Brothers Leagues Club snares league legend for five-month contract with possible extension Burgess ‘excited’ to be back

l MANUNDA | Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

CAIRNS Brothers Leagues

Club have secured NRL legend George Burgess for the FNQ Rugby League competition.

With over 150 NRL games to his name, an NRL premiership title, and coming from one of Australia’s most iconic sporting families, Burgess has a lot to offer to the local game and many ideas for community enrichment.

After a long break and hip surgery, he has signed for five months with Brothers with the possibility of an extension.

The ex-Rabittohs player said he felt the “itch” to return to the sport.

“It was good timing for both Tim Rumford (head of coaching at Brothers) and me,” he said.

“Community is a big thing for me, and to see what they’re doing up here with the engagement and the junior rugby league is so strong, that was a big draw card.

“Getting the chance to come up here and be around a footy team, it’s great. The camaraderie is something you always miss.”

As part of Cairns Brothers Leagues Club, Burgess will be taking on a holistic role, enhancing the club’s community projects, coaching, although not officially, and more crucially, maintaining Brothers’ reign on the Cairns District Rugby League title.

Brothers captain-coach

Jordan Biondi-Odo said there were a lot of expectations, but the focus was on Burgess making the most of his time in Cairns.

“I congratulate Tim and everyone involved for landing the big fella.

“There probably comes some expectations with his resume in footy, but as long as he’s playing at a high standard, the most im-

Sport Results

MOSSMAN LADIES’

BOWLS

Tuesday May 9th: Our ladies travelled up to the Maize festival at Atherton. Thursday May 11th meeting day: winners drawn out of the hat: Pauline Lightfoot, Christy Colley and Trish Arnold with 2 wins; R/ ups: Joanne Dickson, Joan Day and Anne Geddes. The 1st Prize was won by Barbara Withers.

Sunday social mixed bowls winners: Ian Bailey and Carole Maxted; R/ups: Leonie Sims and Peter McGrory Contact: Mossman Memorial Bowls Club: 4098 1434.

MARLIN COAST BOWLS

CLUB

Tuesday morning bowls winner: A Jacobs. Tuesday afternoon men’s triples winners: Dennis, P Cavanagh, R Lloyd; R/ups: P Hamilton, N & B Morris. Tuesday night spider: Dave, Rob, Esta, Keith, Brian, Mick, Peter, Road. Wednesday mixed bowls winners: J Curtayne, J Carey, Bob; R/ups: Trevor, Al- portant thing is for him to enjoy his footy and be one of the boys.”

Mr Burgess said he was excited about his new role at Brothers and hoped to do important community work in Cairns.

“As part of Cairns Brothers, we’ll do some great community work, so it feels like going full circle,” he said.

“Getting back to the game is the biggest thing.

I just vanished out the back door, and my dad coaches, my mum coaches and my brothers are all involved in the game, so I felt like I was doing a disservice to them by not going back into the game.

“I see myself playing, helping out with coaching and connecting with the community.”

“At this stage, we have agreed to five months, it’ll be reviewed at the end of the year, but I feel like this could go on longer, and I’m very optimistic about what we’re doing.” travel to West Cairns. 3rd Division are at home to Silkwood this week. lan, Dennis. Thursday mixed triples winners: Kevin, Brad, Ross; R/ups: Rose, Gary, Robbo. Saturday morning scroungers winner: Jeanette Ward. Club Championships: Men’s B Grade Singles: D Grummitt def G McCall, 25-11; P Callaghan def D Smith 25-23. Club championships to be played: Check boards for play by dates for Championship games. Like us on Facebook.

INNISFAIL MENS BOWLS

Thursday afternoon social bowls winners: Sergio DellaPozza, Alan Morrison and Ian Revie. Club pairs winners: Mick Devries and Ian Humphries; R/up: Snow Clark and Greg McDonald. There are still more club games to be played so please organise your games to be played. 2023 Pennants season: 1st Division: South Johnstone proved too strong by winning all three rinks. A better result for our 3rd Division teams by defeating Babinda. This Saturday our 1st Division teams

MOSSMAN MEN’S BOWLS

Saturday May 13th club championship fours: Eric Smith, Ted Holmes, Peter Fairchild, Daryl Hoskin def Bernie Wolland, Dylan Wilde, Peter Riley, Nev Tesch, 23-20. McTaggart, Too Elton, Bob Carroll def Steve Cue, George Wilmot, Steve Cue, 22-20; Sas, Bernie Savage, Geoff Sims def Billy Smith, Jim Geddes, Dave Egan, 28-24; David White, Jock Constantine, Chris Payne def Col Widdows, Troy Churchill, John Arnold, 16-11; and the winners for the day: John Fleming, Charlie Toohey, Gavin Cleary def Peter Busch, Dick Pitt, Matty Samson, 24-15.

Pairs: Mick Frese, Peter Cleary def David Blain, Terry Richards, 26-24. Sunday May 14th: Handicap Singles, Bernie Wolland (-6) def Nev Tesch (0), 25-17; Col Widdows (-3) def Russell Hooker (0) 25-16. Mossman was represented by 2 teams in the BPL Prelim round as hosted by Marlin Coast

Bowls Club. David White, Malachy McTaggart and Peter Busch finished in second place overall (in Section 1) with 2 wins + 1 loss (tie-breaker); and Gerrard Beech, Peter Fairchild and Sas (Section 2) with 1 win + 2 losses (1 via tie-breaker). Follow Mossman Bowls Club Men’s Section on Facebook.

Gordonvale

Wednesday May 10th winners: Virgi Flo & Margaret. Thursday winners: Trevor Mick & Mucka; R/Up: Frank John & Graeme. Raffle winner: G Frizzo. Saturday: 1st round Division 2 pennants: Gordonvale def West Cairns. Some great bowls played by both teams.

WEST CAIRNS MEN

Tuesday May 9th winners: S Corolan, T Mawer, A Radford ; R/up: W Edwards, W Vella, S Howell. Thirsty Thursday best players: Ted Hellmuth, Chris Auger, Tony Blewer. Friday night scroungers winner: Pauline Bent; R/up: Edna Parks. Club Championships A grade pairs: S Carolan, A Radford def G Stanley, K Vivian, 25-24. A grade singles: John Banes def Alby Radford, 25-19. Pennants 1st division: Edge Hill def West Cairns; 2nd division: Gordonvale def West Cairns.

BROTHERS EDMONTON

Ladies: Thursday May 11th consistency singles: J Rick + 10 def E Atkinson 0. S Rowe 0 def D Quinn 0. Championship pairs: L Ceely, A Evans def J Baird, G Buttigieg.

Men’s: Wednesday May 10th overall winners: Joe Jackson, Rob Morris, Mick Catalano; R/ up: Athol Smith, Greg Hickey, Garry Moule; 3rd: Owen Scott, Mark Capper, Sandy McQuade. Saturday May 13th pennants: Div 2: BEBC & Sth Johnstone, Draw. Div 3: Edge Hill 48 def BEBC 31.

West Cairns Tpi

Memorial Bowls Club

Monday 8th winners: Graham Cross (visitor), Mike Ireland and team leader Dawn Evans. A successful committee meeting was held before play commenced. Our club has mostly retired ladies and gents and the play is social based with no ag- gressive play permitted. New members are always welcomed, and we can assure any new players an enjoyable afternoon. Afternoon tea is included in the green fee including sandwiches, hot drinks, and cake. We hope to meet you soon.

Edge Hill Bowls Club

Ladies Bowls: Thursday May 11th social bowls winners: Elaine Whitehead and Margaret Wardrop. Consistency singles quarter final: Elaine Whitehead def Margaret Wardrop, 101-89. Lou Pomroy def Yvonne Bolton 101-89.

Men’s Championship Bowls: Club A grade singles: Matt Norrie def Phil Lee, 26-20. Nick Twining vs Chris Henson, with the winner to play Steve Henson in round 2. John Hayes vs Mal Taylor, Matt Norrie vs Simon Vardy to reach the Quarter Finals. Tuesday May 9th mixed social bowls winners: Terry Bartholomeusz and Frank Battye. Saturday May 13th men’s pennants div 1 team defeated West Cairns, winning all rinks. Div 2 def Marlin Coast; Div 3 def Brothers Edmonton 48-31.