Fenn Turner’s journey from soccer to Cyril Connell Cup debut

Fenn Turner’s journey with rugby league actually began as a fortuitous mistake.

Born in England, the then soccer player moved to Australia in 2017 at the age of six, ready for life in a new country with his dad, mum and older sister.

Eager to continue the sport he had started in his home nation, Fenn’s dad went out to sign him up to a local club – but it wasn’t what the family expected.

“My dad went to sign me up and we thought Narangba Rangers was a soccer team,” Fenn said of the community rugby league club.

“I didn’t actually mean to play rugby… (but) I played with them for nine years.

“For the first few years, it was more getting some fitness in. My parents were sporty and they wanted the same thing for me.

“Three years ago, in under 12s, that’s when I decided I quite like this and wanted to give it a red-hot go and see if it works out. I started to put more and more effort in.”

While Fenn can look back and have a laugh now, that fortuitous mistake has led him to this weekend, when he will play his first junior representative game on the wing for the Redcliffe Dolphins’ Cyril Connell Cup team.

The 15-year-old – who turns 16 next month – has come through the local ranks, sticking with the Rangers for nine years while also undertaking the RISE program when he hit his teens.

Then last year was when Fenn’s dedication and extra efforts started to come together for some promising results.

“Last year we had a pretty good season,” Fenn said of his Div 3 Rangers side.

“We did win the grand final… It was my local team and my primary school mates that I stuck with.

“When I finished RISE, I got invited to play for Moreton Bay Academy. After I finished my rugby season, I got the invite for Cyril Connell.

“I got into this, started getting some proper training in and knowledge.

“I’d say (my goals) just for Cyril Connell, it would be improving myself, setting myself up for next year when I’m older age.

“It’s improving my skills and knowledge, getting the proper training in and meeting more people. It’s mostly improving myself.”

Fenn – who will this year come across from Narangba to Redcliffe to play his community footy as well – said he is unsure what to expect in his first of season of junior representative rugby league, but he is excited to learn more and to also hopefully contribute to a better season for the Dolphins.

Last year’s Cyril Connell Cup side went through without notching up a single win and Fenn said turning the tide is a major focus for the boys in 2026.

“For the team, last year I think they struggled to win any games,” he said.

“This year we’ve won both the trial games so I am just hoping we can have a good year, make it around the finals.

“Winning would be quite a step up. I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but we should do a lot better than last year. It’s a good time.”

The Dolphins’ Cyril Connell Cup side will kick off their season tomorrow, Saturday February 7, with their first home game to be played in Round 2 on Saturday February 14.