Sport
17 August, 2026
A Grades out, Ressies through
THE Mareeba Gladiators Reserve Grade and the Atherton Roosters Under 19s are the only Tablelands teams still standing in the FNQ Rugby League finals following the dismissal of both clubs’ A Grade sides at the weekend.
Gordonvale’s Alley Park was bustling on Saturday as the first round of the semi-finals was held. The Gladiators Reserve’s found a convincing 26-18 win over the Tully Tigers in their first finals match in 13 years, while the club’s A Grade side went down 34-16 to Cairns Kangaroos.
Meanwhile, the Roosters A Grade have also had their finals run come to an end following a 32-34 loss to last year’s grand final runners up, Southern Suburbs.
RESERVE GRADE
THE Gladiators Reserves will now play Southern Suburbs in Innisfail this weekend after making it through the minor semi-final round with a 26-18 win over the Tigers.
Captain-coach Keripo Gutchen-Gela led his side from the get-go in Saturday’s match, crossing the line early as the first Mareeba try scorer.
Other tries came from second rower Tristan Lopez, halfback Reece Boyle, centre Ashton Martin, and the big prop from the pacific, Avala Atileo.
“I’m really proud of the boys. We went in with a game plan and everyone believed in what we wanted to do, and that showed on the field,” Gutchen-Gela said.
“It was always going to be a tough one in the finals, we were expecting a physical battle, but we knew we wanted to be strong so we went out with that mentality.”
Gutchen-Gela said that, to his knowledge, it had been 13 years since a Gladiators Reserve Grade squad made the finals.
“We ended up winning the grand final that year too,” he said.
The underdog Ressie squad will regroup this week ahead of their major semi-final clash against Southern Suburbs.
“We’ll just keep touching on our game and improve on the little 1% things that can make the game a bit easier for us,” Gutchen-Gela said.
“But I also just want to get around the boys and enjoy this week really. Win or lose, we’re just taking in every moment.”
ROOSTERS vs SUBURBS
SOME of the region’s best footy players were centre stage in the eagerly anticipated Roosters-Suburbs matchup at the weekend, and it was only fitting that the game be decided by a margin of just two points.
Electric Suburbs five-eighth James Frazer produced a piece of individual brilliance early in the match after scoring off of his own chip and chase. However, this was soon matched by Roosters halfback Rhylee Herd, who picked up a four-pointer from one of his own.
After being down by three converted tries, the Roosters began mounting a comeback. Tough centre Brad Hammond quickly found himself a double before big prop Dujuayne Sua-Bacon barrelled his way over the line multiple times to claim an unlikely hattrick.
The Roosters led 32-28 with just minutes to play, but after Suburbs crashed through for another try, the Atherton side were unable to penetrate their opposition’s defence.
The game finished 32-34 in favour of Suburbs, marking the end of the Chooks’ 2026 finals run.
GLADIATORS vs KANGAROOS
IT was a last round rematch for the Gladiators as they took on the Kangaroos in Saturday’s semi-final round, but they were unable to get the better of the Cairns side in tricky conditions.
Mareeba started strong, with prop Denzel King claiming the first points after breaking through the Roos’ defence. He was shortly followed by winger Bronson Ryan, who claimed his 29th try of the season – 10 ahead of Suburbs’ James Frazer in second place.
The Gladiators were ultimately outclassed by a dangerous Roos outfit, with the final score reading 34-16.
MAJOR SEMI-FINALS
THE young Roosters will be raring to go in the major semi-final round this weekend as they get set to take on the top-of-the-table-finishing Cairns Brothers, with the winner securing a spot in the 2026 Under 19s grand final.
Meanwhile, the unlikely finals contenders that is the Gladiators Reserves will take on the Southern Suburbs, who knocked off Cairns Brothers 22-10 at the weekend.
The major semi-final round will be held at Callendar Park, Innisfail. The Roosters will kick off at 12.30pm, followed by the Gladiators at 2pm.
