Return to the top gets under way at Tully as Tigers view long haul

IT is the record that could bring the most rusted-on Tigers supporter to tears, but there is a fresh feeling of optimism at Tully as the Cairns District Rugby League season kicks off.

Since making the 2018 grand final, when they fell to MossmanPort Douglas, Tully’s record looks like this: 36 games, 35 losses, one draw, and no wins.

The zero is clearly what stings most, but change is in the air.

The appointment of former Northern Pride gun and Italy international Colin Wilkie as both football operations manager and a s a returning player for 2022 has breathed fresh life into Tully.

The “toothless Tigers” of the past few years will instead be replaced by a team which will grow more formidable as the season goes on.

Paul Ketchell endured every loss of the 2021 season but was reappointed coach as the club believes he can work his magic – provided the team shows up.

That promise may well pay off, but both men warned it may not be evident when they meet heavyweights Brothers at Stan Williams Park on Saturday.

“We’ve really drilled into the guys that you don’t win the competition in Round 1,” Ketchell said.

“The last few years were pretty bad but we’ll get a lot better as the year goes on.”

Wilkie’s connections, and more of a focus on recruiting has delivered some top talent to Tully in the form of halfback Manuel Marshall and Lonnie Papani.

The New Zealanders have such promise Wilkie conceded he’d be surprised if they weren’t scooped up by higher level teams before the end of the year, but for now, they will lead a rejuvenated Tully into battle.

Wilkie, who is a few weeks out from a playing return himself, said the Tigers would be short on depth at the start of the campaign, but there’s belief they will cause a ruckus in the second half of the year.

“We have at least 20, good Agrade standard players, which is double last year,” he said.

“Depth will be the issue, but from 1 to 13, we look good. We have a few to come back too.”

The 2018 Tigers will form part of this unit’s blueprint for success, as will reigning premiers, Yarrabah.

Tully struggled in the first half of the 2018 season but found a way win through the second half of the campaign and reached the decider. Last year, Yarrabah scraped into the finals then won the title from fifth.

“Look, we won’t start by going 100mph,” Wilkie said.

“The ship was going the wrong way for the last few years; we’re now pointing the right direction.

“A few of the boys from 2018 will be there this year, and that experience will help us.”