Sport
20 September, 2024
Tigers in both finals
AT the start of the 2022 season, North Cairns were on a winless streak that would eventually last more than four years and were coming off a season in which they scored 12 points for every 100 conceded.
South Cairns Cutters play North Cairns Tigers – men’s seniors
The nadir of their 2021 season was a 295 point loss against the Cutters in a performance so comprehensive, 16 goal hero Joshua Barnett only received the Cutters’ sixth best player award.
Fast forward a little over three years, and these teams will face off in the grand final a mere two weeks after a thrilling two point Cutters victory in the first preliminary final.
While a great story if Norths win, there will be no sentiments or well-wishes from the Cutters. They, themselves, are hunting their first premiership since 2003 and are looking to end a run of six straight losses in grand finals since 2003.
They have been far and away the best team all year, losing a solitary game in which they kicked 6.14, but can the Tigers go three points better than the prelim?
Either way, the punters will be looking forward to the conclusion of this thrilling tetralogy.
Prediction: Tigers by 1 point.
Cairns City Lions play North Cairns Tigers – women’s seniors
IN another repeat of the first week of the finals, Cairns City Lions will be looking to avenge their preliminary final loss against the North Cairns Tigers.
While this has been the odds on grand final for most of the year, Norths’ win two weeks ago has added a layer of intrigue for it was their first win over the Lions in season 2024.
History is on the line for both teams. This is the first grand final that does not involve one of the Hawks or Saints since at least 2013.
The Tigers are looking to win in their first trip back to the finals since being losing grand finalists in 2020, while the Lions are looking to finally capitalise on their fifth straight finals appearance, including their second grand final in three years, to win an elusive first premiership.
Both teams love to run and gun, so punters can once again expect the exhilerating back and forth battle that has become synonymous with this fixture in season 2024.
Prediction: Lions by 5.
