Atherton look to fix ‘wobbles’

with Chey Bird ATHERTON have stumbled in recent weeks, succumbing to back-to-back losses for the first time this season, and in doing so have relinquished their grip on the minor premiership.

The Roosters boasted a strong run of nine straight wins to surge to the competition lead. But the recent losses may have been a blessing in disguise, helping realign the playing group’s focus as they dispatched finals hopefuls Kangaroos.

The general lack of players each week in the Colts competition is of great concern to all. Widely recognised as providing the players of tomorrow’s open age competitions, the trend of only one or even zero matches played on a given weekend due to forfeits is hurting clubs.

Only a concerted effort from all clubs in both the junior and senior leagues, and a “game-first” attitude will help to begin strengthening the numbers.

Many in junior league are eager to absorb under-18s into their competition, while the seniors seem keen to re-establish their Colts as the magical under-18.

Mossman-Port Douglas have surprised many with their performances this year.

Despite getting their season off to reasonable starts in recent years, they have tended to fade toward finals. Yet this season they have appeared to get stronger with each passing game and a finals appearance for the first time in many seasons beckons.

Long known as freewheeling with the ball in hand, it has been the side’s willingness to grind out wins that has impressed many.

With seasoned campaigners such as Robbie Amber, Noel Underwood and Matty Bon joining their electric outside backs, they have many teams peering over their shoulder.

Speaking of electric outside backs, the Sharks diminutive flyer Stanley Anau has been exceptional this season in amassing a staggering 31 tries from just 13 appearances.

He seems to share brother Kalani’s ability to create time and space.