Local’s NRL debut
COOKTOWN product and former Northern Pride prop Darryn Schonig made his NRL debut in Melbourne Storm’s 20-14 win against Canberra on Saturday night. Schonig, who came off the bench in the No.18 jersey, made seven tackles and ran for 27m in 14 minutes of work.
Earlier, Cairns junior Nene Macdonald scored his first try since returning to the NRL. The Papua New Guinea international lined up for the Sharks for the first time since signing for the club in June, but despite the four-pointer, couldn’t stop the Panthers from rolling to a 56-24 win.
Comp down to three
THE Cairns District Rugby League’s Lightning Challenge will be contested by just three clubs after Townsville club Norths decided to play in the Mackay senior competition.
Norths had expressed some interest in travelling north to play after Townsville District Rugby League cancelled its season.
But the Devils have opted to head south, joining Townsville Brothers in the Mackay District Rugby League for just one season.
The CDRL competition will involve Cairns Brothers, Tully Tigers and the Northern Pride, who are set to field two teams.
Speedway returns
CAIRNS Speedway has revealed its calendar for the upcoming season, with racing to restart as soon as next month.
Burnouts events on July 18 and 25 will mark the return of the action, with Go Karts scheduled for August 8.
The club’s first speedway meeting since coronavirus restrictions eased will be on August 22, and will feature Formula 400 and 500s, sprint cars, super street sedans, as well as a number of other support classes.
Mareeba Speedway is set to return on August 8.
Revised hockey dates
AUSTRALIA’S national hockey teams are scheduled to resume their FIH Pro League 2020 campaigns in April next year after the International Hockey Federation announced the revised fixture for the postponed global competition.
The Hockeyroos, who are fourth on the ladder, will take on USA away in their first games back on April 3-4. This will be followed by the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras featuring in double headers against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand on the Anzac Day weekend in Perth.