Sport
24 July, 2026
Basketballers in semi-finals
THE Cairns Marlins and Cairns Dolphins have secured home semi-finals after producing commanding victories over Rockhampton.
A dominant display from Southside headlined another entertaining weekend of FNQ rugby union, with several crucial results shaping the competition as teams continue their push toward the finals.
While, the 2026 women’s FNQ rugby league regular season concluded in spectacular fashion, with attacking brilliance, high-scoring contests and a dramatic battle for finals positions setting the stage for an exciting semi-final weekend.
Basketball
THE Marlins have been undefeated this season, 16 games to 0 while the Dolphins won 13 and conceded three.
The Marlins had an emphatic 116-91 victory, delivering another high-scoring performance in front of their home supporters.
Ky Stattman and Amarco Doyle were outstanding, each finishing with 28 points as the Marlins’ offence fired on all cylinders.
From the opening quarter, Cairns pushed the pace and moved the ball with confidence, creating quality scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Rockhampton struggled to contain the Marlins’ depth, with multiple contributors stepping up alongside the two leading scorers to ensure the result was never seriously in doubt.
This win caps off the Marlins perfect season going a perfect 16-0.
Coach Joel Khalu said the game was not over yet.
“In my perspective, the job’s still not done. 16-0 is fantastic, but ultimately doesn’t mean anything if we don’t carry this momentum into finals,” he said.
Mr Khalu said 16-0 had been an absolute dream after last year when the Marlins finished last.
“If someone told me at the beginning of the season we would’ve gone undefeated, I would’ve laughed at them,” he said.
The Dolphins won 82-68 against Rockhampton, using a balanced team performance to control the contest from start to finish.
Leichan Williams led the offensive charge with 23 points, providing the spark whenever Rockhampton threatened to close the gap.
The Dolphins’ defensive intensity also proved decisive, forcing tough shots and capitalising on transition opportunities to seal a comfortable 14-point victory.
Dolphins captain Mia Loyd said “losing last year’s semi in double overtime and the sting of that, its stung us as a playing group for the last 12 months, so we were using that as motivation in front of our home crowd”.
The win continues the Dolphins’ strong form heading into the postseason, with the side building momentum at the perfect time of year. Their combination of disciplined defence and efficient scoring will make them a formidable opponent when the finals begin.
Attention now turns to the NBL1 North semi-finals, with both the Marlins and Dolphins earning the right to host home semi-finals on Saturday 1 August.
Rugby union
IN A-grade competition, Southside delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, overwhelming Port Douglas 65-15 on home soil.
The free-flowing attacking display saw Mana Anderson, Alessio Mogorovich and Christian Wolf each cross for two tries as Southside ran riot from start to finish.
The home side-controlled possession played with pace and precision and consistently broke through the Port Douglas defence to record a convincing 50-point victory.
Following the match, members of the Southside coaching staff and playing group described the performance as “monumental,” highlighting both the quality of the rugby and the confidence the result provides heading into the closing stages of the season.
Port Douglas captain Luke Edwards said “it’s a tough defeat, but it’s ultra important as a team we wash it away and focus on the remainder of the season”.
Barron also enjoyed success in the senior competition, defeating the Northern Beaches Mudcrabs 33-24 in an entertaining contest.
Both teams traded points throughout the afternoon, but Barron produced the stronger finish to claim an important victory and valuable competition points.
JCU had the bye this round, giving the side an opportunity to recover and prepare for the challenges ahead as the race for finals positions intensifies.
The reserve-grade competition was equally competitive, with the Tablelands Reds recording a strong 41-24 victory over JCU.
The Reds produced an impressive attacking performance, converting sustained pressure into points while defending well when it mattered most to secure the 17-point win.
The win secures the Reds as minor premiers.
Coach Luca Ferrari said “we’re elated about finishing minor premiers in just our second season”.
“It’s a great sign for things to come as a club,” he said.
The match of the round came between Barron and Cairns Penrhyn, where neither side could be separated in a thrilling 31-31 draw.
The lead changed hands throughout a hard-fought encounter, with both teams’ showing resilience and determination before sharing the competition points in one of the season’s most exciting finishes.
Women’s rugby league
THE Kangaroos stamped themselves as genuine premiership contenders with a commanding 44-4 victory over Mossman.
The Kangaroos were in complete control from the opening whistle, combining powerful defence with slick attacking football to finish the regular season on a high.
Kemeru Songro was the stand-out performer, crossing for three tries in a sensational individual display that proved too much for the Mossman defence.
The comprehensive victory secures the Kangaroos place in the semi-finals with plenty of confidence behind them.
Ivanhoe also enter the finals in outstanding form after defeating Atherton 32-14.
While Atherton remained competitive throughout periods of the match, Ivanhoe consistently found another gear whenever momentum shifted. Maiama Hull and Maddie Mathies were unstoppable in attack, each scoring three tries as the home side showcased the attacking depth that has made them one of the competition’s most dangerous outfits this season
The game of the round belonged to Southern Suburbs and Yarrabah, who produced a thrilling contest that went right down to the wire.
Southern Suburbs eventually claimed a hard-fought 34-32 victory after an entertaining back-and-forth battle filled with spectacular individual performances.
Yarrabah’s Julia Smith crossed for three tries in a remarkable effort to keep her side in the contest, but Southern Suburbs had a hat-trick hero of their own, with Alyssa Ale matching the feat to help guide her team to a crucial two-point win.
The semi-finals on 24 July involve Kangaroos versus Ivanhoe. Atherton will meet Southern Suburbs in the second semi-final. For Mossman and Yarrabah, their season is over.
