Sport
12 June, 2026
Weekend focus is on the ball
IN rugby league, several clubs are strengthening their credentials towards season’s end, while in rugby union exciting action had spectators on the edge of their seats.
In junior basketball, Cairns versus Townsville rivalry comes to the fore this weekend.
NRL
ROUND 10 of the Cairns District Rugby League competition produced several emphatic performances across A-grade, reserve grade and under-19s, with a number of clubs strengthening their credentials as the season heads towards the business end.
The Ivanhoe Knights were among the standout performers of the weekend, recording victories in both the under-19s and A-grade competition against traditional powerhouse Atherton.
Ivanhoes claimed a hard-fought 22-14 win in the under-19s before their senior side delivered one of the biggest statements of the round with a commanding 32-0 shutout victory.
“This win is great for our players, being able to show such dominance over a competition heavyweight is exceptional,” the coaches said.
Competition leaders Innisfail continued their impressive form, defeating Yarrabah 38-20 in under-19s, 28-18 in reserve grade and 54-4 in A-grade to complete a clean sweep across the grades.
Kangaroos also enjoyed a successful weekend, overcoming Southern Suburbs in all three divisions. Their under-19s side won 32-14, reserves triumphed 36-16 and A-grade completed the job with a convincing 38-16 result.
Elsewhere, Mareeba secured important victories in both senior grades, edging Tully 24-16 in reserves and 26-20 in A-grade, while Mossman celebrated a strong 38-10 reserve grade victory over Brothers.
Mossman reserve grade coach Lyle Murgha was delighted. “It’s nice to get a win in front of a home crowd, especially against a club as strong as Brothers,” he said.
In A-grade, however, Brothers responded in emphatic fashion, running in a host of tries during a 54-24 victory over Mossman.
Atherton’s reserves provided one of the most dominant displays of the round, defeating Ivanhoes 50-18, while the weekend’s results overall highlighted the growing competitiveness of the competition.
Rugby union
ROUND 7 of the FNQ Rugby competition produced another weekend of exciting action, with unbeaten teams maintaining their momentum and a dramatic after-the-siren victory stealing the spotlight in the senior competition.
In the reserves, JCU continued their strong form with a convincing 45-19 victory over Barron Trinity. JCU’s attack proved too much for their opponents, with Emmanuel Salawagen crossing for two tries in an impressive individual performance.
The win keeps JCU firmly in the hunt as the competition begins to take shape.
The Tablelands Reds also preserved their unbeaten record, edging out Cairns Penrhyn 21-18 in a tightly contested encounter. The Reds were forced to work hard for the result, with Penrhyn pushing them all the way in one of the most competitive matches of the round.
Despite the perfect start to the season, Reds coach Luca Ferrari remains focused on the challenges ahead.
“It’s exceptional the boys have kept this level of intensity and discipline thus far, but we all know it’s a long season, so we can’t get ahead of ourselves,” he said.
In the seniors, JCU secured a strong 36-17 victory over Southside. Ben Raiwalui was the standout performer, scoring two tries as JCU controlled the match and continued to build momentum heading deeper into the season.
The match of the round came between the Reef Raiders and the Northern Beaches Mud Crabs, with the Raiders claiming a dramatic 27-24 win on the road.
Locked in a fierce contest until the final moments, the Raiders were awarded a conversion attempt after the siren following a late try.
Captain Luke Edwards stepped up under pressure and calmly slotted the conversion to snatch victory for his side, capping off a memorable finish and sending the travelling Raiders home with the points.
Edwards praised the team’s resilience after the match.
“It’s a great win, especially on the road. It’ll definitely boost the team morale for our game at home next week,” he said.
Basketball
THE spotlight will fall on Cairns this weekend as some of North Queensland’s most promising young basketball talent converges for a major junior representative tournament from June 12-14.
Teams from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Burdekin will compete across three divisions in both the boys and girls competitions, creating an action-packed three days of basketball and providing athletes with a valuable opportunity to strengthen their standing ahead of the state championships in Brisbane later this year.
With every game carrying significant weight, the tournament serves as a crucial grading event for Basketball Queensland’s junior representative pathway.
Each team will play four matches throughout the weekend, with all results contributing directly to rankings and division placements for the state championships scheduled for September.
Players, coaches and officials understand the importance of the event, with strong performances potentially influencing how teams are seeded against the best junior programs from across Queensland.
Traditional rivals Cairns and Townsville will once again renew their competitive battles, while Mackay and Burdekin squads will be eager to make their mark and demonstrate their development on the representative stage.
Across the six divisions, spectators can expect fast-paced contests, intense rivalries and plenty of high-quality basketball as teams look to gain an early advantage in the race towards Brisbane.
