A win for all four senior teams on Saturday is a good indication of where Centrals ASA Tigers are at as a club in 2023.
One of the Tigers’ favourite sons in former NRL player Luke Harlen made his return to the club to coach the A grade side in the offseason, which Centrals president Kevin Marty believed was a big part of the reason for inspired efforts throughout the club.
Harlen presided over a 36-6 win over Norths Devils on Saturday, improving on their second half performance to come home with a wet sail.
“I was pretty filthy at halftime actually, but the boys responded and came out in the second half and played some better footy. It was pleasing that they bounced back and played better in the second half,” he said.
The other pleasing things were two of their best were graduates of the Tigers’ under 19 success last year in five-eighth Cody Sadler, and Tremaine Body, who scored two tries in his second game at fullback after spending most of his season so far on the wing.
“(Body)’s got a really big future ahead of him,” Harlen said.
“He’s a great kid, always looking to learn and get better. I guess he’s really easy to coach and is really enjoyable to have around.
“Cody Sadler just played his third game in A grade on the weekend and got our man of the match.
“There’s some really talented kids coming through and I guess they’ve all got aspirations to play A grade and then play higher as well.
“So that’s my job just to try to get them on to that path and help them out a little bit.”
Harlen said it “all fell into place” to take up the coaching gig and give back to his junior club and was loving being back around “good people”.
But the humble former Cowboys and Sharks player – who was named in the Northern Pride team of the decade in 2017 – pointed to the long-serving club personnel as the reason Centrals was going so strong.
“There’s a lot of people in the background that do all the other stuff to make the club really good,” Harlen said.
“We’ve got a lot of really good volunteers and a lot of really good people that put a lot of time into the club. My part is very, very small compared to other people.”
Centrals president Kevin Marty said he was proud of how the club had progressed and felt the culture Harlen was driving in A grade was filtering to other grades.
“I think that Luke is just creating a very good culture right through the club, about what we’re about – about family, looking after each other and sticking together – and he spends a lot of time with the boys driving our culture and I know they’re all having a good time,” he said.
North region
2023 Rugby League Townsville District Men’s A grade
Round 11 results
Centrals Tigers 36 def Norths Devils 6
Herbert River Crushers 22 def Western Lions 18
Brothers Townsville 46 def Burdekin Roosters 0
Charters Towers Miners 38 def Souths Bulls 10
Ladder
2023 Rugby League Townsville District Women’s A grade
Round 11 results
Western Lions 54 def Herbert River Crushers 16
Centrals Tigers 36 def Norths Devils 4
Burdekin Roosters 16 def Brothers Townsville 12
Ladder
Mt Isa Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 7 results
Wanderers 22 def Townies 14
Ladder
Far North Queensland Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 11 results
Cairns Kangaroos 30 def Cairns Brothers 24
Brothers Innisfail 36 def Mareeba Gladiators 28
Tully Tigers 22 def Edmonton Storm 16
Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 52 def Southern Suburbs 18
Ivanhoes Knights 22 def Atherton Roosters 18
Ladder
2023 FNQRL Open Women’s
Semi-finals
Cairns Kangaroos 22 def Ivanhoes Knights Maidens 12
Yarrabah Seahawks 24 def Atherton Roosters 22
Preliminary final: Ivanhoes v Yarrabah
South East region
2023 Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade
Round 12 results
West Brisbane Panthers 36 def Valleys Diehards 12
Beenleigh Pride 34 def Wynnum Manly Juniors 22
Bulimba Bulldogs 44 def Carina Juniors 14
Souths Juniors 31 def Normanby Hounds 24
Ladder
*Pine Rivers no longer in competition
SEQ Women’s Holcim Cup 2023
Round 10 results
Beenleigh Pride def Wynnum Manly Juniors (forfeit)
Ormeau Shearers 26 def Valleys Diehards 24
Goodna Eagles 40 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 18
Currumbin Eagles 22 def Nerang Roosters 10
Ladder
Rugby League Gold Coast Men’s A grade
Round 9 results
Tugun Seahawks 52 def Helensvale Hornets 22
Currumbin Eagles 30 def Burleigh Bears 28
Southport Tigers 56 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 10
Ladder
Ipswich Jets A Grade Cup
Round 11 results
Redbank Plains Bears 46 def Brothers Ipswich 32
Fassifern Bombers 32 def Norths Tigers 10
Ladder
Central region
2023 4BU/HITZ FM Bundaberg Rugby League A Grade Men
Round 12 results
Past Brothers 36 def Wallaroos 8
Hervey Bay Seagulls v Wests Panthers – no result provided
Waves Tigers 28 def Easts Magpies 16
Ladder
2023 Central Burnett Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 9 results
Mundubbera Tigers 48 def Eidsvold Eagles 12
Gayndah Gladiators 48 def Monto Roos 5
Ladder
2023 Emerald Industrial Supplies Central Highlands Men’s A grade
Round 12 results
Dysart Bulls def Peak Downs Pirates (forfeit)
Emerald Tigers 30 def Middlemount Panthers 24
Clermont Bears 58 def Blackwater Crushers 16
Bluff Rabbitohs 24 def Emerald Brothers 18
Ladder
SRO Technology Central Highlands Women’s A grade
Round 7 results
Bluff Bunnies 30 def Emerald Brothers 6
Ladder
Northern Districts Men’s A grade
Round 11 results
Gin Gin Hawks 28 drew with South Kolan Sharks 28
Isis Devils 36 def Miriam Vale Magpies 0
Ladder
2023 Rockhampton Men’s A grade
Round 12 results
Brothers Rockhampton 48 def Emu Park 6
Yeppoon Seagulls def Fiztroy/Gracemere Sharks (forfeit)
Ladder
2023 Intersport Yeppoon Rockhampton Women’s A grade
Round 12 results
Tannum Sands Seagulls 40 def Norths Chargers 8
Wallaby RLFC 26 def Brothers Rockhampton 18
Emu Park def Yeppoon Seagulls (forfeit)
Ladder
Roma District Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 9 results
St George 38 def Miles Devils 24
Mitchell Magpies 36 def Roma Cities 18
Taroom Wandoan Battlers 32 def Chinchilla Bulldogs 12
Ladder
Wide Bay Open Women
Round 3 result (postponed match)
Cherbourg Hornets 30 def Wondai Proston Wolves 8
Round 7 result
Fraser Coast Crushers 34 def Bundaberg Bears 10
Ladder
Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 11 results
Beerwah Bulldogs 30 def Maroochydore Swans 10
Kawana Dolphins 28 def Nambour Crushers 18
Noosa Pirates 24 def Caloundra Sharks 12
Caboolture Snakes 38 def Coolum Colts 36
Ladder
Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Open Women
Round 11 results
Kawana Dolphins 62 def Nambour Crushers 4
Caloundra Sharks 28 def Noosa Pirates 10
Caboolture Snakes 52 def Gympie Devils 0
Ladder
South Burnett Ken Mills Isuzu Men’s A grade
Round 1 result (postponed match)
Murgon Mustangs 40 def Wondai Proston Wolves 26
Ladder
Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men’s A grade
Round 11 results
Wattles Warriors 76 def Toowoomba Brothers 10
Gatton Hawks 56 Newtown Lions 6
Toowoomba Valleys 32 Warwick Cowboys 16
Goondiwindi Boars 34 Pittsworth Danes 16
Highfields Eagles 40 def Southern Suburbs 30
Dalby Diehards 48 def Oakey Bears 10
Ladder
Toowoomba Sports Club Women’s A grade
Round 11 results
Gatton Hawks 30 def Newtown Lions 6
Oakey Bears 46 def Dalby Diehards 0
Highfields Eagles 38 def Southern Suburbs 0
Ladder
Border Rugby League Men’s 2023
Round 10 results
Inglewood Roosters 38 def McIntyre Warriors 16
Texas Terriers 32 def Eastern Suburbs Hornets 12
Tenterfield Tigers 38 def Stanthorpe Gremlins 6
Ladder