Sport
18 April, 2024
Big day out for Wolves, but Pirates too good
Last Saturday night’s outing at the Woodford Showgrounds was more than just a game of rugby league for the Stanley River Wolves, in round two of the Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League (SCGRL) season.
The Wolves marked 50 years, and the field was officially named after original club president Claude Bleakley who did so much for the club.
The Wolves produced heritage jerseys for last Saturday, while some members of the original 1974 team presented the jerseys to the players before the game as part of an ‘Old Boys’ reunion.
Afterwards, the player jerseys were auctioned off.
Attendees included political figures Andrew Powell and David Crisafulli, as well as Moreton councillor Tony Latter.
A win would have been fitting for Stanley River but it wasn’t to be, as the hosts had a horror start on their way to a 26-12 defeat against the Noosa Pirates.
After going down 18-12 to Coolum at the same venue in round one the previous Saturday, the Wolves gave away a penalty in the first set and then conceded a try before the pattern repeated itself.
Noosa led 18-0 early on, before Stanley River’s Zane Santarossa scored a converted try late in the first half.
A penalty goal to the Pirates stretched the score to 20-6 in the second half, before a converted try to Scott Maddick reduced Noosa’s lead to eight points.
A converted try to Pirates fullback Pat McGinn put the result beyond doubt in the final 10 minutes.
Wolves co-captain Kane Zalewski said the hosts “started flat” while Noosa showed up to play, and that the Wolves coughed up too much ball during the game.
“I think we won the battle with the physicality of our forwards, which I think we did against Coolum as well, but we didn’t capitalise on the hard work,” he said.
With the Wolves having a hiatus from A grade before this year, Zalewski said most of the squad hadn’t played together until very recently.
Zalewski stressed that “we’ve definitely got the side to give the competition a shake”, and that “we’ve just got to click”.
“It’s real basic things we’ve got to work on,” he said.
“We’re not stressed, we’re not worried, but at the same time we want to get these things fixed up so we can start clicking and put some points on the board.”
Kalewski said the players had a good chat in the dressing room after the game, but didn’t take many positives out of it.
“We’ve got to take accountability for our performance,” he said.
The Wolves will be at home again this Saturday as they contest Nambour, while Ben King is set to return. Stanley River’s reserve graders, meanwhile, beat Nambour 22-14 last Saturday after losing to Coolum a week earlier.
Caloundra will contest the Wolves in this Saturday’s reserve grade tussle at Tinonee Oval.
