Cairns Cyclones

The Cairns Cyclones were a rugby league team that competed in the QRL Queensland Cup competition from 1996 to 2000. The inaugural 1996 team included the Captain/Coach and six first grade players from CDRL's Smithfield-based Ivanhoes Rugby League Club.

History
After a great first year in 1996 when they made the Preliminary Finals, they dropped down the ladder in subsequent seasons, finishing in last place in 2000. A lack of support from locals and other Cairns rugby league clubs, combined with increasing financial difficulties, meant the Cyclones withdrew from the Competition at the end of the 2000 season.

North Queensland was represented in the Queensland Cup from 2002-2007 by the Townsville North Queensland Young Guns, who were a feeder club to the North Queensland Cowboys. (The Queensland Cup was known as the Bundy Gold Cup from 2000-2001, the Queensland Cup from 2002-2004 and the Queensland Wizard Cup from 2005-2007).

In 2008 the rationalisation of rugby league below the NRL level meant the North Queensland Young Guns entered the NRL under 20's competition and the northern expansion of the Queensland Cup saw the establishment of a new Cairns-based QRL side, the Northern Pride.

Staff

 * Manager: Nigel Tillett
 * Coach: Gary Smith (1996–1999, formerly CDRL Ivanhoes Knights), Brad Tessman (2000).

Colours
The Cyclones' colours were traditionally green, white and gold.

Home ground
The Cyclones' home ground was Barlow Park in Cairns. The playing field is 114 metres long (100 metres of field plus two 7 metre in goal areas) by 68 metres wide. The facility is floodlit for night games with four towers providing 620 lux. The venue has a capacity of 15,000 which includes 1,700 seats (mostly undercover). The car park can accommodate approximately 300 vehicles.


 * 1996 season - 8 home games (won 5, lost 3)
 * 1997 season - 7 home games (won 3, drew 1, lost 3)
 * 1998 season - 7 home games (won 1, drew 1, lost 5)
 * 1999 season - 7 home games (won 3, lost 4)
 * 2000 season - home games (won, lost )

1996 season
Channel Nine Cup: Finished 5th on the Premiership table after winning 10 of their 15 games. Lost the Preliminary semi-final 12-16 to Easts Tigers at Barlow Park.

1997 season
Channel Nine Cup

1998 season
Queensland Cup

1999 season
Queensland Cup

2000 season
Bundy Gold Cup Cairns Cyclones Bundy Gold Cup 2000 season statistics can be found here.

Cairns Cyclones Players (and seasons played)
Aaron Port: 1997

Adam Bowditch: 2000

Adam Connolly: 1999

Andrew Bulmer: 1997

Andy Henley: 1996-7

Anthony Sexton: 2000

Ben Heath: 1999

Ben Rauter: 1999

Ben Zamatarro: 1997

Boyd Lorimer: 1997

Brad Coey-Braddon: 2000

Brett Blennerhassett: 1998

Brian Balderson: 1998

Brian Fourmile: 1996

Bronson Ryan: 2000

Cameron McNab: 1999

Chad Halliday: 1999

Chad Prien: 1996 & 1999

Chris Kelly: 1996

Chris Muckett: 1999

Chris Vanoletti: 1996

Cian Jacobs: 1997

Clint Arnol: 2000

Clint Zammit: 2000

Colin Prince: 1998

Craig Cygler: 1996-7

David Maiden: 1996-7

Denny Lambert: 1999

Duncn Naawi: 1998

Fabian Della Bosca: 1997

Gavin Sant: 1997

Greg Burke: 1999

Jaime McIntosh 1998-2000

Jason Barsley: 1998 & 2000

Jason Berg: 1999-2000

John Bolsem: 1998

John Clifford: 1996-7

John Doyle: 1999

John Manning: 1999

Karl Dawson: 1998-2000

Kerry Amory: 2000

Lama Ahmat: 2000

Leigh McWilliams: 1999

Leon Yeatman: 1999/2000

Liam Johnson: 1999

Mark Fakahua: 2000

Matt Clifford: 1996

Matt Hensler: 1996

Michal Mahoney: 1997

Mick Cooney: 1999

Mick Skardon: 1996-7

Nathan Butterworth: 1997-8

Nathan Fein: 1999

Nathan Woods: 1996-7

Neil Stanley: 2000

Nick Patterson: 1999

Noel Haslem: 1998

Noel Slade: 2000

Patrick Gardner: 2000

Paul Dezolt: 1999

Paul Fowler: 1996-7, 1999 & 2000

Paul Ketchell: 1998

Paul Pensini: 1999

Peter Dangerfield: 1997

Peter Deaves: 1996-7 & 1999

Phil Yanner: 1998

Quinton Nicol: 2000

Richard Murgha: 1996-7

Robbie Hollingsworth: 1996

Robbie Schmidt: 1996-7

Rober David: 1998

Scott Asimus: 1999

Scott Donald: 1999

Scott Mahon: 1999

Scott Manns: 1997

Scott Prince: 1999

Scott Tronc: 1996

Scott Williamson: 2000

Shane Medhurst : 1997-8

Shane Muspratt: 1999

Shane Vivian (Lock): 1997

Shannon Furber: 2000

Shannon Van Balen: 1996-7 & 1999

Stephen Tillett: 1997

Sterling Fourmile: 1998

Steve Howlett: 1996

Steve Singleton: 1998 & 2000

Steve Womal: 1996

Steven Hepworth: 1997

Swaggie Nona: 1998

Tasman Van Balen: 1997

Tim Kopp: 2000

Troy Lorimer: 1996-7

Ty Walter: 2000

Ty Williams 2000

Victor Akiba: 2000

Wade Backmann: 1999

Wes Davies: 1998