Sport
2 March, 2026
Local sides notch up pre-season wins
ROUND 1 of the FNQ Rugby League competition is shaping up to be a cracker, after both the Mareeba Gladiators and Atherton Roosters A Grade squads found good wins in their final trial matches at the weekend.
The Atherton Roosters hosted last year’s runners-up, Southern Suburbs, in Atherton on Saturday. The Under 19s gave it a red-hot crack but couldn’t come away with a win, finishing 26-16 in favour of Suburbs.
The Roosters Reserve Grade found a good battle against their opponents and managed to come away with a 24-18 win.
Meanwhile, it was a semi final rematch for the A Grade game, with the Roosters getting one back on the Gordonvale team with a defiant 38-16 win.
Over at Davies Park, Mareeba, the Gladiators hosted Cairns Kangaroos in a great hit-out in front of a big home crowd.
Similarly to the Roosters, the Gladiators Under 19s couldn’t find a win in a close game that finished 22-16 in favour of the Roos.
However, the Reserve Grade overcame a strong opposition to find a 24-18 win. The Gladiators A Grade put on a great show, defeating the visitors 42-10.
Round 1 of the regular season kicks off with an exciting local derby between the Gladiators and Roosters on Saturday 21 March, at Mungalli Ck Dairy Stadium, Atherton.
