Sport
16 March, 2026
Nod to the past in season opener
A LARGE home crowd turned out on Saturday night to watch the Mareeba Bulls open their 2026-27 season, marking the beginning of the club’s celebrations for 80 years of football in Far North Queensland.
The occasion was made even more special when the Bulls took to the field wearing a commemorative strip inspired by the club’s very first official uniform from the 1950s, a fitting tribute to the club’s proud history.
Despite the festive atmosphere and strong home support, the result did not go the Bulls’ way, with Leichhardt Lions claiming a 3-1 victory in the season opener.
Bulls coach Victor Madrid remained measured in his assessment after the match, saying the wet conditions were the same for both teams and not something his side could use as an excuse.
“The pitch is no excuse; both teams had to play on it,” Madrid said.
“We didn’t get used to the pace of the game and three silly mistakes cost us.”
However, Madrid said he was encouraged by the progress the squad has made since the pre-season period. A shift in focus during the past week has already shown positive signs within the group.
“I’m happy with the way the squad is shaping up,” he said.
“I shifted the focus this last week and we’ve come a long way since pre-season. The change has been positive.”
The Bulls will now turn their attention to their next challenge when they travel away next Saturday to face Marlin Coast Rangers, with Madrid hoping his side can deliver a stronger and more composed performance to secure their first points of the season.
Meanwhile, the Bulls Women made a strong start to their 2026 campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory on Friday night.
Head coach Christian Mukadi said it was a pleasing way to begin the season following a focused pre-season preparation.
“It was a good start to open the season and pleasing to see the players applying many of the things we’ve been working on during pre-season,” he said.
“Overall, I’d rate the performance around a six to seven out of 10. There were some strong moments and very good attacking combinations, but there are also areas we expect to improve quickly, particularly our transition play.”
Mukadi also emphasised the importance of maintaining discipline within the team’s structure.
“One of the key takeaways is that we must stay disciplined with our game plan. When we did that, we looked efficient and created good opportunities going forward,” he said.
The women now turn their attention to a tough away fixture against Marlin Coast Rangers on Friday as they look to continue their positive start to the season.
