Statewide score wrap: Cairns breaks XXXX Foley Shield drought

Cairns has broken a 15-year drought to secure the XXXX Foley Shield, lifting the silverware after a dominant 38-18 win over rivals Townsville at Barlow Park on Monday.

It took until midway through the first half for Cairns to open the scoring in the deciding game - both sides having beaten Mackay - but the game quickly turned after an error in their own half following the restart.

Harry McQueen smartly kicked a loose ball ahead to score Townsville's first, a Shaun Nona 40/20 led to another try three minutes later and after forcing a Cairns error from their kick at the end of the next set, Jordon Ah-One-Remfrey had a double and the visitors a third try in seven minutes to lead 18-6.

Bradley Stephen broke through for Cairns try just on half time, but few could have predicted the onslaught to come when the teams returned to Barlow Park.

Cairns was unstoppable as the likes of Aidan Day, Tualata Fakalelu and Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu rumbled through the middle and those around them put on four tries in the opening 20 minutes of the second half to leave their opponents stunned.

Cairns beat Townsville to win their last crown in 2008. Innisfail-Eacham beat Cape-Torres - both now represented in the best of the Far North A grade competition comprising the Cairns team and in coloured strips on the jersey - in 2009.

It was an emotional win for Day, who was awarded men's player of the carnival, fully aware of the historical significance of the XXXX Foley Shield.

"We knew Townsville were going to come out hard. We just had to weather that storm. We knew the game was going to turn and with the players we've got, we had points in us," he said.

"I've played a lot of Foley Shields and never come close to winning one, but we just dug deep this weekend and finally got to lift that shield. It's so good.

"It's a pretty good trophy. I was looking at it before and there's some great teams there and there's a long, long history.

"My uncles played in it (David Day and Stephen Day for Babinda in the 1980s), cousins played in, so it means the world to me to win it. It's awesome."

Day said the win was also one "for Davin" - their captain stalwart Davin Crampton suffering a broken arm in the win over Mackay on Saturday.

Cairns coach Jono Zangrande said he was "really impressed with the whole weekend".

"It was a strange feeling. We really gathered a lot of belief early in the campaign. In two or three weeks of training we jelled together really quickly and we understood we had some good big bodies through the middle and when they got punching through the middle we had some excellent halves and outside backs to capitalise," he said.

"Once we kicked the front door in, we knew we could get some points out of it, and we just had to dig in and defend those hard times.

"I basically just said to them (at half time) we needed to tighten up our efforts and I just put it down to them that we're playing 40 minutes for a Foley Shield final and how much did we want that and what did it mean to us as players and if it meant enough, you'd get it done."

Interim Far North Queensland Rugby League chairman Chey Bird said it was a tremendous achievement helping restore pride in history and remind outsiders of the strength of the local competition.

"I think it's a real shot in the arm. What it does is it really goes a long way to maintaining the history of the Foley Shield... and show we have a strong competition that produces some real quality players," he said.

In the women's competition, Townsville held off a late charge from the home side to wrap up a 24-10 win on Monday, having beaten Mackay 28-14 the day prior.

Townsville and Cairns traded tries midway through the first half of their match before Kazzia Lammon pounced on a loose ball following an enormous bomb off the boot of player of the carnival Eryn McCulloch just before the break to go in up 10-6.

Townsville scored the first two tries of the second half and despite Cairns returning serve and coming home with momentum, the visitors held on.

Townsville coach Rothana Baira couldn't have been prouder of the team for their resilient and composed performances across the carnival.

"It's a very proud moment. The girls just dug deep today after playing back-to-back days. Just so proud of their efforts today and we're coming home with the win," she said.

"We all play for different clubs but when we've come here everyone's just gelled and everyone was with each other was one. It was amazing to see them giving it their all for each other and never letting each other down. I'm so stoked and so impressed."

Baira said her side was made to fight hard for it and had their composure tested against a tough Cairns side.

"Our look on it was we knew they were going to be major physical at the end and they gave it to us all the way to the end," she said.

"We just banged it up the middle and kept that roll on so I'm very happy with them all."

Baira praised McCulloch for controlling the game with her direction and kicking throughout the weekend.

XXXX Foley Shield - Results

Saturday, April 29

Women - Mackay 28 def Cairns 18

Men - Cairns 34 def Mackay 16

Sunday, April 30

Women - Townsville 28 def Mackay 14

Men - Townsville 36 def Mackay 22

Monday, May 1

Women - Townsville 26 def Cairns 10

Men - Cairns 38 def Townsville 18

Ladders

Men

Women

Other results

Central region

2023 Wellshot Hotel Central West Rugby League Senior Men's Competition 

Round 9 results

Winton Diamantina Devils 24 def Alpha Brumbies 18

Barcaldine Sandgoannas 34 def Longreach/Ilfracombe Tigers 26

Ladder

North region

Mount Isa Rugby League A Grade Men

Round 2 results

Wanderers 42 def Mount Isa Brothers 16

Round 1 result

Wanderers 16 def Townies 0

Ladder