

“Right now he’s doing pre-season with the Darwin based group and Brenton Toy,’’ Tipuamantimirri said.

“He’s happy right now to float around and help out in an assistant coaching role.

‘We’ve told him to be ready and keep fit for whenever he is ready to play completely on his own terms.’’

Tipuamantimirri played a straight face when asked if that meant the Buffaloes on TIO Stadium on October 5.

“Cyril’s training hard and working hard with those boys in Darwin, so hopefully when he does want to play he’ll let us know.

“We’ll wait and see, it’s entirely up to him.’’

The Tiwis will have star on-baller Dion Munkara on board for the Darwin game after he severed ties with WAFL club South Fremantle.

Munkara was forced to return home for family business after impressive performances for the Perth Bulldogs and never returned.

Scrymgour has flagged a major emphasis on youth at the Bombers this season despite veterans Simon Munkara and Austin Wonaeamirri going around again.

“But Tippa and I will be focusing on the younger guys who have done the pre-season are right to go,’’ he said.