Sport
24 May, 2024
Crocs tipped to maul Hawks
TWO massive wins and two hard-fought losses mean fourth-placed Lions have the best percentage in the competition, and two of the top five goalkickers in Morris and Rainbird.
Cairns City Lions vs North Cairns Tigers, Dreamtime 2.30pm at ITEC Group Oval
Smashing the teams below them and running the teams above them close will see the Lions make it back to the finals.
After gorging on premiership success in 2021 and 2022, making the finals will be the least of their expectations.
The Dreamtime clash is arguably their biggest home game of the season, and shapes as a key test for their aspirations.
The Tigers players might have to reintroduce themselves this week at training. They have only played once since ANZAC Day. The hope is that the extra freshness will give them a mini reset a third of the way into the season.
A last gasp defeat to the Cutters has been their only slip up this year and they look like they are going from strength to strength. Bennett and Denboer are two recruits who are executing their roles in the team with more and more efficacy.
Prediction: Tigers by 21
Port Douglas Crocs vs Manunda Hawks at Port Douglas Sporting Complex
THE all-star break came at the perfect time, with injuries preventing the best 23 from being on the park together.
Despite being the reigning premiers, they have shown an incredible depth and ability to adapt. Seemingly every move made because of an injury, or an absence has come off. In round 5, it was winger Sam Fairclough being thrown forward and kicking 5.
For the winless Hawks, it does not get much tougher than the trip to Port Douglas.
They have had back-to-back club byes, and the hope will be that the things they have been working on will come to fruition. They have the top end quality to compete if they can click and will hope the beautiful views on the drive north will be the catalyst to catch Port Douglas by surprise.
Prediction: Crocs by 57
Cairns Saints vs South Cairns Cutters at Griffiths Park
A PERCENTAGE of 74.54 per cent suggests that it is not all doom and gloom for the new look Saints in 2024, who are 1-3.
They have had two weeks to prepare for the visit of the comp’s best team with one of the best coaches going around in Wes Glass being appointed the NQ coach again for 2024.
That will give everyone at Saints confidence, and rightly so, that they will click in season 2024 and be at the pointy end once again. Expect to see a well-thought out and executed game plan on Saturday.
The Cutters are the form team after five rounds. Unbeaten so far, they have established themselves well and truly as premiership frontrunners, even more impressive after missing finals the last couple of years.
Two of their four wins included thrillers against Norths and Port, where they held their nerve to win in different ways.
They score goals in clusters and will now have the belief that they can win from any position. There is still a long way to go, but is there an unbeaten season on the cards?
For this week, they have shown before how spritely and ferocious they are after a bye, so expect more of the same.
Prediction: Souths by 34
