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Under 19s having a pep talk. Photo supplied
The Herbert River Crushers started their 2026 season with 3 from 3 wins over Norths in Townsville on Saturday night. A-Grade won 14 - 6, Reserve Grade won 18 - 4 while the Under 19s had earlier gotten the club's season off to a great start winning 22 - 16.
The A-Grade game was a tight tussle in the first half with Norths scoring the first try at the 30 minute mark, before the Crushers new signing winger Steven “Junior” Dau scored a try just before halftime. The game continued to be a tight tussle until second-rower William Trethaway scored to take the lead 8 – 6 with 30 minutes to go, before Dau crossed for his double with less than 4 minutes and captain Dylan Gaggiano converted to seal the tight fought win for the Crushers 14 - 6. Besides a couple of Crushers legends strapping on the boots special mention was made of forwards Matty Spina (who played 80 minutes) and Rhys Woods who pulled on the jersey on a weekend off.
The Reserve Grade side tries included centre Riley Dickson, fullback Jerramaine Nean and five-eigth Tremayne Priestley while halfback Keith Kyle kicked 1 conversion to seal the largest win for the club on the evening 18 - 4.
Under 19s coach Annan Whittington advised the side staged a second half comeback, from 16-0 down to win 22-16. The young Crushers were always going into their round 1 fixture as underdogs with only 16 available players with the Abergowrie College boys away on holidays. The side started slow to give away a 16-0 lead at halftime, before a reshuffle with the 14 remaining players (lost two through injury in the first half) and a highly disciplined 2nd half proving to be enough to pile on 22 unanswered second half points.
Fullback Mitch Maher finished the game with the match winning try and saved two tries in the dying seconds to ensure the u19s start the season with the 2 points Players Player was Evandah Bann, who was strong all game in the centres and was supported well by Lock Connor Matsen, Hooker Aiden Stedman and Front Rowers Zach Dorrick and Tristan Milan.
The Crushers next play away vs Charters Towers this Saturday.
(Contributed with thanks by Peter Reitano)
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