ROUND UP

BY ALF WILSON

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reuben Cotter and David Fifita have been named in the Queensland Maroons run on side to meet NSW in the third State of Origin match.

PNG star Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm) has also been named in the side as a winger.

Game three of the series will be played at Sydney’s Accor Stadium next Wednesday.

Although it is a “dead rubber” with Queensland having won the first two matches at Adelaide and Brisbane, the Maroons will want to make it a three nil whitewash.

Hamiso (Dolphins) will line up in the centres, Reuben (Cowboys) as a prop and David (Gold Coast Titans) also packing down in the forward pack as a second rower.

Cowboys stars Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi and Jeremiah Nanai are also in the run-on side.

Another Cowboys player, Tom Deardon, was selected as an emergency player.

Seb flies high

In other NRL news, aerial dominance by Mabuiag Islander Sebastian “Seb” Kris was a highlight of the Canberra Raiders 26-22 victory over the David Fifita-inspired Gold Coast Titans at GIO Stadium in the national capital in NRL Indigenous Round 18 on Saturday.

David scored two tries and set up a third during his best on the ground performance, and almost led the Titans to victory in the clash.

Seb made the highlight reels by jumping high into the air above a pack to score a try at the 16th minute.

But David crossed

Next weekend the Raiders meet the St George Dragons at WIN Stadium, while the Titans are back at home to take on the Dolphins in a local derby.

Hammer, Ezra and Tristan shine

Five eighth Ezra Mam and fullback Tristan Sailor produced solid performances when the Brisbane Broncos beat the Dolphins 24-16 at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday night.

The Hammer also had a good game for the Dolphins at centre.

Star Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo scored three tries for the Broncos.

At the after match press conference astute Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett was glowing in his praise of the Hammer.

“We were very pleased with our effort,” he said.

“Hamiso (TabuaiFidow) is one of the best fullbacks in the game but we have a problem with our centres at the moment and we had to do something about it.

“He can handle that position and I thought he did a really good job there,” Bennett said.

The Broncos have a bye next week before meeting the Bulldogs in round 20 at Belmore.

The Dolphins will meet the Gold Coast Titans next Sunday.

Cowboys win big

The Cowboys recorded the biggest win in their club history when they thrashed the West Tigers 74-nil on Saturday night at the QCB stadium.

It was also a massive turnaround after the Tigers beat them 66-18 six weeks earlier at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.

Eight Cowboys scored tries and they have charged up the NRL ladder to be sitting ninth, from languishing at 15th just five weeks ago.

The Townsville Stadium has become a “Cowboys fortress” with the team winning six from eight there this season.

Cotter was impressive in both attack and defence and was a key player.

Such a huge win boosts the Cowboys for and against percentage which will be vital in the back part of the season.

The Cowboys have a bye next week before they travel to Manly in Round 20 to meet with the Sea Eagles.

AJ two tries despite wet ground

A wet ground and a heavy slippery ball did not stand in the way of Alex “AJ” Johnston scoring two tries when the South Sydney Rabbitohs beat the Warriors 28-6 at Go Media Stadium, Auckland on Friday night.

His first try came after a backline movement which was a set play and the Rabbitohs led 12-6 at halftime.

AJ’s second try came after a classic kick by five eighth Cody Walker and the pair have formed a great combination this season.

Tallisha to co-captain

Tallisha Harden was named North Queensland Toyota Cowboys ladies cocaptain with Kara Dibb at last week’s NRLW Season launch at The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville.

Both were international and State of Origin representatives and were recruited as much for their off-field leadership as their on-field brilliance for the Cowboys’ maiden season in the NRLW.

Tallisha made her debut for the Indigenous All Stars in 2014.

“When Tallisha steps into a room she has a presence and a calming factor, which rubs off on the group,” Cowboys NRLW Head Coach Ben Jeffries said.

“I know that firsthand from working with her in Indigenous All Stars camps – and we have a huge contingent of Indigenous players in our squad who all look up to her.

“She is like the Godmother of our group, she will always find something positive out of a negative situation.”

WILSON

Blockbusting forward Sareka Mooka, one of five Torres Strait Islander players in the North Queensland Cowboys side is excited about the much anticipated NRL Telstra Women’s competition.

Sareka (Mabuiag), Essay Banu (Boigu), Jasmine Peters and Tallisha Harden (both Badu) and Tahlulah Tillett (Moa) are in the Cowboys squad for the season which commences on 22 July.

Essay and Sareka have signed for the 2023 and 24 seasons, Jasmine 23 to 25, and Tallisha and Tahlulah for 2023.

Tahlulah also has a contract option for the 2024 season.

The biggest Women’s Premiership ever will feature nine rounds, double headers and, for the first time, matches in primetime.

The 12 team draw included new teams Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers.

In round one on Saturday 22 July, the Cowboys ladies clash with the Titans in a Queensland derby at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Cowboys ladies first home game was set for round three on Saturday 5 August in a blockbuster against the Brisbane Broncos at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The Torres News caught up with Sareka as she arrived at Cowboys headquarters ready for training last week.

“We have to do some gym work first and then will train on the field,” she said.

“I am really looking forward to the coming season and think we can do well.

“It is great to have five girls from the islands in the team.”

Sareka is employed at NRL Cowboys House in Gulliver suburb as a boarding supervisor.

Born in Cairns before relocating to Townsville, Sareka has represented in the Prime Minster’s XIII, First Nations Gems and Indigenous All-Stars over the past year.

A physical middle or edge forward, Mooka played eight games for the premiership-winning 2022 Gold Stars in the Queensland ladies comp.

She also shone for the Mackay Cutters in their 2023 Queensland Ladies comp.

Under coach Ben Lonergan the Cowboys ladies have had a rigorous pre-season which will hold them in good stead for the season.

That has included a run up Castle Hill and plenty of strengthening work in the gym at Cowboys headquarters near Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Sareka told Torres News she had last visited her home on Mabuiag Island in 2021 but intended to get back there after the season.

“I have lots of relatives on Mabuiag and a lot live here in Townsville,” she said.

The quietly spoken Sareka said she had followed the Island of Origin carnival last month as closely as she could from afar.

“It was great to Mabuiag side Goemu Bau Raiders take out the men’s comp and my relative Stephanie Mooka was in the Kayin Kosals ladies team which took out the grand final,” she said.