Sport
25 May, 2026
Local sides sit in Top 4
THE Mareeba Gladiators have joined the Atherton Roosters in the Top 4 of the FNQ Rugby League competition after both teams put away handy wins at the weekend.
The Gladiators now sit in fourth position on the ladder following a 30-22 win over Southern Suburbs at home, with winger Bronson Ryan notching up a four-try haul, while the Roosters managed an away win, taking down the Yarrabah Seahawks 24-14.
GLADIATORS vs SUBURBS
THE Gladiators hosted Gordonvale’s Southern Suburbs at Davies Park on Sunday, with the Mareeba club finding wins across all three senior grades in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
Gladiators lock Denzel King opened the scoring early in the A Grade matchup, going over for a try after just a minute of play.
Winger Bronson Ryan soon crossed over for his first try of the match before Suburbs fullback Ricco Falaniko went over in the 14th minute. A hot start to the game saw the scoreboard read 10-4 after only 15 minutes.
It wasn’t long before Ryan crossed over again to claim his second for the match. He was followed by fullback Trezman Banjo in the 28th minute, which took the home side out to a 22-4 first half lead.
But a try from the visitors right on halftime, through Mareeba boy Raysa Srhoj, brought the score to 22-10 heading into the break.
In the second half it was Suburbs who hit the front foot early, with their electric number six, James Frazer, adding four points to the board within the first two minutes.
Both teams then settled into the grind once again, and after 15 minutes Suburbs broke through with another try, this time through lock Sonny Bin-Garape. A successful conversion from Frazer levelled the scores at 22-apiece.
However, just five minutes later, Ryan crossed over to put the home side back in front and earn a hattrick for the game, but he wasn’t done yet. He crossed over for his fourth just minutes later, which proved enough for the Gladiators to seal the win at 30-22.
The Gladiators Reserve Grade also managed a win, defeating Suburbs’ Reserves 20-18, while the Under 19s celebrated an emphatic 50-30 win, with prop Jason Hastie claiming four tries (16 pts) and lock Bradley Williams kicking 7/9 conversions as well as notching up a try for himself to claim 18 points for the game.
This Saturday, the Gladiators will head down the hill to take on Cairns Kangaroos at Vico Oval. The Under 19s will get things underway from 3pm, followed by Reserve Grade at 4.30pm, and A Grade at 6pm.
ROOSTERS vs SEAHAWKS
THE Atherton Roosters are sitting comfortably in second place, just one point behind Cairns Brothers, after a 24-14 win against the Seahawks in Yarrabah on Saturday evening.
Tryscorers for the Atherton side included winger Brad Hammond, centre Tyrone Tusa, halfback Rhylee Herd, and fullback Shamish O’Quinn. Five-eighth Regan Herd kicked 3/4 conversions as well as a penalty goal to help his side seal the win.
The Roosters Women found themselves in a 2025 Grand Final rematch against the Seahawks Women and comfortably put them away with a 42-20 win. The Reserves were just edged out 34-30, while the Under 19s scraped through with a 12-10 win.
This Sunday, the Roosters will host the Mossman Sharks at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium. The Under 19s will have a bye so it will be the Women kicking things off from 12pm, followed by Reserve Grade at 1.30pm, and A Grade at 3pm.
