High-quality footy treats Innisfail
RUGBY LEAGUE INNISFAIL favourite Ryan Ghietti has heaped praise on his hometown for creating a dynamic atmosphere for their World Cup visitors.
A crowd of about 5000 packed Callendar Park and were on their feet most of it after Tonga forward Andrew Fifita’s charging run to open the match.
Ghietti said the community deserved the high quality footy they saw in a sign the town is rugby league heartland.
“It’s always good running out in front of family and friends and that but to do it for Italy is something special,” he said.
“The first 20 minutes was definitely a fast game of football. Tonga are very good, they’re going to be a semi-final team so it’s going to be high quality footy throughout the World Cup and we got a bit of a taste of that in the first 20 and we’ll continue to do it.”
Far North players Ghietti, Colin Wilkie, Justin Castellaro and Joel Riethmuller all had solid minutes on Friday and the Pride captain hoped he helped secure a place for the clash with Ireland on Sunday.
“We’ve got a strong 24-man squad in all positions so Cameron and the coaching staff will sit down and work out what the best 17 is and hopefully I’m in there,” he said.
In the curtain-raisers, NSW won the “Italian State of Origin” over Queensland, while the PNG Orchids beat a Far North women’s invitational side.