A junior Northern Pride playmaker has returned to Cairns after a solid first campaign with his NRL club.
NRL: Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says the thought of retirement didn’t sit well with him as he explains his decision to stay on until the end of 2024.
Blake Dorahy returned to Cairns a week ago after he steered Newcastle Knights to the Harold Matthews Cup grand final.
It capped quite a journey for the teenager, who spent 12 years as a Redlynch Razorbacks junior before playing his way into the Pride, then, ultimately, the Knights.
Cairns junior Blake Dorahy in action for Newcastle Knights in the Harold Matthews Cup. Dorahy played his junior footy at Redlynch Razorbacks. Picture: Bryden Sharp
His rise to rep footy started a few years ago when a kid who hadn’t made a representative team in his life impressed the Pride, and a Newcastle scout who happened to see him play.
“I hadn’t met a rep team in my life before and I was feeling pretty confident in that year,” Dorahy said.
“There was a Knights scout there, had a few good games and they picked me up there.
“I was in the car with dad, he got a call from a random number.
“He didn’t know who it was … I didn’t know what was going on, but dad was crying.
“He hung up and said I was offered a contract with the Knights. It was pretty cool.
“They told me to stay in Cairns, pay for the Pride and work on my craft then come down to the Knights this year and play Harold Matts.”
Cairns junior Blake Dorahy in action for Newcastle Knights in the Harold Matthews Cup. Dorahy played his junior footy at Redlynch Razorbacks. Picture: Bryden Sharp
While the big day didn’t go to plan – they fell to the Bulldogs – it was an outstanding run to the decider during which they faced a “win or go home” scenario through the second half of the season.
They were eighth at the halfway mark, then strung together four straight wins to finish second, then won their way through to the decider.
Despite the loss, playmaker Dorahy looked back at their season fondly.
“We lost to one of the worst teams in the comp in round four, we had a big chat at training and decided to go all out – if we lost one more game, we were gone for the year,” Dorahy said.
“We had some tough games coming up but went out, played well, and got into the grand final. It was good.
“Definitely feeling for the boys, it’s surreal. I loved every minute of it.”
Dorahy has returned to FNQ now, where he will aim to finish Year 12 at Cairns State High School and keep working on his craft.
Redlynch don’t have senior teams so Dorahy has linked with Ivanhoes, though a shoulder injury has kept him from making an appearance for the Knights in the FNQRL.
“I’m not sure when I get back – I popped my shoulder out in training,” he said.
“Hopefully just three or four weeks. It should be fine but don’t want to risk it.”
INNISFAIL’S TRIPLE TREAT
The Cassowary Coast derby produced one of the most consistent days of rugby league one can expect with three tight games in which Innisfail came from behind to beat Tully.
Innisfail’s A-grade trailed at the break and held off a Tully fightback, but their reserves and U18s overturned 22-16 deficits in the final five minutes.
Innisfail’s Tomasi Skelton in the FNQRL A-grade match between the Innisfail Leprechauns and the Tully Tigers, held at Callendar Park, Innisfail. Picture: Brendan Radke
The play of the round came from Chris Brown who drilled a long field goal with the last act of reserve grade to seal a 23-22 win.
Watch the moment on Cairns Post Sport’s Facebook page, or the full match replays here.
COACH CHASES HIP-DROP ANSWERS
Northern Pride won the battle but a frustrated Ty Williams wants officials to provide more clarification on the hip-drop interpretation after a third incident in as many weeks.
Second-rower and vice-captain Ewan Moore was put on report early in the gripping 32-30 win against the Clydesdales in Toowoomba for an alleged hip-drop tackle.
Pride coach Williams has called on the QRL, and potentially the NRL, to provide more clarification on what constitutes a hip-drop tackle.
“It’s frustrating,” Williams said.
Read more here.
TULLY GUN IN MAROONS
Tully rugby league star Romy Teitzel is closer to ticking off a major goal with selection in the State of Origin squad for a second straight year.
Teitzel was named in Tahnee Norris’s squad on Monday, with the opener to be played at CommBank Stadium on Thursday, June 1, with a second clash at Townsville on June 22.
The Tully gun has enjoyed a brilliant career to date, having been part of the North Queensland Gold Stars side which won the BMD Premiership last year, and winning the NRLW title with the Newcastle Knights.
Millie Boyle and Romy Teitzel of the Knights hold the NRLW Premiership Trophy after victory in the 2022 NRLW Grand Final. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
HUNT’S HEARTBREAKER
Another rugby league talent out of Tully endured grand final heartbreak in the BMD Premiership decider.
Kim Hunt scored two tries for Wynnum-Manly but it wasn’t enough as the powerhouse Burleigh Bears claimed their seventh women’s title with a 24-10 triumph.
Hunt scored in all but one of her appearances for the Seagulls this season.
Kim Hunt in action for Wynnum-Manly Seagulls. Picture: Jim O’Reilly/QRL
STALWARTS MOVE ON
Two stalwarts of rugby league in the Far North have moved on with long-term volunteers and officials Robert and Sheron McDougall relocating to Darwin.
The McDougalls have been among the most hardest working people involved in rugby league in FNQ over the years, and you’d be hard-pressed finding anyone in the game who would have a bad word to say about them.
Messages have rolled in from across the rugby league landscape, and Repeat Set wishes them all the best in their new adventure.
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