Cannon determined to aim higher in 2020
CDRL BROTHERS Cairns hooker Quinlyn Cannon says he’s determined to take his game to even loftier heights following a breakthrough year in 2019.
The young star capped off a stellar individual season by taking out the Gold Medal for the best and fairest A-grade player at the Cairns District Rugby League’s Gold Medal Dinner at Brothers Leagues Club last Friday night.
A modest Cannon, who picked up 23 points in just 10 regular season games for the Brethren, said he had to pinch himself when his name was called out.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I had any chance of winning,” he said.
“I wasn’t even going to go but then I thought I better just in case — then I ended up winning it.
“It’s a pretty good feeling. I’m obviously overwhelmed and still in shock to get it with only 10 games under my belt.”
Despite playing just 10 of a possible 18 games, Cannon secured the top gong with a string of three-point outings in the first half of the season before making his Queensland Cup debut with the Northern Pride in July.
He would go on to play a total of seven games for the Pride — five off the bench and two as the starting hooker.
He said it had helped contribute to “a huge improvement” in his game.
“The ultimate goal this year was just to play at least one game of Queensland Cup with the Pride,” he said.
“To play more than one and then to get the Gold Medal at the end of the year, I’ve definitely achieved my goals for the year and more.
“I’ve been listening to the more experienced players and taking on board what they have to say. It will help me in my game, whether it’s in attack or defence.
“That’s the main thing I’ve been doing this year, just learning through the experience.”
Cannon’s rugby league Gold Medal (A Grade best and fairest): Quinlyn Cannon (Brothers) Lionel Williamson Medal (Reserve Grade): Terence Massey (Southern Suburbs) Moore Family Award (Under 18): Keishon Hunter-Flanders (Yarrabah) Tom Tassell Memorial (Rookie of journey began at Brothers, but he soon moved to Mossman and played most of his junior footy with the Sharks.
He was part of the Northern Pride’s Cyril Connell Cup (under-16) premiership-winning side in 2014, which also the Year): Caleb Dally (Mareeba) Chairman’s Trophy (Coach of the Year): Luke Saunders (Southern Suburbs) Women’s Touch Player of the Year: Catherine Clark (Atherton) Top Try Scorer: Matthew Gibuma (Mossman-Port Douglas) Referee of the Year: Will featured North Queensland Cowboys young gun Jake Clifford.
After finishing high school in the Far North, Cannon moved to Canberra where he was part of the Raiders’ SG Ball (under-18) and Jersey Kennedy Life Membership Award: Warren Pitt Rebecca Bowie Memorial Shield: Debra Gallop Club Champions: Brothers Cairns CDJRL Silver Medal (Under 16): Saifu Savage (Cairns Brothers) EJRL Silver Medal (Under 16): Timothy Lyall (Herberton) Flegg (under-20) squads.
He moved back north to play with the Northern Pride’s Colts (under-20) side in 2018 and, following an impressive season at an under-20s level, was elevated to a Queensland Cup development player in 2019. After showing his potential in seven appearances for the Pride this year, the club moved quickly to secure Cannon’s services for the 2020 season.
Cannon said he was keen to make the Pride No.9 jersey his own next season, but wouldn’t underestimate the task.
“I’m just keen to have a good pre-season and then hopefully play a full season with the Pride, but I don’t want to speak too soon,” he said.
“We’ll just take it day by day.”
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AFL COLLINGWOOD skipper Scott Pendlebury is backing in the Magpies’ midfield collective amid the certainty that one of them will be terrorised by relentless GWS master tagger Matt de Boer in Saturday’s AFL preliminary final.
The Giants hard man was hugely influential in their leadup finals wins over Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs, shutting down Lachie Neale and Marcus Bontempelli respectively. Bulldogs star Bontempelli (right) managed just 13 disposals in his worst game for the season and Neale was held to 17 a week later.
The only real uncertainty for Collingwood is who de Boer will have in his crosshairs out of Pendlebury, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom.
But finals veteran Pendlebury is confident the Pies’ ballwinners can handle de Boer’s attention when they line up at the MCG.
“He plays a good role for their side,” Pendlebury said.
“It’s a challenge if he comes to any of us midfielders but we also know that it’s not a oneon-one battle. It’s our midfield versus theirs and our team versus theirs.
“There’ll be times where we probably can manipulate that position that he wants to get into and you might have to sacrifice your own game at times, but it would be for the betterment of the overall result.
“We’ll attack their whole midfield group and not get too caught up in the individual battles.”
The Pies will make at least two forced changes after losing Jordan De Goey (hamstring) and Levi Greenwood (ACL) in their qualifying-final loss to Geelong. De Goey trained yesterday after he returned from Germany, where he received treatment from hamstring specialist Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt.
The Magpies are hopeful De Goey might be fit to play in the grand final if they qualify.
The Giants posted a 47point victory when the sides last met in Round 18.