FNQRL A grade club-by-club preview

The FNQRL is ready to ignite again in 2024 with high-quality talent all ready to put on a show starting Friday, March 15.

All eyes are on Cairns Brothers in the men's A grade competition as they look to defend back-to-back premierships, having got the job done 24-22 against Innisfail Leprechauns in a thrilling grand final at Barlow Park last year.

Ivanhoes will be one club looking to go deeper into the finals this year after finishing minor premiers last year, with former Kangaroos and New South Wales representative Josh Dugan at the helm as a player-coach.

Yarrabah will be looking to somewhat emulate what Ivanhoes achieved in their 100th anniversary year last year - the Seahawks marking 25 years since joining the then-Cairns District Rugby League competition.

It's a new opportunity for Milton Mossman, taking the reins as coach alongside Hezron Murgha - the pair knowing all about what it takes to reach the top step after combining for the club's first premiership in 2017.

And Mossman will have plenty of time to develop the culture and tactics after suffering a leg injury playing for Walgett at the Murri v Koori Interstate Challenge last month.

Defence will be a focus after Yarrabah missed the finals on for-and-against in 2023.

"Lucky I'm coaching this year, so I get to sit down and relax a bit," Mossman said.

"It's another level from how I played. It's now not about being amongst the boys, but having a team to support the fellas.

"You're in the mix, but you're not going to be in the mix out on the paddock, and that's going to be the toughest part.

"But I think having the passion and the controlled thoughts as well. We don't want to create an environment where we discourage, we want to encourage."

Here's how all the teams are shaping up in the FNQRL men's A grade competition for season 2024.

Cairns Kangaroos

Coach: Jared Allen

Captain: Bradley Stephen (pictured)

2023 finish: 4th (Finals Week 2)

Signings/retains: Kurt Jackson (Mareeba), Malique Douthat, Lachlan Rayson, Corey Kennedy, Travis Cornthwaite

Player losses: Aidan Day (Atherton), Brandon Tatipata (Edmonton), Steven Tatipata, Javan Mosby, Theo Majid 

How your team will improve on 2024

Improvement through strength and conditioning. Play a faster style of rugby league. 

What can fans expect from your game style?

Strong contact in defence with a high volume of ball movement in attack. Using our strength, which is speed on the edges.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Innisfail Leprechauns will be motivated after another grand final loss. 

Mareeba Gladiators

Coach: Chris Sheppard

Captain: Caleb Dally

2023 finish: 6th (Finals Week 1)

Signings/retains: Caleb Dally, Trezman Banjo, Hubie Elu (all retained), Rob Pedersen, Nasili Taulua (previous players returning)

Player losses: Cain Hastie (Canberra Raiders SG Ball), Sonny Rea (work), Ricky Shave (work), Kurt Jackson (Kangaroos)

How your team will improve on 2024

We're a young team and everyone has a more experience and have been together for a couple of years now, so we're looking to progress.

What can fans expect from your game style?

Plenty of energy, physicality and excitement from a team with a lot of skill and pace.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Brothers are the back-to-back premiers, so until someone knocks them off, they're the team to beat. The usuals - Innisfail and Ivanhoes - will be there and there's been strong recruitment across the comp from Atherton, Mossman, Tully and Edmonton. It'll be good to see how it all plays out.

Atherton Roosters 

Coach: Joel Riethmuller 

Captains: Ned Blackman and Davin Crampton (pictured)

2023 finish: 9th

Signings/retains: Davin Crampton (Mossman), Aidan Day (Kangaroos), James Clark, Jayden Connors 

Player losses: Joel Riethmuller, Scott Bolton, Jyde Dwyer, Brett Power, Nathan Curcio, Brad Hammond

How your team will improve on 2024

Having a settled squad and doing a full preseason we expect to start the season in good shape.

What can fans expect from your game style?

Our focus is on defence and being patient in attack.

Who is the team to beat and why? 

All teams will be competitive. Ivanhoes, Brothers and Innisfail are always tough to beat as are Mareeba with the local rivalry. They're all very well coached, so it makes for a tough competition.

Cairns Brothers

Coach: Jordan Biondi-Odo (pictured)

Captain: Jordan Biondi-Odo

Signings/retains: None provided

2023 finish: Premiers

Player losses: Lachlan Biondi-Odo (Carina), Dennis Tomarchio (Carina)

How your team will improve on 2024

Defensively we will look to get better, holding each other more accountable.

What can fans expect from your game style?

Hopefully continue what we have been doing, but a tough fun brand of footy is what is expected at Cairns Brothers in 2024.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Probably Ivanhoes. They have a few high profile signings and they will be expected to be there abouts.

Tully Tigers

Coach: Colin Wilkie 

Captains: Colin Wilkie and Phil Nona (pictured)

2023 finish: 8th

Signings/retains: Charlie Abraham (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, UK), Jack Newbegin (Millom RLFC, UK), Rio Mcquistan (Millom RLFC, UK), Shane Su'a Bacon (Yass Magpies), Cohen Emmi (retained)

Player losses: Marley Helion (North Qld Cowboys), Fabien Tauli (retired), Alex Smith (Sydney), Peter Uelese, Maximus Patullo 

How your team will improve on 2024

We have recruited two great halves along with retaining our fullback and hooker, who is the reigning player of the year. We now have a quality spine to steer the many young locals who debuted in 2023.  

What can fans expect from your game style?

We’ll be a team that isn’t afraid to chance their arm with the ball and works hard in defence. 

Who is the team to beat and why?

Can’t go past the back-to-back premiers Cairns Brothers. They have a great roster of players and are very well coached by Jordan Biondi-Odo. Innisfail will also be hard to beat. The resources at their disposal are the envy of many clubs.

Ivanhoes Knights

Coaches: Joshua Dugan (head coach) and Joshua Parker (assistant coach)

Club captains: Joshua Dugan (pictured) and Rhylee Herd

2023 finish: Preliminary finalist (minor premiers)

Player gains: James Segeyaro (Wests Devils), Aaron Daniel (Mossman-Port Douglas) and Sonny Bin-Garape (Kangaroos)

Player losses: Rhys Hanlon (retired)

How will the Knights improve in 2024?

The Knights have spent the pre-season strengthening our defence. The club has recruited during the off-season to bolster its forward pack.  

What can fans expect from the Knights in 2024?

Following the club’s 100-year celebrations last year, 2024 has presented the opportunity for the club to further develop its game style. Fans can expect a new fast and expansive style of play in 2024.

Which is the team to beat and why?

The team to beat this year would be the reigning back-to-back premiers, Cairns Brothers. They finished off the 2023 season strong beating the Innisfail Leprechauns in the final. We expect them to start the season strong and look forward to our first match up in Round 12.

Yarrabah Seahawks

Coaches: Milton Mossman and Hezron Murgha

Captain: Hayden Golchert (pictured)

2023 finish: 7th

Signings/retains: Not provided

Player losses: Not provided

How your team will improve on 2024

Being the 25-year anniversary of Yarrabah Seahawks joining the CDRL, our discipline is a major focus for us in 2024. We really let ourselves and the community down at the back end of last year and are going to be better this year. We’ve had a good preseason and the boys are fit and ready to make the 25-year anniversary of the club a special one.

What can fans expect from your game style?

As always, Yarrabah plays an exciting style of footy, so expect the unexpected.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Ivanhoes and Brothers will definitely be the teams to beat this year.

Innisfail Leprechauns

Coach: Leon Hallie

Captains: Johann Turner and Graham Clark (both pictured)

2023 finish: Runners-up 

Signings/retains: Jaymon Moore, Ashton Galea, Chris Ostwald, Paea Pua, Graham Clark

Player losses: Jason Hallie (South Sydney Rabbitohs pathways), Tamati Huirama (Cairns Brothers), James Clark (Atherton Roosters), Andrew Garrett

How your team will improve on 2024

We will improve in 2024 because we have had great numbers at training. The boys are keen to play and be there to reach our end goals.

What can fans expect from your game style?

Fans can expect more excitement from the local talents stepping up to represent our club.

Who is the team to beat and why?

Cairns Brothers is the team to beat. They have a good culture there, and they have won back-to-back premierships.

Edmonton Storm

Coach: Mark Volpe

Captain: Ian Bounghi-Oui (pictured) 

2023 finish: 10th

Signings/retains: Gideon Gela-Mosby, Dmitri Ahwang, Gideon Larry, Sami Raivararo, Brandon Tatipata

Player losses: None

What can fans expect of your side in 2024?

Expect a very competitive Storm team and a club with lots of determination to win. 

Who is the team to beat?

Cairns Brothers. They are back-to-back champions and they're very professional in what they do. 

Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks

Coach: Paul Stevens

Captain: Noel Underwood (pictured)

2023 finish: 5th (Finals Week 1)

Signings:  Nil

Player losses: Davin Crampon (Atherton Roosters), Ben Barba (Sarina Crocodiles)

How will your team improve in 2024? 

It has been a different start to preseason this year after the floods and roads being closed, with the team training in both Mossman and Cairns, but the players have stuck at it and determination and good camaraderie will only help the team be stronger than 2023.

What can fans expect from your game style?

With a new A grade coach in Paul Stevens and a team that is determined to improve on 2023, fans can expect to see some great footy.

Who is the team to beat and why?

I don’t think you can underestimate any side.  The team to beat is the one that turns up on game day.

Southern Suburbs Cockatoos

Coach: Eddie Sailor

2023 finish: 11th

Signings/retains: None provided

Player losses:  Nil

What can fans expect from your game style?

Open, running style football

Who is the team to beat and why?

Brothers