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

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.

Seasons

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