CDRL: Ivanhoes eye long game as top sides crash

The time to celebrate a win streak-crushing victory over Atherton is over for Ivanhoes as they eye the long run to the Cairns District Rugby League finals series. FULL WRAP >>

Matthew McInerney

8 min read

June 26, 2022 - 8:00PM

The Cairns Post

News

Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.

THE time to celebrate a win streak-crushing victory over Atherton is over for Ivanhoes as they eye the long run to the Cairns District Rugby League finals series.

The Knights defeated the Roosters 36-26 at Smithfield Sporting Complex in a clash which lived up to its status as a heavyweight bout.

The late inclusions of Northern Pride duo Tom McGrath and Whyatt Barnes bolstered Ivanhoes’ forward pack as they took on one of the toughest teams in the CDRL.

And it might’ve been that last ingredient the Knights’ needed to end Atherton’s eight-game winning run, with both McGrath and Barnes scoring as doubles to Rhy Young and Anderson Kuna powered the home side to a much-needed victory.

Rhy Young of the Ivanhoe Knights crosses the try line during the CDRL Ivanhoe Knights v Atherton Roosters match at Smithfield Sporting Complex on Saturday afternoon. Picture Emily Barker.

Ivanhoes coach Lindsay Styles was understandably happy with the win, but less than 24 hours after the 10-point victory which keeps them in the top five he was already thinking of the next opponent, and the eight to come after that.

“I told the boys ‘we celebrate tonight, then we’re on to next week’,” Styles said.

“It was a good test for both teams, it could’ve gone either way. We got the last lunge at them and then they ran out of time.

“Atherton and Ivanhoes always have close games.

“But we haven’t won anything yet, that’s how the boys are treating it.”

While Barnes and McGrath were understandably among the best on field, it was the performance of Kuna which caught Styles’ attention.

“He hadn’t played for three weeks and then he came out and did that,” Styles said.

“He has exceptional ability for a 20-year-old, and he scored his two tries at crucial times which was massive.

“He has some good ability, if he stays on track he’ll go places. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up with the Pride or goes further.”

Atherton’s James Coyle is met by the defence. Picture Emily Barker.

Atherton, who will maintain first spot in a crowded top four, weren’t poor by any stretch, with Rodney Griffin leading the forwards as Ty Grogan and Jesse Carleton scored doubles.

Ivanhoes were the better team on the day, handing Atherton their first loss since March 26 to shake up the A-grade competition.

But they will need to put that win behind them and prepare for a clash with joint competition leaders Brothers, and with a tricky run home there will be one eye on the future.

Ivanhoes had both of their byes by round 8, meaning they play 12 straight rounds - and 10 games without a rest - before the finals.

It could mean as many as 14 straight games if they make the grand final, so while Styles is happy to celebrate the well-appreciated two points, he won’t be getting carried away.

“We’re on a 10-game run at the moment so we can’t get too excited about one win,” Styles said. “We’ll take the points.”

Kelly Valmadre of the Ivanhoe Knights. Picture Emily Barker.

SHARKS FIGHT BACK TO BEST BROTHERS

IF there was ever a match which lived up to the “game of two halves” cliche, it was at Stan Williams Park on Sunday.

The blockbuster between second-placed Brothers and third-placed Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks lived to its high billing with exciting attacking football and strong defence the hallmarks.

Brothers scored four first half tries to build a 24-10 win at the break, with Falcon Peni’s 40th minute penalty giving home fans confidence they were on their way to a comfortable victory.

But the Sharks came back.

Five tries, including a double to centre Kalani Anau, contributed to the Sharks’ mammoth 30-point haul in the second half.

Fullback Stanley Anau put his side in front for the first time when he scored in the 75th minute, with a late penalty by Eddie Daniel handing the Sharks a 40-34 win.

There is now a three-way tie atop the ladder, with for and against the difference.

SUBURBS PUT DAGGER IN TULLY FINALS HOPES

SOUTHERN Suburbs drove a dagger through the hearts of Tully Tigers fans, all but ending the club’s finals hopes.

The clubs faced off twice in two weeks, and while Suburbs triumphed on both occasions, Saturday’s 26-20 win might be enough to end Tully’s hopes of making the finals.

With three wins to their name so far, Tully are now four wins behind fifth.

Suburbs are still seventh on the ladder but two straight wins gives the side a healthy injection of momentum as they plan an assault on the top five. Cephas Chinfat scored twice while Northern Pride five-eighth Thomas Steadman had 10 points in the win.

RESULTS

IVANHOE KNIGHTS 36 (Young 2, Kuna 2, McGrath, Barnes tries; Knowles 6 goals) def ATHERTON ROOSTERS 26 (Carleton 2, Grogan 2, Power tries; Grogan 2, N Curcio goals) at Smithfield Sporting Complex.

SOUTHERN SUBURBS 26 (Chinfat 2, Deen, Winkelmuller, Steadman tries; Steadman 3 goals) def TULLY TIGERS 20 (Uelese 2, Waireg-Ingui, Teaukura tries; Nona 2 goals) at Tully Showgrounds.

INNISFAIL LEPRECHAUNS 42 (Vota 2, Valentine 2, Vick, Jolley, Stephen tries; Addo-Nona 4, D Mooka goals) def EDMONTON STORM 18 (Tatipata, Levu, Rosendale tries; Frazer 3 goals) at Callendar Park, Innisfail.

MOSSMAN-PD SHARKS 40 (K Anau 2, S Anau, A Gibuma, B Gibuma, Bowen, TBA tries; TBA 6 goals) def BROTHERS 34 (Roesler Hohaia 2, Heron, Wigness, Savage, E Suavai tries; Peni 5 goals)at Stan Wiliams Park, Manunda.

KANGAROOS 48 (Tamwoy 2, Woodhouse 2, B Stephen, Phineasa, T Stephen, Lewis, Thomas Walter tries; B Stephen 4 goals) def MAREEBA GLADIATORS 12 (Elu, Grogan-Hayes tries; Stephens 2 goal2) at Vico Oval, Mooroobool.

YARRABAH had the bye.

RESERVES

Ivanhoes 12 def Atherton 10.

Innisfail 22 edf Edmonton 18.

Tully Tigers 38 def Southern Suburbs 12.

Brothers 36 def Mossman-PD 12.

Kangaroos 28 lead Mareeba 6.

UNDER-18S

Atherton 40 def Ivanhoes 8.

Innisfail 38 def Edmonton 18.

Tully Tigers def Southern Suburbs (fft)

Kangaroos 60 def Mareeba 6.

Brothers and Yarrabah had the bye.

WOMEN

Kangaroos 54 def Mareeba 4.

Edmonton def Innisfail (fft).

Mossman-PD v Yarrabah was postponed until July 23.

FIXTURES

ROUND 12

SATURDAY, JULY 2

Southern Suburbs v Innisfail Leprechauns at Alley Park, Gordonvale.

Mossman-PD Sharks v Edmonton Storm at Coronation Park, Mossman.

SUNDAY, JULY 3

Mareeba Gladiators v Tully Tigers at Davies Park, Mareeba.

Brothers v Ivanhoe Knights at Stan WIlliams Park, Manunda.

Yarrabah Seahawks v Atherton Roosters at Jilara Oval, Yarrabah.

Kangaroos have the bye.

Kick-off times not listed at time of print.

PREVIEWS

ROOKIE PUTS PRESSURE ON ROOS VETERANS

THE dyed blonde hair makes him among the most recognisable men on the footy field, but Kangaroos hooker Jack Thomas is proving he is a force to be reckoned with in the Cairns District Rugby League.

The young gun will start in the No. 9 jersey for Kangaroos’ crucial clash with Mareeba Gladiators on Sunday afternoon in a game the Mooroobool club is approaching as “must-win” to solidify their finals hopes.

Kangaroos are sixth on the ladder, just two points behind Innisfail and Ivanhoes, and a win will not only keep the pressure on their finals rivals, it could also put some distance between them and seventh-placed Southern Suburbs, who have not given up on their quest to play finals footy.

Kangaroos Jack Thomas. Picture: brian Cassey

At the centre of Kangaroos’ efforts against a Gladiators team driven to earn a second win of their tough campaign is a young Northern Pride player who is keen to make his mark.

Thomas is one of several hookers in the Pride’s Colts squad, but has a utility value which allows him to fill in wherever needed.

For Kangaroos, he is wearing the No. 9 in the absence of injured duo Ty Millard and Denzel King, and he’s done a fine job to date.

So fine, according to coach Jared Allen, that he is putting pressure on the duo to claim the starting hooker’s jersey.

Millard and King, the latter of whom has played Hostplus Cup footy over the past few years, have Thomas covered in terms of experience, but the young gun’s willingness to attack the game makes him a prized addition.

“He just attacks - he’s scored four tries or something like that in five or six games from dummy half,” Allen said.

“He’s really tough, and has been playing well for us.

“He’s putting a lot of pressure on them. We’re lucky to be in a position where we have those quality players at hooker.

“We’d love to have Ty and Denzel available.”

Kangaroos’ Theo Majid. Picture: Brian Cassey

Allen is confident his side has what it takes to knock over Mareeba when they meet at Vico Oval on Sunday afternoon.

It comes a fortnight after they produced one of their best performances of the season in a 28-26 loss to Brothers.

One of the great rivalries in the CDRL, Kangaroos fought back and led with just four minutes on the clock when Brothers snatched back the lead.

A last-ditch effort in the corner fell just short courtesy of Brothers’ sweeping, scrambling defence to stop Loui Ganaia’s attempt to score as the siren sounded.

“That was a tough loss, but there were a lot of good things we could take from it,” Allen said.

“This is a big game for us, we need that win to stay with the top five teams.

“It’s dangerous game for us.”

Brothers Darryl and Theo Majid will combine in the halves for the first time, while young Pride flyer Ronald Lewis makes his first appearance in a strong Kangaroos lineup.

PRIDE POSITIONS ON THE LINE

TWO Northern Pride players have been challenged to rediscover their best as another four have the opportunity to play their way into the Hostplus Cup team.

A competition bye means the Pride have the week off, but it shapes as a crucial weekend for several players fighting for a future in the Hostplus Cup.

Playmaker Thomas Steadman will line up for Southern Suburbs, while outside back Shawn Bowen returns to Mossman-Port Douglas for his first game for the Sharks in years, and both are playing for their spot.

Pride coach Ty Williams has spoken to both men about what he wants to see out of them in the Cairns District Rugby League.

Steadman was 18th man for the Pride’s clash with PNG Hunters last week, with Matthew Egan preferred to partner Cowboys allocation Ben Hampton in the halves, and Williams has implored the five-eighth to take on the line more when Suburbs travel to Tully to take on the Tigers.

Tom Steadman. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I want to see him applying what he does at training on the field,” Williams said.

“Defensively, he’s OK, but we want to see him engaging the line a bit deeper and get back to enjoying his footy again.”

For Bowen, it is a case of rediscovering the confidence which will allow him to be more free on the footy field.

He lines up for the Sharks against joint CDRL leaders Brothers in what is set to be a mouth-watering clash at Stan Williams Park on Sunday afternoon.

“He’s been out for a few weeks with injury but going back to Mossman, it’s going to be a good test for him against a team like Brothers," Williams said.

“I want him to back himself.

“The last few games, he’s been a bit hesitant in his actions. We’ve spoken about what he needs to do.”

Tom McGrath and Whyatt Barnes will be late inclusions for Ivanhoes, in the Weekend Post’s CDRL match of the round against Atherton on Saturday, which will be shown live by KommunityTV via the Cairns Post.

But it’s also an opportunity for several CDRL regulars to earn a crack at the Cup.

Jayden Hodges is under an injury cloud. Picture: Brendan Radke

With the extent of Jayden Hodges’ knee injury yet to be clear, there is an opportunity for Ivanhoes hooker and reigning CDRL Gold Medal winner Jacob Wallace, Mossman-Port Douglas star Eddie Daniel, Brothers youngster Adam Hepworth or even Kangaroos flyer Daniel Woodhouse to force their way into Williams’ squad for the Pride’s clash with Burleigh Bears at Barlow Park on Saturday week.

“This is an opportunity for those guys to get that spot,” Williams said. “Whoever plays the best this weekend will get the opportunity.”