Bulls to kick off season at home
BARRON Trinity’s pursuit of a fourth-straight FNQ Rugby premiership will start in front of the club’s adoring fans.
The Cairns Post can reveal the three-time premiershipwinning Bulls will kick-off its campaign at home as part of an A-grade double header.
Cairns Brothers will face Northern Beaches Mudcrabs in the first game at Machans Beach, before the Bulls take on the might of Port Douglas in the main game.
Port Douglas will be determined to start its season with a crushing win against the defending premiers on its way to a hopeful title.
While the Cairns District Rugby League, AFL Cairns Seniors and FNQ Football First Division titles all returned to Port Douglas, the Reef Raiders missed out on collecting a complete set for the region.
Beaten grand finalists James Cook University will kick off its season at home against Penrhryn Sharks, while the Southside Crusaders will have the opening round bye.
The Bulls turned in a strong performance during a physical trial game win against Cairns Brothers on Saturday, winning 12-5 as the reigning premiers blew out the cobwebs.
Coached by FNQ Thunder coach Wayne Meredith, the Bulls are in hot pursuit of the historic Brothers team which won five straight titles from 2000 to 2004.
The competition will kick off on April 6, with the seventeam A-grade season played over 14 rounds. The top four will progress to the semi finals, which start on July 20.
The reserve grade competition will consist of just four teams, all of whom will reach finals the same weekend.
sport@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost