Following their 6-4 defeat in Sydney, the NSW Blues will travel to the home of State of Origin, Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, to try and keep the 2016 series alive.

Sam O’Brien

Waiting for them on the hallowed turf of Lang Park will be Origin’s greatest ever team, a Queensland Maroons side gunning for their 10^th series win from 11 attempts.

Both sides have once again had a rough build up, with both sides making changes to the teams that took the field on the first Wednesday night of June.

A Queensland win this Wednesday night will seal another trophy for a side that seems to re-write the record books every time they take the field, whilst a Blues night in Brisbane will send the game to a chilly Sydney decider in early July.

What Game 1 taught us…

Game one of the 2016 State of Origin series was a dour affair, defined by its toughness, with neither side willing to risk letting their opposition into the game. The game did not really live up to expectations- bearing little resemblance to the teams last clash, a 52-6 rout by Queensland in game 3 2015.

Queensland opened the scoring early in the opening clash in Sydney, with a Johnathan Thurston penalty goal in the 16^th minute, handing the Maroons an early lead. However, it would be the boys in blue who would cross the try line first, with Boyd Cordner busting through Queensland’s goal line defence off a contentious James Maloney pass in the 25^th Minute.

The Maroons wouldn’t be made to chase for long however, wrestling back the lead in the 37^th minute as Dane Gagai finished a smooth backline movement to score the eventual match winner.

What followed halftime was an incredible contest, which was defined by neither side giving an inch, with a number of chances snuffed out by impressive defensive efforts. The Blue’s went closest to troubling the scorers in the second half, with only the Bunker denying Josh Morris a try which would have handed NSW the victory. The review officials deemed Morris grounded the ball short of the all-important white paint.

Overall the 6-4 scoreline was a fair representation of the contest in which the statisticians could hardly split the two teams. For Queensland, Darius Boyd was a stand out, handing in a man of the match performance in his debut in the Maroon Number 1 jersey. Dane Gagai, Corey Parker, Cameron Smith and Justin O’Niell (debut) all contributed significantly to the Queensland cause, whilst the performance of second rower Boyd Cordner was a definite highlight for the Blues.

The burning question from game 1 is whether NSW can go up a gear. Queensland looked flat, and far from their best in the opener, yet they still found a way to win. If Queensland can play at their best in game 2, its tough to see the Blues keeping pace.

The Line Ups…

Queensland:

1. Darius Boyd, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Greg Inglis, 4. Justin O’Neill, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Josh McGuire, 11. Matt Gillett, 12. Sam Thaiday, 13. Corey Parker

Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Jacob Lillyman, 16. Aidan Guerra, 17. Josh Papalii, 18th man. Ethan Lowe

New South Wales:

1. Matt Moylan, 2. Blake Ferguson, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Josh Mansour, 6. James Maloney, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. James Tamou, 11. Greg Bird, 12. Josh Jackson, 13. Paul Gallen

Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Tyson Frizell, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Andrew Fifita

Both sides see changes from game 1 with injury and suspension creating discussion for selectors.

For Queensland, enforcer Nate Myles has been ruled out with a knee injury- his spot in the lineup taken by game one super sub Josh Maguire. Jacob Lillyman comes in as the new man on the bench, despite being dropped for game one. Queensland Selectors will not be too phased by these changes, with many people calling for this line up prior to game one. Myles, despite always lifting when in a maroon jumper, has struggled for form this year in a troubled Manly side, whilst Jacob Lillyman was one of Queensland’s best in his last Origin appearance.

For New South Wales, things have been slightly more troubling. Game one standout Boyd Cordner has been ruled out with a foot injury, which left the Blues searching for a second rower. Names such as rookie Bryce Cartwright and experienced hand Ryan Hoffman were tossed up, before the eventual selection of Cronulla Mr Fix-it Wade Graham. Graham’s Origin dream was short-lived however, with the judiciary rubbing him out of game 2 with a grade one careless high tackle charge. As a result, Greg Bird has moved from the bench to start the match, with Dragons enforcer Tyson Frizell named on the bench to make his Origin debut.

Most at Stake…

Whilst it goes without saying that the Blues have a massive point to prove in saving the series in Brisbane, the game will hold extra importance to a number of players looking to cement their spot as Origin standard players.

Laurie Daley has stuck with a loyal approach to the selection of his side, meaning a number of players who handed in sub-par performances in game one will be provided with the opportunity to redeem themselves.

In the lead up to game one of the series, most of the selection discussion centered around NSW’s spine, with the fullback and halfback positions most debated. In the number 1 jersey it was Matt Moylan who was given the nod, following an injury to front-runner James Tedesco. With Tedesco fit, and Moylan turning in a nervous game one performance, the Penrith flyer can consider himself lucky to have retained his spot in Daley’s lineup. A sub par game 2 performance may not see Moylan as lucky for game 3.

In game 1 Adam Reynolds became the latest half to pull on the Blue number 7 jersey, made famous by names such as Kenny, Sterling and Johns. A left field choice at halfback, given his at times questionable defense and weak running game, Reynolds was solid without being brilliant in game 1. However, NSW traditionally doesn’t hold too much patience when it comes to their halves, and so Reynolds’ Origin future may hinge on his ability to manufacture a Blues win in game 2.

On the Maroon side, Sam Thaiday is approaching the twilight of his Origin career, with his major contributions to game 1 coming in the form of a post match interview. At 31 years of age, Thaiday can ill afford another mediocre performance, with Cowboys fringe forwards Gavin Cooper (18^th man for Game One) and Ethan Lowe (18^th man for Game 2) bashing down the door, looking for their opportunity. Their time may come if Thaiday fails to step up in Game 2.

Where it will be won…

Despite the tough, defensive nature of Game One, Game Two looks set to be a more free flowing contest, with Suncorp Stadium likely to provide a much quicker surface allowing for better ball movement. Whilst Game One turned out to be a battle of the forwards, game 2 looks set to be decided in the halves, with kicking games and attacking cohesion likely to be the major factors in this contest.

Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston were below their best in game 1, and another off performance may open the door enough for the Blues to swoop in to take advantage. Adam Reynolds and James Maloney are known for their strong kicking games, and this aspect of their game will be crucial if NSW wish to send the series to a decider in Sydney.

How the bookies see it…

Sportsbet

Queensland, $1.58

New South Wales, $2.45

William Hill

Queensland, $1.55

New South Wales, $2.45

Centrebet

Queensland, $1.55

New South Wales, $2.45

Odds Current as of 17 June 2016. Remember, if you are going to have a punt on the game, please gamble responsibly.

The Verdict…

Despite a relatively close game 1, it is tough to see a similar result on the cards for game 2. Last time these teams met at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland were brutal in dismantling the NSW defence on their way to a 46-point victory. Whilst Wednesday’s game may not turn out a result of that magnitude, NSW will need to significantly improve on their performance to be able to effectively challenge the Maroons at home. The loss of Boyd Cordner also looks certain to trouble the Blues, whilst the Maroon’s changes make them look an even stronger outfit.

If the Maroons show up to play, they will win. If New South Wales don’t show up to play, it could be a repeat of Game Three, 2015. With all that said, Maroons by 12.

The Townsville City Council (TCC) is preparing to play host to a convoy of Australian talent at this year’s V8 Supercars races.

Andrew Sands

With Aussie rockers ICEHOUSE and Choirboys lighting up the stage at this year’s Castrol Edge Townsville 400, preparations are well underway to showcase Townsville’s biggest sporting event from July 8 – 10.

ICEHOUSE has sold over three million albums locally and nine million worldwide and is returning to North Queensland after more than twenty years.

The Choirboys will “Run to Paradise” to perform some of their greatest hits from their multi-platinum albums at Reid Park.

With so much happening and a huge number of expected visitors to the city, the council has focused its attention on the aesthetics of the venue and it’s surrounds with a ‘by-whatever-costs-necessary’ attitude to get the job done.

Simon Nash, a Maintenance Engineer with the TCC, says there is no set budget allocated to the event.

“It’s one of those situations where we fund it to what’s required every year,” he said.

“It’s obviously the highest priority to make sure it’s in good condition and that people can enjoy it.”

Preparations this year include a great deal of vegetation management to improve the visual appearance of the track, line marking, the removal of burnt rubber off the track surface, changes to signage and “significant” track repairs.

Concrete infills behind turns 5 – 8 are also being laid to accommodate the corner-cutting ways of the new Stadium Super Trucks set to make their debut on the Townsville track this year.

Last year, 152, 873 race fans were recorded making their way through the track over the weekend.

The event is estimated to generate more than 20 million dollars for the city over the weekend, a staggering amount that will positively contribute to the local economy.

“It’s more about bringing the money into the community more than anything,” Mr. Nash said.

The greatest of all time has departed.

Mitchell Carman

Muhammad Ali passed away earlier this month and left arguably the greatest sporting legacy we have witnessed.

‘The greatest’ as he was fittingly known, finished his professional boxing career with 56 wins from his 61 fights.

Ali, who was born Cassius Clay, changed his name to Muhammad Ali after the Prophet.

His star is the only one placed on the wall of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as opposed to the ground, because he did not want people walking over the Prophet.

“I bear the name of our beloved Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), and it is impossible that I allow people to trample over his name,” he proclaimed.

His boxing career did however have its controversy.

In 1966 Ali made headlines by refusing to be conscripted into the United States military and was subsequently arrested and stripped of his boxing titles.

He eventually overturned his conviction after a successful appeal in the Supreme Court, but had lost four years of boxing at a time when he was at the peak of his powers.

Ali will be remembered in the sporting community for his iconic ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ bout against George Foreman and the trio of fights against Joe Frazier, including the famous ‘Thrilla in Manila’.

But it was his unparalleled charisma and dedicated civil rights work which made him so popular amongst the general public.

Ali was renowned for his trash talk and regular taunting of opponents, both before a match and often during the match itself.

He didn’t mock nobodies either, but baited the best heavyweights in his era – the Golden Age of Heavyweight Boxing- including Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Floyd Patterson.

There has never been a more quoted sports figure then Ali.

He used rhyming poetry and clever tirades of trash talk to create well-known, ingenious and witty remarks, and some of the most iconic quotes in sporting history.

Perhaps his most famous came when he produced “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee; his hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see” before fighting George Foreman in 1974.

Unfortunately, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1984, which doctors deemed a result of boxing related injuries.

As his condition worsened Ali avoided the public eye and was cared for by his family until his death.

Ali was known as an inspiring and polarizing figure both in and out of the boxing ring, but few can argue that he was one of the greatest athletes and sporting figures in the 20^th century.

Rest in Peace Muhammad Ali, keep on floating.

In light of Leicester City winning the 2015/2016 English Premier League (EPL), JCNN Sport Writer Mitchell Carman has taken a look back into the archives at some of sport’s greatest upsets.

#1. Leicester winning EPL

This is without a doubt the greatest sporting upset ever. What makes this so remarkable, apart from the 5000-1 odds at the start of the season, is the fact that it was not a one-off game. An EPL season spans across 38 games and for a team like Leicester to defeat all the big guns of English football and stand alone at the top of the table after 38 games is remarkable. Also adding to the amazing story is the fact that Leicester were almost relegated last year. You will not see a bigger upset in your lifetime.

#2. Prince of Penzance wins 2015 Melbourne Cup

Prince of Penzance was always a handy horse but few pundits had him finishing in the top 10 in last year’s Melbourne Cup. However, he not only won but did so with relative ease- beating home the well fancied international runner Max Dynamite by half a length. With the win Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to win the most famous horse race in the world. Prince of Penzance had its first run back in Adelaide on the 21^st May and was ultra-impressive over the unsuitable distance of 1600 metres, suggesting that he will mount a sizeable challenge in anything he contests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RzTX9xnNDk

#3. Steven Bradbury winning gold medal at 2002 Winter Olympics

This probably belongs more to the greatest sporting flukes, but as it is part of Australian sporting folklore it must be mentioned. What people forget was that Bradbury had more than one stroke of luck. After winning his heat, he finished third in his quarter final which would have eliminated him if it wasn’t for one of the runners who finished in front of him to be disqualified, allowing Bradbury to advance. He then sat last in his semi-final but a three-way crash between medal favourites allowed him to finish second and advance to the final. Remarkably, in the final Bradbury was again way off the pace and destined to finish last when on the final lap his four competitors all crashed, allowing him to steal perhaps the luckiest gold medal of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAADWfJO2qM

#4. USAs ‘Miracle on Ice’

The USA had no business being in the rink with the USSR when they squared off in the 1980 ice hockey semi-final at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. The college amateurs were given no chance against a Soviet Union team that had dominated the sport for years. Yet, the USA upset the sports powerhouses and went on to win gold in what would become known as the ‘Miracle on Ice’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYscemhnf88

#5. Buster Douglas defeats Mike Tyson

Fighting just weeks after his mother had died, James “Buster” Douglas was expected to become Tyson’s 11^th straight victim. Buster was given zero chance of stopping the undisputed champion of the world but did what many considered impossible and defeated Tyson in the 10^th round. In doing so he sent Tyson to the canvas for the first time in his career with a flurry of punches. Subsequently, Tyson was counted out and lost the match- one of only 6 losses in his professional career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r98snTvjrvA

Nine local businesses have come together in a bright display to project their support for the proposed Integrated Stadium and Entertainment Centre in the Townsville CBD.

Samuel Shaw

Stadium Projection: Darryl Byrne, Tam Hill and Dom Newport

Last week nine shipping containers were stacked in formation to create a massive surface to project concept images and local support onto.

The 36m wide by 9m tall projector screen was placed on the now council-owned land that the proposed stadium will sit on, off Saunders Street.

The project, created and run by manager of North Queensland Audio Visual Darryl Byrne, was estimated to have cost around $50,000 in resources and time donated by eager businesses with a vision of urban renewal for Townsville city.

“We have some amazing technology available to us that can project an image that will enable people to get an actual feel of what the stadium will actually be,” he said.

Darryl approached local businesses to get on board with the project in hopes that a future stadium in the heart of the CBD would boost the local economy.

“Every business that I have ever spoken to about the project has been nothing but supportive, no one turned us down at all, local businesses are really loving the thought of having a stadium,” he said.

“The flow on effects of having a stadium built here in the city is huge, being able to go for a drink or a meal before a game, wander down to and check out a concert or a Wallabies game and then go out after for a drink.”

“It’s the right location for the stadium,” he said.

Byrnes shut down local criticism that the businesses had something to gain from the construction of the potential stadium.

“For everyone to get involved and get behind it was amazing- no one is benefiting from this except Townsville,” he said.

Project projectionist Tam Hill from Club Sandwich, based in Byron Bay, leaped at the opportunity to be involved in the massive project.

“Not often do we get the chance to help out a bit more than creating pretty pictures, so when Darryl gave me a call we definitely jumped on board to make it happen, and it sounds to me that the stadium is pretty important to the town, so its great to be involved,” he said.

“Darryl had the idea about three weeks ago but it’s all come together in the past four days, I’ve probably never done a job this quick but its all come together.”

The nine businesses involved in the project were:
NQAV
NORTRANS (Northern Transport)
Tropical Containers
Townsville Cranes
Blue Kino
NQUAV
Coates Hire
Delta Office
Zip Zip Electrical

“The fact that no one has turned me down for assistance in the local community is a great indication that people in Townsville want this,” Darryl said.

“This is not just a stadium for Townsville, this is a stadium for North Queensland.”

The project can be seen here.

To learn more about the proposed Stadium, or to pledge your support, click here.

Stadium projection- Dom Newport, Tam Hill and Darryl Byrne

Castle Hill is set to be the destination of choice for a weeklong Mountain Bike Festival to be held in 2017 and 2018.

Samuel Shaw

The weeklong festivity is tipped to inject more than $700,000 into the local economy over the two years, after a successful bid by the Townsville North Queensland Bid Fund.

Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) Chief Executive Officer Shane Coppin complimented Townsville on the diversity of the region’s landscape and visitor experiences available.

“Having Castle Hill right in the centre of the city provides an event opportunity that could be something very special, and even iconic in the sport of mountain biking,” he said.

“This event is not just about the racing – this festival is based around a destination, and maximising the region’s natural beauty and landscape to provide mountain bikers and their families and supporters with a unique mountain biking experience and holiday.”

With events such as the Adventure-thon and many of Townsville’s running based festivals the city is fast gaining a name for itself, and has the opportunity to become one of the best mountain biking destinations in the country.

Mayor Jenny Hill said Townsville hosting the national event reinforces the city’s reputation as the events capital of North Queensland, after the Bid Fund effectively won the bid for the 2017 BMX State Championships earlier this week.

“It’s proof that the collaborative efforts of city leaders and the tourism and events industry through the Bid Fund is working, and I look forward to more events being announced in the future,” she said.

“Townsville City Council has also committed $50,000 to support Mountain Bike Track development in Townsville as part of this event initiative so this project is a win-win situation for visitors and locals alike.”

Townsville Enterprise Chair Kevin Gill said the event was likely to attract 300 competitors to the region, giving Townsville an excellent opportunity to be marketed across the country.

“To have the launch event staged on Castle Hill will see images of our destination showcased across social media and in magazines across the country,” he said.

“This is a great opportunity to put the region on show for the hundreds of visitors in the region who will tell their family and friends about their experience and potentially attract additional visitation.”

The festival will be held in April/ May 2017 and 2018 and will include a wide range of events including a Downhill race on Castle Hill, the XCM National Championships and a staged race to cater for mountain bikers of all levels.

Photo from Townsville Enterprise

Semi Final week of the Fisher Shield brought upsets as Uni Hall and John Flynn knocked off the undefeated Saints and St Marks respectively to set up an intriguing grand final clash. 

Mitchell Carman

John Flynn entered their semi-final match against St Marks as massive underdogs but came through with a 19-12 win courtesy of a late penalty try.

The match was a scrappy affair with a yellow card early in the game followed by a second-half penalty try sealing St Mark’s fate.

John Flynn captain James Moroney was very happy with his side’s performance and put the win down to their discipline.

“We knew St Marks would be well structured and therefore knew we had to be very structured ourselves and give away as few penalties as possible,” he said.

“We knew if we were going to win, it would be through the forwards as their forward pack was smaller than ours and thankfully that plan worked.”

It has been a long time since John Flynn have had a season as successful as this which Moroney puts down to a number of factors.

“It is really a combination of things, firstly the majority of our strong players who played last year are still here this year,” he said.

“We were also lucky enough to have six or seven freshers who have played a heap of competitive rugby union before, which has probably been our biggest problem in previous years.

“We also have much more self-belief this year which is something we have lacked in previous years and that is definitely what got us over the line against St Marks.”

Moroney is predicting a tough final against the much bigger Uni Hall and suggests the backs will be the key to their chances of winning.

“Last time we played them they beat us 5-0 so it can go either way. Uni Hall also has a much bigger and more competitive forward pack, so we will probably have to try and use our outside backs more than last game.

Uni Hall’s win probably came as less of a shock to the rest of the competition as they atoned for their round defeat against Saints by winning their semi-final 7-5.

Captain of Uni Hall, Josh Fletcher, said the round losses were not an issue for his side as they adjusted to new personal in key positions.

“We lost two round games which was never an issue with us. We have introduced a lot of new players into pivotal positions and knew that the new combinations would need time to click,” he said.

“To be honest we only took confidence out of our losses against the top teams, knowing that our performances were very underwhelming by the standards we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season.

Uni Hall will go into the game as undisputed favourites and Fletcher has warned they are not taking the game lightly, trusting their forward pack can get them over the line.

“I think that the boys know that this year Flynn are uncharacteristically structured and disciplined so we will prepare accordingly. They have showed essence of good patients that could trouble our ill-discipline,” he said.

“I think that the physicality in the Uni Hall forward pack will take its toll on the smaller Flynn pack, laying the platform for our dangerous outside backs such as Matt Crear and Daniel Chorley who have plenty of points in them.

Both teams head into the game with a few injury scares but are hoping to field full strength sides for Tomorrow (Wednesday) night’s grand final to be held at the Joe Baker Field.

Kick off will be at 7:30pm with the women’s grand final to start at 6.30 between Saints and St Marks.

The Townsville Blackhawks beat local rivals Northern Pride 26-13 in an exciting Anzac Round clash at Jack Manski Oval on Sunday.

Amy Crawford

Photo credit: Blackhawks Media.

The leaders of the Intrust Super Cup kept their opposition scoreless in the second half, after trailing the Cairns based Pride 13-8 at half time.

The Queensland Rugby League’s Anzac Round enables players and fans to acknowledge and thank defence servicemen and women ahead of Anzac Day.

Glenn Hall, co-captain of the Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks, spoke of the privilege of playing in the special round.

“We respect the importance of Anzac Day and understand the relevance to our national history and identity,” he said.

“This week’s round allows the players to show their respects and recognition of the people who defended our country and also those who continue to do so.”

“The boys are excited to play this weekend, being a part of Garrison city makes you feel a little closer to the day, and it’s another opportunity for us to play a sport we all love and improve as a team.”

Jared Allen and Jack Svendsen each picked up a try for the Northern Pride, with Khan Ahwang converting both and Brayden Torpy nailing a field goal just before half time.

Jonathon Reuben, Kyle Laybutt and Nathan Norford scored for the Blackhawks, with new recruit Brendan Santi also crossing the white stripe for his first try for the home side.

Laybutt was successful with three conversions.

The Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks win concluded a successful day for the club, with victories also awarded to their under 16 Cyril Connell Cup team and under 18 Mal Meninga Cup team.

The Cyril Connell side opened the entertaining day of footy, winning their Quarter Final match up against the Victorian Rugby League 30­14.

The Blackhawks Mal Meninga Cup squad followed suit, also playing the Victorian Rugby League in their Quarter Final, coming away victorious after thumping the visitors 48­6.

The Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks concluded the day with their win in front of a packed crowd, following a moving Anzac Day ceremony.

After the completion of Round 8 the Townsville Blackhawks sit clear on top of the Intrust Super Cup ladder.

Highlights from the game can be seen here.

The premier Fisher Shield sporting event is underway and each college is vying for rugby supremacy with a winner to be decided later in the semester.

Mitchell Carman

Photo credit: Patch Clapp

St Marks and Saints have jumped out of the gates early- winning both of their round one and two games.

The anticipated grand final rematch between St Marks and George Roberts has been a highlight of the tournament; with St Marks winning convincingly 24-0.

JCNN’s chief sportswriter Mitchell Carman caught up with some of the team captains and shares his thoughts on the chances of each team.

John Flynn:

John Flynn could be the dark horses of the competition this year. They have improved drastically over the last couple of years and look ready to mount a finals challenge this year. They did suffer a setback when they were beaten in a close encounter (11-5) by Saints in their opening round but were able to bounce back with a win over George Roberts. A finals birth could be imminent this year.

“The Flynn team is definitely looking good this year; we have a number of competitive freshers who are keen to get involved which has added a spark to the team. We’ve lost a few key players but thankfully we have been able to replace them with new members. On the park, we had a tough game against Saints in the first week which we unfortunately lost, however, there were plenty of positives to take away from the game- although we still have room for improvement.” – James Moroney (John Flynn captain)

St Marks:

The red men have won three of the last six rugby competitions but will be looking to rid themselves of the bridesmaid tag after finishing runner-up for the last two years. The team has lost a few key forwards, including six-year veteran Corey Niehsner who won three titles with St Marks (2010, 2012, and 2013) but has also managed to hold onto a considerable amount of experienced players. They were convincing in their 24-0 win over George Roberts in round one and faced little resistance when defeating RAW by 70 points. If vital players such as Sam Smith, Drew Harrison, and Max Shearwood can remain healthy they will be one of the major contenders again for this year’s title.

“Obviously, the turnover of players year to year is one of the things that make the Fisher Shield competition so unique, having said that there are still certain goals we always set ourselves as a team and we expect to achieve them. We still haven’t put together a complete game but there are some encouraging signs there and things we’ll look to improve on heading towards the pointy end of the round games and hopefully through the finals series.” – Sam Smith (St Marks Captain)

Uni Hall:

Uni Hall had a disappointing season last year by their own standards but look to have bounced right back this season. Like St Marks, they have held onto some very experienced key players in Josh Fletcher and David Eaton. As expected, they were dominant in their first round clash with RAW, however, were surprisingly beaten by Saints in a hard-fought round two game. Alongside St Marks, they look to be in with a huge chance of taking out another rugby title.

“We definitely have ambitions of winning the competition. The team is still disappointed with the result last year and have been working hard to give ourselves every chance at another premiership. Keeping our boys fit is our biggest concern at the moment. We suffered a torn AC joint and a broken collar bone in the first round which doesn’t help, but we have plenty of depth and I’m confident with our replacements.” – Josh Fletcher (Uni Hall Captain)

Saints:

It has been a while since Saints have featured in a grand final and they will be looking to change that this year. They defeated John Flynn in their first game of the year but would have been far more pleased with their second round victory over Uni Hall. Although it would still be a surprise to see them take out the title this year, Saints have started off in the best way possible- so they cannot be dismissed.

George Roberts:

The boys in black and yellow took everyone by surprise last year when they won their first ever rugby title. However, they have started off this year a little slowly and were beaten convincingly in the grand final rematch. They also lost their second round match-up 15-0 against John Flynn, suggesting it might be a rebuilding year for them. George Roberts have a completely new look team this year and most would be surprised if they were to make another grand final this year.

Rotary and Western (RAW):

RAW struggle notably on the rugby field and that doesn’t look like it will be changing this year. The first two games of the season were ones to forget: a 59-point thrashing from Uni Hall and 70-point thumping from St Marks. Although they have run into two of the better- if not best- sides in the competition, they have to turn things around very quickly if they are going to win a game this year.

The WNBL Season has come to a history making end, with the JCU Townsville Fire defeating the Perth Lynx 2-0 in their best of 3 Grand Final series in March. 

Jayde Baguley

The Fire victory, which followed on from them claiming the minor premiership in the 2015/16 season, was the club’s second straight premiership-.

This makes the Townsville Fire the first national sporting team in northern Australia to win back to back titles.

The achievement was, however, soured slightly by the lack of teelvision coverage provided to the League across the 2015/16 seasons.

This forced fans to view the achievement from online streams through YouTube.

The WNBL competition, along with the W-League Soccer, fell victim to a late 2014 decision by ABC,  to reduce their coverage of women’s sport.

Two-time Premiership winner with the Townsville Fire Cayla George, said that it was “disappointing” that the WNBL has no television deal.

“I hope that it [television coverage] is fixed ASAP [as soon as possible], because the quality of basketball being played right now is unreal and it was coming into Olympics year,” Cayla told JCNN.

“It was very disappointing to not have anyone on board.

“Women’s sport is just as important, and we work just as hard, if not harder,” Cayla said.

General Manager for the Townsville Fire, Richard Goodbody, said that while the loss of television coverage has not impacted revenue into the Townsville Fire directly, the same cannot be said for other WNBL clubs around the country.

“We are an outlier here in Townsville, in that we have such great support from local media… and our commercial partners do such an extraordinary job promoting the Fire,” he said.

Richard told JCNN that despite having minimal impact on the Fire, there needs to be national coverage for the WNBL to grow.

“You want to be on free-to-air television, you want to be able to grow and expand.

“We want our athletes to be full-time professionals and that is by having a really strong and structured television program that will allow the evolution of the league to the next step,” Richard said.

Gender inequality in sports has become a hot topic again after tennis great Novak Djokovic recently made comments about the pay difference between men and women players, sparking outrage from his female counterparts, such as Serena Williams.

Alice Blackwell, vice-captain for the Australian cricket team, also told the ABC that the Women’s Big Bash has a greater viewership than the men’s A-League football in a claim that was verified by the ABC’s fact check.

Although there is a push for more coverage of women’s sport in Australia, the coverage drought for the WNBL shows no signs of ceasing, with no interest being shown by broadcasters in the near future.