Sport
24 April, 2026
Talent in line-up for classic
LOCAL rugby league talent will be on full display this Labour Day long weekend at Stan Williams Park in Cairns, with standout players from the Innisfail Leprechauns and Tully Tigers earning selection in the Foley Shield men’s and women’s A grade squads.
Tully’s Cohen Emmi, Feao Tongia and Quinnlan Tupou have been named in the Cairns Foley Shield men’s team, joining Innisfail representatives Ashton Galea, Ayden Kris, Sifa Usike and Ben Walker junior. The Cairns side will take on Townsville and Mackay from 2-4 May as they battle for one of North Queensland’s most iconic rugby league trophies.
The men’s squad features top performers from across the Far North Rugby League competition, including Trezman Banjo (Mareeba), Wyatt Barnes (Ivanhoe Knights), Taakoi Benioni (Cairns Brothers), Sonny Bin Garape (Southern Suburbs), Lachlan Braun (Ivanhoe Knights), Travis Cornthwaite (Kangaroos), Caleb Dally (Mareeba), Jhidan Dikes (Atherton), Kaleb Eaton (Ivanhoe Knights), Ricco Falaniko (Southern Suburbs), Bryce Fincham (Mareeba), Ryan Flegler (Mareeba), Riley Flute (Atherton), James Frazer (Southern Suburbs), Bradley Gallagher (Atherton), Ryan Herd (Atherton), Keishon Hunter Flanders (Mossman Port Douglas), Codey Kennedy (Mareeba), Zane Knowles (Ivanhoe Knights), Jye McCrae (Ivanhoe Knights), Shamish O’Quinn (Atherton), Wade Smith (Southern Suburbs), Taniela Ta’ufo’ou (Cairns Brothers), Tyrone Tusa (Atherton), Jirra Twist (Atherton), Daniel Woodhouse (Kangaroos) and Jarvis Yeatman (Yarrabah). The coaches are Ben Walker senior and Max Singh, both from Innisfail.
In the women’s squad, Innisfail is strongly represented with Teneisha Ah Kee, Josephine Borsato, Dayna Cockbain, Arianna Martin, Storm Romelo and Lisa Waireg all earning selection.
They join a talented line up including Rachel Abednego (Kangaroos), Ana Ahmat (Kangaroos), Danielle Atu (Kangaroos), Kimberley Bryant (Atherton), Ferlene David (Ivanhoe Knights), Jonah Donovan (Atherton), Sari Ericson (Southern Suburbs), Mia Eteru (Ivanhoe Knights), Layla Geck (Atherton), Makeilla Gibson (Mossman Port Douglas), Lexeen Mathieson (Atherton), Mayleen Oppermann (Atherton), Halia Pua (Ivanhoe Knights), Aydah Ross Kelly (Mossman), Keasharn Sands Hart (Mossman), Etuina Suavai (Kangaroos), Elianna Suluvale (Southern Suburbs), Genavie Tabuai (Kangaroos), Mariah Tihopu (Kangaroos), Megan Trezise (Southern Suburbs), Alia Walker (Mossman), Rylee Wallace (Kangaroos), Kemo Wamala (Kangaroos) and Caitlin Wark (Ivanhoe Knights). The women’s team is coached by Peri Creamer, with Innisfail’s Daniella Stephenson on staff.
The Foley Shield, first contested in 1948, remains one of North Queensland’s most celebrated rugby league traditions. After a hiatus in 2012, the competition was revived in 2017 with the three regions of Northern Pride and FNQRL, Townsville Blackhawks and Townsville District Rugby League and Mackay Cutters and Mackay District Rugby League.
This year’s carnival will open with a special reunion event on Saturday 2 May, celebrating the 1966 Cairns premiership winning Foley Shield team. Former players, officials, supporters and community members are invited to attend the afternoon gathering to share memories and recognise the legacy of the competition. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.