GROGAN KEY FOR ROOSTERS

Atherton weapon plays his way into top form

ATHERTON fullback Ty Grogan has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of his team’s successful Cairns District Rugby League season, but his confidence could be the key to the Roosters’ strong start.

The Roosters are in the midst of one of their best starts for years, with Graham Clark Snr’s side far from the team which finished towards the bottom of the ladder in 2021.

These Roosters have had their premiership contenders tag tested already, and last week’s 40-4 thrashing of Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks proved they belong in that conversation.

And while they are still yet to welcome back their full squad, Grogan has come into his own. The fullback has led his team’s try- and pointscoring since the halfway mark of the 2021 season.

He stormed home in the pointscoring race, finishing third with 160 points from 15 tries and 50 goals – just six points behind leader Innisfail’s Aaron Jolley – as the Roosters finished with a flurry.

As Atherton struggled for results, Grogan was still a nuisance to rival defences, forcing his way onto the scoresheet more often than not and giving his team a chance to succeed.

Clark Snr said he had seen the improvement in Grogan over the past few years, which started with a less than ideal debut.

And there was one moment in that win against the Sharks which proved Grogan was a new man.

“They put up a midfield bomb, and he raced forward about 20 metres to get to the ball on the full, then took the contact,” Clark Snr said.

“Two years ago, he would have let that ball bounce. This time he just got up, took it. The willingness to really put the body on the line, that’s the biggest difference.

“He probably got handed his debut a bit early, and copped a blow to his confidence after moving between A-grade and the reserves. But he’s really coming into his own.”

Clark Snr has three fullbacks at his disposal in any given line-up, allowing them to rotate between the custodial role and the flanks – either in-game or week-to-week.

But Grogan might just have stamped his claim his place as Atherton’s preferred No.1.

The Roosters will host Ivanhoes at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium when the CDRL competition resumes next weekend.