Sport
4 March, 2025
Rivalry to rule in trial match
THE Mareeba-Atherton footy rivalry will be on show this weekend as the senior grades for the Gladiators and Roosters will face off in their first and only trial game of the year.
The matches will be played across all three senior grades at Davies Park this Saturday, with the U19s kicking off at 3pm, Reserve Grade at 4.30pm and A Grade at 6pm.
“It’s been a long preseason for everyone, and I think we’re all excited to start playing a bit of footy,” A Grade co-coach Trent Barnard said.
“It’s going to be a tough one. Atherton has recruited well and there’s always that rivalry between us, so I think it’ll be a good match for our first trial.
“I think we’ve got to take it seriously and give the boys a good run and give everyone a chance to play a bit of footy.”
Roosters A Grade coach Joel Riethmuller said his squad “should have everyone on deck, bar one or two”.
“It’ll be a good opportunity to just see where all the boys are at with their footy,” he said.
“I’ll probably start off with a solid side and then swap a few lads into different positions and just give everyone a bit of a run.”
The teams will also face each other again in Round 1 of the FNQ Rugby League competition on 22 March.
