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TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 17 AUGUST 2023
Rabbitohs win over Dragons
Pride wins a nail biter at home
Alex “AJ” Johnston scored two tries in the South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-14 win over the St George Dragons in front of a big crowd at Barlow Park in Cairns last weekend. AJ has scored 21 tries for the season and 187 for his career, just 25 behind the game’s all-time leading try scorers Ken Irvine on 212, and three behind Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater with 190. Fleet footed winger AJ scored his tries at the 10th and 71st minutes and will be a key player for the Rabbitohs in the coming finals series for which they should qualify with three rounds remaining. The Rabbitohs’ 12th win of the season lifts them to 28 competition points and into eighth ahead of a clash with the Knights in Round 25 and a guaranteed two points from a bye in Round 26.
BY ALF WILSON
Ezra shines yet again Five eighth Ezra Mam was one of nine Brisbane Broncos players who scored tries during the side’s 54-10 thrashing of the Parramatta Eels at the Gabba on Friday night. The Broncos led 24-nil at halftime and look to have cemented a top two spot for the looming finals series. Classy Ezra scored his try at the 46th minute and could easily have had a second six minutes later when he allowed hooker Billy Walters to cross. Ezra combined well with halfback Adam Reynolds who scored 22 points for the game in a wonderful performance which also saw him kick his 1000th career goal. Fullback Reece Walsh also worked well with Ezra in several attacking moves. The Broncos have their final
ROUND UP BY ALF WILSON bye next week and with it a chance to recharge ahead of their run into September.
Gagai’s ‘masterclass’ performance Experienced centre Dane Gagai had a blinder in his Newcastle Knights sides 42-6 win over the Sydney Bulldogs on Sunday in front of a big home crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium. Dane scored the Knights first try at the sixth minute and was dangerous in attack and powerful in defence. Enari Tuala who has lined up at a Gordonvale Allblacks carnival scored for the Knights at the 38th minute. The Knights led 30-0 at half-time after enjoying 60 percent of possession in the first half and completing at 85 per cent.
Fifita contract extended David Fifita has extended his contract with the Gold Coast Titans until the end of season 2026 and was one of his side’s best in Friday night’s 36-6 loss to the Cronulla Sharks. David made numerous strong runs and had one try disallowed by the bunker and
saved two others with strong defence. The Sharks led 20-6 at halftime and look set to figure in the finals series. Initially the referee awarded a try to David after he jumped high to steal a bomb kick from the Sharks fullback. On review, it was ruled out by the Bunker that Fifita was found to have knocked the ball forward on his way to scoring.
Cotter key in blockbuster It will be a massive crowd at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville tonight when the Cowboys meet the Cronulla Sharks. Queensland Maroons State of Origin hero Reuben Cotter will be a key man for the Cowboys when they face a giant Sharks forward pack. Fans from the Torres Strait, Cape York, NPA, Cairns and Mackay will be amongst the spectators. The Cowboys sit ninth of the ladder and need to win to move into the top eight.
Dolphins down to Roosters The Sydney Roosters kept their finals hopes alive with a 30-14 victory over the Dolphins on Saturday night. Dolphins star back Hamiso “Hammer” Tabuai-Fidow played well for the Dolphins which have now won only two of their last 11 matches. Next week the Dolphins will be looking for a win against the bottom placed West Tigers in round 25 at CommBank Stadium.
Seb missed Sebastian “Seb” Kris couldn’t help the Canberra Raiders in their 48-2 loss to the Melbourne Storm due to injury.
The Northern Pride scored nail biting a 22-20 win over the Clydesdales at Barlow Park in Cairns on Saturday in round 21 of the Hostplus Queensland Cup. The Pride led 16-6 at halftime and held off the fast finishing Clydesdales before a parochial home crowd. Pride try scorers were Ewan Moore, Matthew Egan, Kenneth Fonoti and Evan Child kicked three goals. Included in the Pride side were Erub United back Dantoray Lui and Seamus King-Smith from Weipa.
Edrick Lee scores again Torres Strait islander Edrick Lee scored a try for the CQ Capras who lost 32-26 to the Redcliffe Dolphins at Kayo Stadium. Edrick is one of the best finishing outside backs in the competition and looks set to return to the Dolphins NRL team in coming weeks.
Hunters fire at Port Moresby Before a massive crowd at PNG Stadium in Port Moresby, the Hunters scored a 22-18 win over the Townsville Blackhawks. The Blackhawks had led 10-6 at halftime but the local Hunters surged in the second 40 minutes. Hunters try scorers were Morea Morea, Joshua Lau, Whallan Tau-Loi and Jamie Mavoko who kicked three goals. For the Blackhawks
try scorers were Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Zac Laybutt and Sam McIntyre whilst Tom Duffy booted three goals. The Blackhawks side included TS players Jayden Hodges and Gehamat Shibasaki.
Another try for Reuben Flying back Jon Reuben scored a try for the North Devils who went down 40-18 to the Falcons. The Falcons side included Melbourne Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen, who scored a try and kicked five goals. Jon crossed for his four pointer at the 46th minute in the game at Brisbane’s Bishop Park. On the Gold Coast the Burleigh Bears defeated the Mackay Cutters 24-10. The Capras are sixth on the ladder, the Pride eighth, Hunters 10th, Blackhawks 11th, Norths Devils 12th and the Cutters 14th in the 15 club comp. This weekend Norths Devils v PNG Hunters at Bishop Park, Mackay Cutters v Western Clydesdales at BB Print Stadium, CQ Capras v Souths Logan Magpies at Rockhampton, Townsville Blackhawks v Burleigh Bears at Townsville, and Northern Pride v Redcliffe Dolphins at Barlow Park in Cairns.
Hastings Deerings Colts Premiership Round 15 Rising Torres Strait Islanders stars “Deadly” Dudley Dotoi and Jamal Shibasaki scored tries for the Townsville Blackhawks which thrashed the Northern Pride 44-6 in round 15 at
Barlow Park in Cairns on Saturday. Dudley scored at the fifth minute and Jamal at the 70th to both shine in a great win. Ragarive Wavik with PNG descent scored a try and kicked six goals for a tally of 16 points. Sam Waireg was the sole Pride try scorer. The Mackay Cutters defeated CQ Capras 30-22 at Mackay Junior Rugby League Grounds. On the 14 club ladder the Blackhawks sit third, the Cutters eighth, Capras 11th and the Pride 13th. In round 16 on Saturday, Mackay Cutters v Western Clydesdales at BB Print Stadium, CQ Capras v Souths Logan Magpies at Rockhampton, Townsville Blackhawks v Burleigh Bears at Townsville’s Jack Manski and Northern Pride v Redcliffe Dolphins at Barlow Park in Cairns.
Tristan named in team of round 20 Tristan Sailor, PNG Hunters stars Joshua Lau and Whallan Tau-Loi along with Northern Pride’s Ewan Moore and Chris Ostwald were named by the QRL in the Hostplus Queensland Cup team of the week for round 20. Tristan shone for the Souths Logan Magpies in their loss to Brisbane Tigers and produced some amazing statistics. The speedster set up two tries, amassed 238 run metres and recorded two line break assists, two tackle breaks and two offloads. He was named as fullback of the week in the 15 club comp.
NRLW
Peters-Tillett combine to lead Cowboys women home for a win
ROUND UP BY ALF WILSON
A try with less than two minutes remaining by centre Jasmine Peters, after a pass from Tahlulah Tillett, helped lead the Cowboys ladies to a 16-12 win over the West Tigers in round four of the NRLW on Saturday. Tigers had led 10-4 at halftime in the game at
Essay Banu.
Jasmine Peters.
Tahlulah Tillett.
Talisha Harden.
Brisbane’s Totally Work Wear Stadium, and the Cowboys finished strongly to record their second win in four matches. Five eighth Tahlulah was making her Cowboys debut after being injured and was
crafty during general play with many clever tactical kicks. Jasmine had limited opportunities earlier but gleefully caught a precision pass from Tahlulah at the 68th minute to give the
Cowboys a 14-12 lead. The conversion by Kirra Dibb gave the Cowboys the hard earned win. Early on at the 10th minute, Tahlulah showed her class with a radar like pass to China Polata who
crossed for a try. Jasmine and Tahlulah lined up together for the Indigenous Allstars and the North Queensland Goldstars in the Queensland Women’s Cup in previous years. Co-captain Tallisha
Harden and fellow forward Essay Banu had strong games, making lots of metre grabbing runs. Inspirational Tallisha had to leave the field midway through the second half with a knee injury. Essay was powerful up the centre of the ruck and it mostly took more than one Tigers defender to tackle her. Previously the Cowboys had beaten the NRLW premiers Newcastle Knights 31-20, and lost 16-6 to the Titans, and 40-12 to the Brisbane Broncos. On Saturday, at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium, the Cowboys ladies take on the Cronulla Sharks for round five of the competition.
