1996 Cairns Cyclones season

The 1996 Cairns Cyclones season was the first season that the Cairns Cyclones rugby league team competed in the inaugural Queensland Cup. The Queensland Cup was formed after the Winfield State League was closed after the end of the 1995 Season. At the time the Queensland Cup was the second tier competition under the Brisbane Rugby League.

CAIRNS CYCLONES
Club information
Full nameCairns Cyclones Rugby League Football Club
Colours Green, white and gold
Founded1996
Exited2000
Former details
Ground(s)
CompetitionQueensland Cup
Home jersey
Team colours
Records
PremiershipsNil
Wooden spoonsNil

The Cairns Cyclones team was managed by Nigel Tillett and coached by Gary Smith. They were one of sixteen clubs competing in the fifteen-week-long competition,[1] which included two split rounds. The 'Final 6' system was used in the Finals Series to determine the Premiers.[2]

1996 Cairns Cyclones Squad

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1. Shannon Van Balen (Fullback)
2. Richard Murgha (Threequarters)
3. Mick Skardon (Threequarters)
4. Craig Cygler (Threequarters)
5. Chris Kelly (Threequarters)
6. Paul Fowler (Halves)
7. Robbie Schmidt (captain) (Halves)
8. Troy Lorimer (Forwards)
9. Andy Henley (Forwards)
10. Peter Deaves (Forwards)
11. Brian Fourmile (Forwards)
12. Matt Clifford (Forwards)
13. Matt Hensler (Forwards)
14. Chad Prien (Replacements)
15. John Clifford (Replacements)
16. Robbie Hollingsworth (Replacements)
17. Scott Tronc (Replacements)

Other players

  • David Maiden
  • Steve Womal
  • Steve Howlett
  • Nathan Woods
  • Chris Vanoletti

Best and Fairest Player Award

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Cairns Cyclone's Robbie Schmidt was awarded The Courier Mail Best and Fairest player. The award was given to the Queensland Cup player voted for as the best and fairest over the entire season. After each game, the referees vote to award three votes to the best player, two votes to the second-best player, and one vote to the third-best player.[3]

1996 Ladder

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Pos. Team W L D P/F P/A P/D Pts
1   Toowoomba Clydesdales 11 3 1 360 226 134 23
2   Redcliffe Dolphins 10 3 2 365 193 172 22
3   Souths Magpies 10 4 1 375 205 170 21
4   Wests Panthers 10 4 1 359 208 151 21
5   Cairns Cyclones 10 5 0 310 224 86 20
6   Easts Tigers1 9 5 0 315 224 91 19
7   Wynnum Manly Seagulls 8 5 2 325 225 100 18
8   Past Brothers 9 6 0 339 354 -15 18
9   Norths Devils 8 7 0 334 332 2 16
10   Port Moresby Vipers 8 7 0 323 408 -85 16
11   Central Capras 7 8 0 309 336 -27 14
12   Mackay Sea Eagles 6 8 1 306 285 21 13
13   Bundaberg Grizzlies1 4 10 0 211 348 -137 9
14   Logan Scorpions 3 10 2 236 346 -110 8
15   Sunshine Coast Falcons 1 14 0 184 397 -213 2
16   Ipswich Jets 0 15 0 138 478 -340 0

1Awarded One Point due to Game being Cancelled.

1996 Channel Nine Cup Minor Premiers and Premiers

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1996 Cairns Cyclones Matches

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Round 1
Saturday, 30 March 1996
Cairns Cyclones   30–4   Norths Devils
Tries:
Andy Henley
Robbie Schmidt (c) 3
Richard Murgha
Goals:
John Clifford 5 from 5
Tries:
1


Goals:
0
Venue:
Barlow Park, Cairns
Attendance: 1,000
Notes: Half-time 6–4

Round 2
Sunday, 7 April 1996
Redcliffe Dolphins   30–18   Cairns Cyclones
Notes: Cyclones players John Clifford and Steve Howlett were sent off. The Cyclones played the last 35 minutes with 11 men.
Howleet was not charged, but Clifford was suspended for a month for attacking the head of another player.

Round 3
Saturday, 13 April 1996
Cairns Cyclones   26–12   Logan Scorpions
Tries:
Andy Henley
Robbie Schmidt (c) 2
Richard Murgha
David Maiden
Goals:
3 from 5
Tries:
Brendon Lindsay
1


Goals:
2
Team: 1. Richard Murgha, 2. Michael Skardon, 3. Steve Howlett, 4. David Maiden, 5. Chris Kelly, 6. Paul Fowler, 7. Robbie Schmidt (captain), 8. Troy Lorimer, 9. Andy Henley, 10. Peter Deaves, 11. Nathan Woods, 13. Chad Prien, 19. Matt Hensler.
Interchange: 14. Shannon van Balen, 15. Chris Zanoletti, 16. Robbie Hollingsworth, 17. Scott Tronc.
Unavailable: John Clifford (suspended), Brian Fourmile (concussion).
Notes: Half-time 10–6.

Round 4
Saturday, 20 April 1996
Brisbane Wests Panthers   14–20   Cairns Cyclones
Tries:
M. Seaby
S. Valentine


Goals:
J. Brown 3
Tries:
David Maiden 2
Craig Cycgler
Robbie Hollingsworth

Goals:
Mick Skardon
Shannon van Balen
Team: 1. Shannon van Balen, 2. Richard Murgha, 3. Steve Howlett, 4. David Maiden, 5. Chris Kelly, 6. Paul Fowler, 7. Robbie Schmidt (captain), 8. Troy Lorimer, 9. Andy Henley, 10. Peter Deaves, 11. Brian Fourmile, 13. Chad Prien, 19. Matt Hensler.
Interchange: 14. Mick Skardon, 15. Craig Cygler, 16. Robbie Hollingsworth, 17. Nathan Woods.
Unavailable: John Clifford (suspended), Scott Tronc (injured).
Notes: Shown on ABC TV at 2.30 pm.

Round 5
Saturday, 27 April 1996
Cairns Cyclones   42–4   Past Brothers

Round 6
Saturday, 4 May 1996
Mackay Sea-Eagles   22–20   Cairns Cyclones
Venue:
Mackay Junior Rugby League Grounds

Round 7
Saturday, 25 May 1996
Cairns Cyclones   26–8   Sunshine Coast Falcons

Round 8
Saturday, 1 June 1996
Central Capras   14–18   Cairns Cyclones
Venue:
Victoria Park

Round 9
Saturday, 15 June 1996
Cairns Cyclones   16–6   Toowoomba Clydesdales

Round 10
22 June 1996
Easts Tigers   16–22   Cairns Cyclones
Venue:
Langlands Park, Stones Corner, Brisbane

Round 11
Saturday, 29 June 1996
Cairns Cyclones   10–19   Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Round 12
Saturday, 6 July 1996
Port Moresby Vipers   29–22   Cairns Cyclones

Round 13
Saturday, 13 July 1996
Cairns Cyclones   8–6   Souths Magpies

Round 14
Sunday, 21 July 1996
Ipswich Jets   14–24   Cairns Cyclones

Round 15
Saturday, 27 July 1996
Bundaberg Grizzlies   16–18   Cairns Cyclones


Week 1 Semi-final
Saturday, 3 August 1996
Cairns Cyclones   12–16   Easts Tigers

  1. ^ Queensland R.LEAGUE 1996 Table Archived 2012-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 Dec 2007
  2. ^ Queensland R.LEAGUE 1996 Results Archived 2013-03-18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 Dec 2007
  3. ^ "QRL".