SPORT 15
TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2023
Hometown showdown sees Broncos hold top BY ALF WILSON Ezra Mam won some hard-earned bragging rights over Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow when the Brisbane Broncos beat the Redcliffe Dolphins 18-12 in the blockbuster NRL round four clash, dubbed the “Battle of Brisbane”, last Friday night. Ezra’s Broncos and Hamiso’s Dolphins battled it out in front of more than 53,000 spectators packed into Suncorp Stadium. Ezra lined up at five eighth for the Broncos and Hamiso was in the vital fullback role. Both performed well and early on Ezra made a great tackle which denied the Dolphins a try. The 20-year-old Ezra had trained the night before the game with
strapping on his right leg after injuring it in the 40-18 win over the Dragons the previous week in round three. At the 63rd munute, Hamiso gleefully picked up the ball after an Anthony Milford grubber kick to score and give the Dolphins a narrow lead. However the Broncos scored two late tries and in the last minute Kotoni Staggs ran the length of the field to seal a Broncos victory. Brenko Lee played a powerful game for the Dolphins. A giant-sized centre, Brenko was strong in both defence and attack. His cousin Edrick Lee will return to the Dolphins line up in coming weeks after injury. The Broncos sit on the top of the NRL ladder as the only
BRAGGING RIGHTS: Ezra Mam. Pic courtesy Brisbane Broncos. undefeated side in the 17 team comp.
COWBOYS VERSUS TITANS Gehamat Shibasaki and David Fifita played prominent roles in the Cowboys 24-12 win over the Gold Coast Titans in Saturday’s match at Townsville’s Queensland
Country Bank Stadium. Youngster Gehamat lined up in the centres for the Cowboys and made numerous telling runs and was solid in defence. However late in the game Gehamat suffered a hamstring injury and finished on the bench. David was a Titans
powerhouse forward who proved troublesome for the Cowboys defence and was one of the best on the ground. At the fourth minute David put his stamp on the game when he fired out the final pass for Titans Alofiana KhanPereira to score and the conversion gave the Titans a six nil lead. After that he also shot a pass to the same teammate who crossed again. Cowboys enforcer Reuben Cotter of TS descent missed the game for the Cowboys due to injury. In the final analysis the Cowboys scored four tries to two and had a great second half after trailing 8-6 at the break.
JOHNSTON ROLE IN RABBITS NARROW WIN Livewire outside back Alex Johnston was
Townsville to host ‘legends of league’
dangerous when his team the South Sydney Rabbitohs beat arch rival Manly 13-12 in golden point time. The flying winger and renowned speedster didn’t score a four pointer in a low scoring game but attracted the attention of the Sea Eagles defence whenever he ran the ball.
GAGAI AND KRIS
both shone in their match. Newcastle won 24-14 after trailing 14-8 at halftime. Gagai scored a try in the 45th minute and Kris was mostly safe under the high bomb kick and made some telling runs in attack. Centre Gagai was one of the best on the field and made a lot of ground up the centre of the ruck. Kris ran for more than 245m and also made 25 hit ups.
TN0230 8x2 local sports
Canberra Raiders fullback Sebastian Kris and the Newcastle Knights Dane Gagai
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THURSDAY ISLAND / SEISIA Sam Thaiday.
Milton Thaiday.
Billo Mosby.
Vern Daisy.
STORY & PICS ALF WILSON
This “legends of league” match is expected to attract a big crowd at the Townsville Sports Reserve, and before it will be four entertaining curtain raisers. Sam Thaiday will line up in the forward pack for the NRL Allstars which will also include former NQ Cowboys player Ray Thompson and Gabriel Geesu. Listed on the Indigenous
side were ex-Newcastle Knights back Milton Thaiday, Billo Mosby, Roy Baira, Fred Bulsey and Craig Waia. Also on the Indigenous Allstars is former Cowboys, Queensland Origin and Test back Matty Bowen. The side will be coached by Mount Isa Foley Shield legend Vern Daisy whilst Patrick Mara and Terry Abdul Rahman are listed as team managers.
The main game starts at 6pm after two Masters Games, a women’s match between an Invitational combination and Palm Island Barracudettes, and a Walkabouts versus Palm island Barracudas men’s match.
Former Brisbane Broncos, Queensland State of Origin and Test star Sam Thaiday will be amongst a host of Torres Strait Islander players who will compete in a North Queensland Indigenous Legends versus an NRL Allstars side in Townsville on Saturday.
The games are supported by the Queensland Government and Townsville City Council along with numerous sponsors.
Local footy achievers get to first round game
FERRY SCHEDULE APRIL 2023
Monday / Wednesday & Friday THURSDAY ISLAND to SEISIA: 6.30AM & 2.30PM SEISIA to THURSDAY ISLAND: 8AM & 4PM
EASTER SCHEDULE THURSDAY 6 APRIL PM SERVICES ONLY DEPART • THURSDAY IS 2.30PM DEPART • SEISIA 4PM NO FERRY OPERATING GOOD FRIDAY 7 APRIL EASTER MONDAY 10 APRIL
TUESDAY 11 APRIL AM SERVICES ONLY Boarding strictly 15 mins prior to departure
PHONE 07 4069 1551
RESERVATIONS ESSENTIAL – TICKET ONLINE www.peddellsferry.com.au • Passengers please pre-ticket – online, agents (or by phone: booking fee applicable) Concession fares available, conditions apply
IN TOWNSVILLE: Gibson Kris, Robbie Moore, Tom Kris, Matthew Paipai and Terry Abednego, together for the first round of the NRL on Saturday 4 March. Pic supplied.
OFFICE HOURS MON–FRI, 9am–12noon & 12.30–2.30pm LUGGAGE – Passengers are required to take their luggage directly to the ferry with them at boarding time (1 piece under 20 kg, excess charges otherwise apply) FREIGHT – Items under 20 kg carried, conditions apply. Please note freight may be delivered 1.30pm to 2pm to travel on the 2.30pm TI-Seisia Service or at other times delivered directly to the vessel and pre paid.
The Jetty Shop & Office, Engineers Jetty, Thursday Is.
