Sport
7 August, 2026
Rivals set up for grand final
THE stage is set for a thrilling Cairns District Rugby League women’s grand final this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Cairns Dolphins and Marlins basketballers have had a heartbreaking end to their season.
On the soccer pitch, Marlin Coast have strengthened their grip on top spot in the Far North Premier League.
Women’s rugby league
A THRILLING Cairns District Rugby League women’s grand final involves Ivanhoes and Kangaroos renewing their rivalry after earning their places in this weekend’s premiership decider.
The two sides first met in the opening week of the finals, where Ivanhoes claimed a hard-fought 20-14 victory to secure a direct passage into the grand final.
In a physical contest that lived up to finals expectations, Ivanhoes held their nerve in the closing stages to book the first spot in the season’s biggest match.
The Kangaroos, however, refused to let their title hopes to slip away.
Facing Atherton in a do-or-die preliminary final, they produced one of their best performances of the season, powering to a convincing 38-10 victory to earn another shot at Ivanhoes and keep their premiership dream alive.
With both teams having already experienced each other’s strengths and weaknesses, the grand final promises to be another fiercely contested battle.
Despite the familiarity between the two clubs, neither side is placing much emphasis on their previous finals encounter.
Both coaches echoed a similar message during the lead-up to the decider.
“We’ve taken what we needed from our previous matchup, now we’re purely focused on this weekend’s game.”
That mindset reflects the challenge both teams face.
While Ivanhoes will take confidence from their earlier victory, the Kangaroos will enter the grand final knowing they have already responded strongly to adversity and carry momentum after their dominant preliminary final performance.
The contest shapes as a battle between two well-drilled sides that have consistently performed throughout the season.
Ivanhoes will be looking to complete their finals campaign with one final victory, while the Kangaroos will be eager to turn the tables and claim the title after earning their second chance.
Basketball
THE Cairns Dolphins and Marlins have seen their NBL1 North seasons come to a heartbreaking end, with both sides falling just short in front of a passionate home crowd during Saturday night’s semi-final double-header.
The Dolphins were first to take the court and produced a spirited performance before going down 94-90 to Townsville Flames in a thrilling contest.
Refusing to back down, Cairns matched their opponents for much of the night and had the home supporters on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer but ultimately fell just four points short of keeping their championship hopes alive.
The Marlins then took centre stage, looking to extend their remarkable unbeaten season.
However, Ipswich proved too strong when it mattered most, ending Cairns’ perfect campaign with a 102-91 victory.
Despite an outstanding regular season that saw the Marlins enter the finals undefeated, the visitors delivered in the biggest moments to book their place in the grand final.
While both defeats were disappointing, Cairns Basketball general manager Luca Vegari said the season should be remembered for far more than one result.
“They represented our city with pride, passion and resilience every time they stepped onto the court,” he said.
“They inspired the next generation of basketballers, united our community and showed what it means to wear the Cairns jersey.
“To our athletes, thank you for every early morning, every training session, every sacrifice and every ounce of effort you gave this club. You have made us incredibly proud.”
Vegari also believes the club has every reason to be optimistic despite the heartbreaking finish.
“While Saturday night wasn’t the result we all hoped for, it doesn’t define this season or this club,” he said.
“Success is built over time and the culture, commitment and connection we’ve continued to build together gives us every reason to be excited about what’s ahead.
“We’ll take this disappointment, learn from it and come back stronger.”
Soccer
MARLIN Coast have strengthened their grip on top spot in the Far North Premier League, while Edge Hill kept the pressure on with an important victory in the match of the round.
League leaders Marlin Coast produced the performance of the weekend, dismantling Redlynch 11-1 in a dominant attacking display.
The emphatic victory ensured they maintained their advantage at the top of the table while sending a clear message to the rest of the competition as the finals race intensifies.
Edge Hill ensured they remained firmly in the premiership conversation with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Southside.
In a closely-contested encounter, Edge Hill showed composure when it mattered most, capitalising on their opportunities before defending resolutely to secure all three competition points.
The victory keeps Edge Hill in second place on the ladder, just two wins behind Marlin Coast with the season entering its crucial stages of the season.
Edge Hill coach Ryan Murray was pleased with his side’s disciplined performance and commitment to the game plan.
“It was a great win for the group,” he said.
“They executed our game plan well and came away with the result we needed.”
Elsewhere, Stratford claimed an impressive 4-0 victory over Innisfail to continue building momentum, producing a clinical display at both ends of the pitch.
The result keeps Stratford well in the finals race and adds further intrigue to an already competitive top half of the table.
Leichhardt also secured a valuable three points, overcoming Mareeba 2-1 in another entertaining contest.
The narrow victory highlighted Leichhardt’s resilience, with the side holding firm late in the match to collect an important win.
With Marlin Coast continuing to set the pace and Edge Hill refusing to let the leaders out of sight, the battle for the Far North Premier League premiership remains alive.
As the regular season draws closer to its conclusion, every result is becoming increasingly significant in the race for finals positions and the coveted minor premiership.
