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THURSDAY 16 MARCH 2023 TORRES NEWS
QRL holds TI workshops Ezra’s star just keeps on rising A rugby league administration and education forum held on Waiben last weekend attracted participants coming from Torres Strait Islands, the NPA, Cape York, and from as far away as Cairns and Townsville. QRL North region
manager Renae Kunst said the landmark event was to help to help kickstart competitions. “Rugby league is the sport of choice so we need to make sure we’re aiding and supporting local administrators and volunteers as much as we possibly can in order to feed their passion,” she said.
“We’ve also coupled the administration conference with NRL game development to make it a wholistic education weekend – including coaching and sports trainer courses – so visitors get total bang for their buck for their efforts to attend.” Full story next week. J
‘Jono’ signs with Devils
Pic submitted.
BY ALF WILSON Flying outside back Jonathon “Jono” Reuben (pictured above on left), who has starred in Erub United’s amazing successes, is signed up with the Norths Devils in the Hostplus Queensland Super Cup competition. Jono played when Erub United won the Arthur Beetson Foundation Murri Carnival at Redcliffe last October, and also lined up for them when they lost the Murri versus Koori Interstate Challenge to NSW Koori Knockout winner Newcastle Allblacks in January this year. The 29-year-old has played numerous seasons in the Queensland Cup, one NRL game for the St George Dragons in Townsville last season and at several Allblacks carnivals. “I may be 29 but I feel like I am just 21,” he told the Torres News. “I have had a good pre-season and am looking forward to being with Norths for the Queensland Cup.” Quietly spoken off the field, he is a proud Torres Strait Islander who reckons Allblacks carnivals are amongst the toughest competitions to compete in. “Erub United played seven games at the Queensland Murri Knockout and I was so sore afterwards and it took me two weeks to recover,” he said. Erub United organiser Elia Ware praised Jono and said he first heard of him when he played with the Canberra Raiders under-20 team. “I’ve been following him ever since,” he said. “When we first established Erub United in 2016, I asked Jono to join us then, but he couldn’t due to other commitments – the door was always
open for him to join us but when the time was right he would play. “I’m a huge fan. His highlight reel speaks for itself. “One of the best finishers in rugby league that should’ve played NRL a long time ago, but God has his reasons, and I’m sure Jono is enjoying dominating Queensland Cup. “Now that Jono has played for Erub United and met family members, I know he’ll be keen for the next carnival. “All the best Bala Jono for 2023 and can’t wait to catch up when you’re in town (Cairns).” In late 2019 he captained for Jumma Balas, named in named in honour of his much loved and late brother, Sam Reuben. “I was just 19 when I played for Bowen and remember it well,” he said. “It was very emotional playing for Sam’s team at the Bindal carnival in Townsville.” Last year Jono made NRL history when he made his NRL debut on a wing for St George Dragons in Townsville. When he took the field he was 29 years and 92 days of age, making him the oldest debutant in the NRL era. “This was definitely a dream come true, as little kid I just wanted to play NRL,” he said. “My family is here, one of my goals was to play in Townsville and it’s come true. “It was really fast out there and I enjoyed every minute of it.” He said as soon as the Queensland Cup draw came out he checked to see if Norths Devils would be playing in Townsville, Cairns, TI or Bamaga. “I wanted to come back and see my family but we don’t have games up there,” he said.
BY ALF WILSON Torres Strait Islander Ezra Mam showed he is a genuine rising NRL superstar when he scored two tries in the Brisbane Broncos 28-16 win over the North Queensland Cowboys in last Friday night’s Queensland derby at Suncorp Stadium. More than 43,000 spectators packed into the Brisbane Stadium to watch the Broncos and Mam shone. Five eighth Mam has improved in every game as he partnered with champion number seven Andy Reynolds in the Broncos halves. The youngster turned 20 on January 31 and has produced sensational match statistics. Mam ran for 119 metres during his 11 runs, made one tackle bust and always had the Cowboys defence guessing whenever he touched the ball. The Cowboys led early and ran to a 6-nil lead and at the 12th minute Mam looked to have scored a try which was disallowed. A try just before halftime saw the scores at the break level at 10-all, and it was anybody’s game. With less than a minute remaining before the break Mam pounced on a grubber kick to score his first four pointer. At the 50th minute, fullback Broncos attacked, and Mam raced away to score a try which propelled the Broncos to a 20-10 lead. Cowboys back-rower Jeremiah Nanai then scored to give the Cowboys some hope of a victory but Broncos fullback Walsh scored soon after to give the Broncos victory. Mam has now scored seven
EZRA MAM. Pic courtesy of the Broncos.
REUBEN COTTER. Pic courtesy of the Cowboys. tries in eight games at Suncorp Stadium after making his A grade debut last season, and has also showed great grit in defence. He was tackled heavily on several occasions but displayed true class to be one of the best players on the field. Cowboys forward Reuben Cotter had a good game. He was solid in attack and defence, and took some heavy knocks. During his time on the bench the Cowboys looked less efficient.
Mam has been in the Broncos’ pathways program since he was 13, and has earned his spot in last year’s 30-man squad, making his debut in round 11 on May 19 against the Newcastle Knights. MEANWHILE Ezra has a big following on Hammond Island where proud mum Tomisina Ahwang lives. Tomasina said she watched the Broncos/Cowboys head to head on television and was “nervously excited’’. “Most of the residents here on Hammond Island watched the game and Ezra also has a big following on Waiben and other islands,” she said. Tomisina said she spoke to Ezra on the phone not long after the game and then again the following morning. “It is our ritual that we speak after his games and I had been concerned that he has a broken nose after a heavy tackle,” she said. “But he is okay.” Tomisina said Ezra had a bout of flu in the week leading up to the match which made his performance all the better. “I did get very excited watching the game here on Hammond Island and whilst I was nervous, the Broncos are comeback kings and I thought they would win,” she said. This very happy mother said Ezra has sacrificed a lot to get where he was in rugby league. “He has been committed and is a very good son,” she said. She said Ezra told her the coming Broncos match against the Dolphins was sold out. “I will also be keeping an eye on Dolphins players Brenko and Edrick Lee, who are related to us,” she said.
Torres Strait skill cuts it for Cutters BY ALF WILSON Torres Strait Islanders Hagiga Mosby, Tahlulah Tillett, Sareka Mooka, Essay Banu and Samara Luta shone for the Mackay Cutters in their 30-8 win over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in round one of the Statewide BMD Premiership on the weekend. Hagiga lined up in the centres, Tahlulah at halfback, Sareka was a front row forward whilst Essay and Samara came from the interchange bench with great effect. Sareka and Samara scored tries for the Cutters along with Alicia Martin, Zoe Cook, Shannon Mato and Katie Green. The Cutters side consists of players from
Team Pic by Jorja Brinums/QRL. Cairns, Townsville and Mackay and others with Torres Strait heritage in the squad who should play matches in coming weeks. Mackay Cutters coach Marco Peters said he was particularly happy with his side. Essay played for Wynnum Manly last season and was based in Townsville with family while living in Tully. “Moving away from this team to go up north to my family, it is a
really good privilege and honour to wear this jersey for the first time in the BMD comp,” Banu told the QRL website. Mackay Cutters and Norths Devils were the two new teams in the 2023 competition. The Mackay side replaces last year’s premiers North Queensland Gold Stars who have moved on to be part of a national women’s comp. The Cutters have
taken on the Gold Stars model and were one of the favourites to take out the premiership. Essay, Sareka and Tahlulah represented for the NRL Indigenous Allstars ladies team, who went down 16-12 to a Maori Allstars Ferns at Rotarua in New Zealand recently. Sareka and Essay are two of the premier forwards in the BMD Premiership, whilst Tahlulah was a highly rated playmaker. The 20-year-old Hagiga played for the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans in the National ladies comp. The Cutters will face Tweed Seagulls in Round 2. The draw for the expanded 10-team NRLW 2023 comp was yet to be released.
