Sport
13 September, 2024
Battle of the big cats
WITH a sense of déjà vu, the Tigers will once again have to pick themselves up after being rundown by the fast-finishing Cutters.
Men’s preliminary final: North Cairns Tigers vs Cairns City Lions
It was a heavyweight bout from start to finish, with either team bound to be stung by the loss.
The Tigers were further hampered by some ill-timed mid-match injuries, as they were on ANZAC Day, and it remains to be seen if any changes are needed.
Resilience is one thing this Tigers team prides itself on, and will be confident in booking a Battle of the Compass rematch for the Big Dance.
They will have to first get past a truly scintillating Lions, who produced one the great ‘Who saw that coming?’ performances, ending the reigning premiers’ season arguably before quarter time, much like their AFL counterparts.
Lions have threatened at stages throughout the season to put in a performance like that, and chose a wonderful time to do so, in arguably their best performance since their Dreamtime win against the Tigers.
The Lions will be brimming with confidence, and we know how good they are when they are in the mood.
Prediction: Tigers by 9
Women’s preliminary final: Cairns City Lions vs Manunda Hawks
BOTH teams are emerging from thrilling matches in the first week of the finals.
The Lions lost for only the second time this season in going down to the Tigers by 7, while the reigning premier Hawks showed you have to wait until the final siren, overcoming a big deficit to win by a solitary point against a heartbroken Cutters.
The Hawks are also the only team to have beaten the Lions in the regular season this year, so know that they can do it.
The Lions though, have been the best team all year and have played with the confidence of being the best team all year.
Expect a steely response to their qualifying final loss against the Tigers. The extra speed in the Lions line-up will be another advantage in the September midday sun.
Prediction: Lions by 8
