South Qld vs. North Qld intrastate games: Analysis, talking points and key performers
South Queensland claimed a historic double over their North Queensland rivals in dramatic circumstances. Find out how, plus all the analysis, talking points and top players from both intrastate clashes.
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The streak is over.
After three glorious years of success, North Queensland was handed defeat in its annual intrastate grudge match against South Queensland.
A dominant second quarter propelled NQ to a 17-point half-time lead, which it would cling on to for much of the clash before finished with a wet sail with a free kick in the final minute paving the way for the goal that lifted them to a 13.8 (86) to 12.12 (84) victory at Bond University Oval.
“We always thought we were in the game,” said SQ coach Andrew Cadzow, who is in his second year at the helm.
“We were turning the footy over a fair bit and making a few mistakes, but we cleaned that up and basically at the end we kicked a goal at the right time, one of those results.”
Dylan Reid was awarded the Rod Davidson medal for best-on-ground in the triumphant SQ side, while Ned Lanyon, Alex McKay, and defenders James Cullum and James Packer also impressed. As did Ryan Doolan in the forward half, with his selflessness in particular catching Cadzow’s eye.
North coach Wes Glass - also in his second year at the helm - painted a disappointed picture post-game.
“That’s footy I guess, you win some you lose some,” Glass said.
“Iit would’ve been nice to win and keep the win streak going but it was a good game, they played pretty well and hunted heaps better than us early on.
“They probably deserve it.”
Glass also lamented how NQ’s poor goal-kicking as they had 24 scoring shots to South’s 21, noting it may well have proved the difference in such a close encounter.
“Our forwards played well they pushed up pretty well, we went in a little bit undersized,”
Joel Mitchell was a stand-out up forward for NQ taking home the Wayne Jackson medal as his side’s best player, while Tyron Rainbird also shone, as did Brendan Deslandes down back.
Tactical tweak proves a winner
Some tactical tweaks at half-time would prove pivotal in the South Queensland’s red-hot finish in the second half.
“We changed our structure a little bit, we were getting sucked in and pushing in too much and we held back a bit. We changed things up a bit and the backline and mids worked better so we were able to get it forward to score,” Cadzow said.
“We won the contest, we won the footy, we were certainly dominant around the ground but then the problem child was that we made a mistake or a skill error and that got them back into the game.”
The makeshift ruck
If you thought you saw an unusual face rucking for North Queensland, you weren’t wrong.
Rory Tarlinton had never start a game in the ruck before but he tackled the task with both hands and didn’t look back.
He was forced into the makeshift role after the initial NQ rucks selected pulled out of the match. He was offerred the role on Wednesday night and didn’t hesitate to accept despite the gaping lack of experience - which consisted of the occasional ruck contest in the forward half.
“I thought he did pretty well, he went well around the ground so he was like another midfielder,” Glass said.
It should come as no surprise that Tarlinton is a versatile talent. He was typically a defender but has taken on a forward role at North Cairns this season after a move north.
The NQ struggle
Tarlinton wasn’t the only one that had to improvise for the North Queensland side on gameday.
“I thought everyone played pretty well considering I’ve never seen half of them play,” said Glass, who is also a former NQ player himself.
“I don’t know where they play so you just fill spots, but they all did pretty well which is good.
“It is hard, I thought the group gelled pretty well ... you have to meet everyone at the accommodation before you come to the game, that’s the first time you sort of meet everyone, which is good and bad, but we’re used to it.”
“Overall the boys had a bit of fun getting to know each other but just couldn’t get the result.”
Why South Queensalnd were too Strong for gallant NQ
North Queensland can hold their heads high.
The NQ women may not have tasted victory, but they put up a serious fight against a heavily fancied South Queensland outfit in the women’s intrastate clash.
South Queensland burst out of the blocks to take a 21-point lead into halftime, and it would set up the final 4.6 (30) to 1.2 (8) result that ensued.
It was a stark contrast to last year’s match, in which North Queensland were hammered by 74 points as they failed to register a score.
Leanne Foley was the player to break the NQ goal drought, hammering a beautiful long-range kick on the run for the team’s first goal since 2022. It came after Jayde Ransfield – who sits number two on the all-time QAFLW goal kicking leaderboard and is now at Centrals Trinity in Cairns – uncharacteristically missed to prolong the drought momentarily.
Former Collingwood AFLW coach Wayne Siekman took the reins of NQ this year and was thrilled with the fight his side his side showed despite the loss.
“When you’re trying to put a team together you never get to train and you don’t get to play together, whereas South Queensland get to train a bit,” Siekman said.
“You could see early South Queensland had a great structure, they were releasing handballs out the back and they were trying to get on the outside.
“After quarter-time our ability to hunt them better, tackle them, and put good pressure on them. In the second half … it was pretty even on the scoreboard but I thought we were the better team.
“We probably didn’t get enough reward, we had 20 inside 50s to 10 or 12, we dominated but just couldn’t get on the scoreboard.”
Midfield bull Olivia Meagher was dubbed best-on-ground for the gallant NQ outfit, with her physicality shining through, while captains
Tiarne Sparks and Amy Mill also impressed.
The jump
South Queensland’s fast start was pivotal in the victory, and without it, the match may have played out very differently.
“We started really strong, we came out and played some really good footy, especially in the first quarter,” said South Queensland coach Ben Long.
“I think it took (NQ) a little bit longer to settle into the game, and from then it was pretty even.
“That kickstart in the first quarter was probably the difference between us winning and losing.”
Scout her
Across The Waves product Scout Strong has played in all three South Queensland women’s fixtures, and she certainly made good use of her experience to awarded SQ’s best-on-ground – and a hilarious acceptance speech followed.
“She played at centre half forward and was outstanding, she took six contested marks and probably 10 marks all up,” Long said.
He was also impressed by the amazing defensive showing of Greta Liell-Cock and skipper Rachel Crack, who played a great contested game.
“ (Liell-Cock) in defence was amazing, she cut everything off especially early when they were threatening, she stopped a lot of their forward entries and played really well,” he said.
Siekman’s mission
When Wayne Siekman took on the NQ coaching role, he was spurred by on by last year’s drubbing.
As such, he had one simple aim in mind – one he achieved despite the loss.
“Just from my experiences I want to be able to help the North Queensland squad build a brand and identity,” Siekman said.
“I feel like we’ve been able to build an identity into the game and that wasn’t an easy game for South Queensland.
“We brought pressure, we brought intent, and we finished the game so well. If we had another quarter who knows what would’ve happened. That’s what I’m proud of.
“Hopefully moving forward they’ve got a bit of identity, and when South Queensland plays North Queensland they know they’re gonna come hard, be physical, and bring pressure in the contest, that’s what I’m proud of.”
South Queensland coach Ben Long echoed a similar sentiment about how competitive the NQ outfit was.
“Being part of it last year, it was good to win but you want a good contest for these sorts of things,” Long said.
“NQ took it up to us, especially in the second-half, there was no point where we could relax, and that’s what we want.”
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