Sport
1 May, 2026
Reserves’ gritty execution
TULLY’s reserve grade side dug deep on ANZAC Day, grinding out a gritty 12-6 victory over Southern Suburbs in a low scoring clash at Tully Showgrounds.
With both teams crossing for a converted try each, the scores were locked 6-6 at half time before the Tigers found the only points of the second stanza to secure the win.
Zakary Samkakai, Luke Fitzgerald and Jack Quirk crossed for Tully’s tries in a match defined by tough defence and determined goal line stands.
Before the A-grade kick off, players and spectators paused for a moving ANZAC ceremony, with The Last Post played and a minute’s silence observed in honour of fallen servicemen and women.
Tully carried that emotion into the opening stages of the A grade match, racing to a 10-0 lead at the break thanks to tries from Isiah Ketchell and Abraham Waireg Ingui, with Phil Nona adding a conversion.
But Southern Suburbs surged home in the second half, piling on three unanswered tries to overrun the Tigers and claim the win, 16-10.
Tully Tigers president Anthony Emmi said it was a tough and physical encounter.
“We held the lead but let the game slip away,” he said.
“The boys have a lot to focus on at training over the next couple of weeks and hopefully we can come out firing against Yarrabah who are always unpredictable.”
In the under-19s, Tully showed plenty of fight but could not bridge the gap, going down by eight points after trailing by 16 at half time (28-20).
Try scorers were Nathan Vue, Benjamin Muriata, Tyrell Forbes and Peter Solien, with Tamakaimoana adding two goals.
Local rugby league now pauses for the Foley Shield competition in Cairns over the May Day long weekend.
Round six fixtures return on 9 May, with Tully’s senior teams travelling to Jilara Oval to face Yarrabah, while the Innisfail Leprechauns host Kangaroos at home.
Results - FNQRL Round 5 fixtures - 25 - 26 April
A-Grade
Southern Suburbs 16 def Tully 10
Innisfail 20 def Mareeba 14
Ivanhoe Knights 40 def Mossman-Port Douglas 20
Atherton 18 def Kangaroos 16
Cairns Brothers 64 def Yarrabah 0
Reserve grade
Tully 12 def Southern Suburbs 6
Innisfail 30 def Mareeba 6
Mossman-Port Douglas 36 def Ivanhoe Knights 26
Kangaroos 38 def Atherton 16
Cairns Brothers 24 def Yarrabah 14
Under-19
Southern Suburbs 28 def Tully 20
Innisfail 48 def Mareeba 16
Atherton 16 def Kangaroos 14
Cairns Brothers 28 def Yarrabah 12
Bye: Ivanhoe Knights
Women’s
Southern Suburbs 18 def Innisfail 14
Ivanhoe Maidens 62 def Mossman-Port Douglas 8
Kangaroos 20 def Atherton 14
Bye: Yarrabah