4th Mar 2026
A new Dawn
2026 kicks off with a new vibe. We had a good off season, and a new look team with Mitchell and Fifita on the left edge. The return of Walker, Murray, Tatola and Graham gives the team a much healthier look to last year, as we field one of the strongest line ups in some time. A week off to address any niggling injuries and we are now set to lauch a new dawn for the club. Bennett has had the team with a full off season, and you can see he is moulding the squad. So it off to Bris-Vegas to play the Dolphins to kick off the season. With no cyclone this year to disrupt the match.
Ward gets his chance
Ashton Ward continues to impress at half, and has been given the number 7 jersey while Humphreys is suspended and Glover and Sullivan injured. His kicking game against Manly was pin point and he had the right side humming. Watching with interest in how he progresses. I would to see the other players playing better than him if they get promoted over him, not just because of a contract situation. The club will need to sort out his situation sooner rather than later, and not rely on NRL exemptions.
New Look Lower Grades
Teams this week were read out for our reserve grade and U21 squads, and there was a major shake up in the way both teams will take the field in 2026 after the poor 2025 results. We still have a number of players to return from injury across the grades and then we will have U19 players stepping up. I will watch with interest to see improvements on the field.
U19 boys 4 from 4
It was a another team effort led by our strong forward pack, that took the team to 4 wins from 4 games. It was a 8 try feast with all areas being able to put on points, left edge, right edge and up the middle. This weekend we will see a top of table clash against Manly who we drew 4 all with in the trials. Lets go boys
Ben Wright double
Another tough game for our U17 boys, with left winger Ben Wright scoring another double. Finish off a match winning try late in the game. Thats 4 tries from 4 games as he leads our try scoring lists in the U17s. It was a dominant 1st half that set up the win. Some work to do after they let the Dogs back into the game in the second half.
6 man bench begins
One of the best changes the NRL has made to rules in years will be the expansion to a 6 man bench from the previous 4 man bench. It will be a return to the days when you could have a few extra players sit on the bench and see a specialist come to cover key positions on the field. While teams will have their backup hooker and three forwards as the main members of the bench, you will now be able to carry a half and winger/fullback on the extended bench. This will help the situation when a winger, fullback or half goes off because of concussion or injury, early in the game and you can replace him properly rather than the situations of trying reshuffle the team and playing players out of position. I look forward to see how clubs use this new option. It wont be long before the need for NRL Reserve Grade will surface, to keep these fringe players fit.
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Pre01 St Geo-Ill Woll W 28-24 Pre02 Manly Mudg W 30-6
Pre01 Gold Coast Redc L 12-24 Pre02 Warriors Leic W 38-34
2023 Rd07 LngS W 36-14 23,280 A.Klein 2024 Rd19 Redc L 28-36 10,023 G.Sutton 2025 Rd01 WSS W 16-14 6,738 A.Gee 2025 Rd17 LngS L 28-50 22,041 T.Smith
First Grade Pe 6A SB OR SO
2025 Rd10 Brisbane StAu W 22-14 13,747 Referee 6-7 3-4 - - - :
2025 Rd16 Melbourne StAu L 24-25 10,093 Referee 5-3 2-1 - - - :
2025 Rd22 Brisbane LngS L 14-60 38,430 Referee 6-3 4-5 - 1 - :
M W D L : PeW PeD PeL PeF PeA : 6AW 6AD 6AL 6AF 6AA : SB OR SO
v Dolphins never
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