Both the Kaiviti Silktails Jersey Flegg Cup and the Ipswich Jets QLD Cup teams began their 2024 seasons last weekend, while the Glebe Dirty Reds Ron Massey Cup side will begin their campaign this weekend.
Jersey Flegg Cup | Silktails Brave in Opening Loss
Kaiviti Silktails 20 def by Wests Tigers 38
The Kaiviti Silktails went down gallantly 38-20 against the Wests Tigers at Lidcombe Oval in their first-ever game in the Jersey Flegg competition.
With both Silktails trial matches cancelled due to weather as well as visa issues denying the club their second trial against the Gold Coast Titans, a slow start was expected, going into the sheds 22-4 down at half-time.
With a try denied to prop Watisoni Waqanisaravi in the first half, a brilliant 50 metre solo effort by centre Emosi Daubitu got the Silktails on the board before the break.
The second half saw winger Bill Taria sent to the bin, which saw the Tigers run in two tries during that period. Upon Taria’s return to the field, the Silktails ran in three tries, which saw Waqanisaravai, Taria and18-year-old centre Mitchell Poultier touch down.
In a positive finish, as stated by the NSWRL TV commentators, a repeat of their impressive second 35 minutes from start to finish will see them be a competitive force in this competition.
With eleven players making their Club debut and sixteen players playing for the first time in the Jersey Flegg competition, I thought we got better as the game went on.
Wes Naiqama Kaiviti Silktails Head Coach
Despite the result, Head Coach Wes Naiqama was pleased with the side's first hit-out.
"I was really proud of our squad's effort over the weekend," he said.
"With eleven players making their Club debut and sixteen players playing for the first time in the Jersey Flegg competition, I thought we got better as the game went on.
"A lot of learning will be taken from this game and we’ll get better as the season goes on. We face South Sydney next week, so I'm looking forward to put in a good performance in front of our home crowd, family and friends."
The Silktails take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Churchill Park, Lautoka next Saturday in their first home game of the season.
QLD Cup | Jets Downed by Blackhawks
Ipswich Jets 16 def by Townsville Blackhawks 20
The Ipswich Jets were downed 20-16 by the Townsville Blackhawks in the first round of the QLD Cup at North Ipswich Reserve.
The visitors landed three tries in the first half for an early lead, before backrower Bradley Zampech scored the Jets' first of the season.
A neat try to Harley Smith-Shields in the second half closed the gap to four points, but after the Blackhawks hit back, a late hit-back from Jaylan De Groot wasn't enough to claim the two points.
Ipswich Head of Football Ben Cross dissected the match, highlighting the side's second half comeback.
"It was a narrow loss against a Townsville outfit with a lot of NRL experience," Cross said.
"We trailed by eight at half-time, after giving too much good field position to Townsville and they capitalised on that.
"I thought we controlled the ball better in the second half with two tries from grubbers and an intercept, but unfortunately, we left our run too late."
