JUST LET US PLAY FOOTY Clubs reprimanded but players escape sanction after fiery final

THE ASHES STARTS TONIGHT Testing times for Khawaja FNQ READY TO WELCOME SKY BLUES

Full coverage and analysis at cairnspost.com.au/sport

CDRL YARRABAH’S Steven Singleton and Innisfail’s George Toby are free to play this weekend after escaping suspensions for separate incidents in Sunday’s controversially abandoned CDRL final as a key senior Seahawks official pleaded for his side to be given the chance to “just play football”.

Singleton copped a grade one dangerous contact charge while Toby was handed a grade one striking charge, but both players will be able to line up for their re

PAGE 38

spective clubs this week after taking early guilty pleas.

The two were the only players charged from the fiery Barlow Park encounter, which was called off after 57 minutes due to poor crowd and player behaviour.

Innisfail Leprechauns won the qualifying final 28-14.

Yarrabah Seahawks president Sam Bann Sr said the club had “moved on” from the controversial finals clash, turning their focus to this Sunday’s elimination final against Atherton.

“We just want to play football and we just want to be given the opportunity to play football,” Bann Sr said. CDRL secretary and operations manager Pat Bailey said both clubs would be reminded of the Code of Conduct ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.

While they’ve been cleared, Bailey said the decision-making of the match official and the decision to call the game off would be investigated further.

“We’re looking into everything now that we’ve got the player sanctions out of the way,” Bailey said.

Bann Sr said Singleton’s availability would be a huge boost to Seahawks. “He brings experience and a lot of confidence,” he said.

USMAN Khawaja ran out of chances but exceptional circumstances also played a part in his axing for the fourth Ashes Test. With just 122 runs in the first three matches of the series, the 32-year-old’s batting average in England dropped below 20, to go with an underwhelming run since the beginning of the home summer. Khawaja, who has played 44 Tests, has averaged only 27 in his past 10 matches since saving Australia with a memorable 141 in Dubai against Pakistan. In those 10 Tests, Khawaja made one century and just one other 50. www.cairnspost.com.au But the introduction of Marnus Labuschagne, who came in as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith in the second Test at Lord’s then played at Headingley when Smith was ruled out, added to Khawaja’s woes. Labuschagne made 59 in the second innings of the second Test, then scored 74 and 80 at Headingley to lock in his selection for Old Trafford. Even Khawaja’s record as an opener, with two centuries from eight innings, couldn’t save him. Fast bowler James Pattinson was also left out, making way for Mitchell Starc’s return.