Roosters Finish Season on a High with Win Over Herbert River

The Burdekin Roosters Rugby League season ended on a high last Saturday night at Bendigo Bank Park, where a strong home crowd watched the A Grade side defeat Herbert River 24–18.
While the Crushers progress to face Western Lions in the RLTD semi-finals, the Roosters will reflect on what might have been.

Saturday was also Sponsors Day, with the club acknowledging the generosity of its backers. The players repaid that support in style, delivering a complete performance.

Coach Steve Lansley praised the effort, saying his side signed off with a commanding victory on a sun-drenched paddock. Built on forward dominance and a superb tactical kicking game, the win gave home fans optimism heading into 2026.

The Roosters started with energy, completing their sets and marching upfield with purpose. Early pressure produced a quick try down the right edge to establish a 6–0 lead they never surrendered.

Halfback Jye Olsen was the architect, controlling the match with a near-flawless kicking display. His towering bombs and perfectly weighted grubbers repeatedly trapped the Crushers in their own half, forcing errors and drop-outs.

Up front, the brutal work of Hayde Munro and Nemia Nawave set the platform. Munro, in a man-of-the-match effort, broke the line with every carry and attracted multiple defenders, while Nawave’s hard running and defence added punch. Quick play-the-balls gave Burdekin plenty of strike power.

Herbert River never gave in, capitalising on Roosters ill-discipline to close the gap to 22–14. But Burdekin steadied, with Dylan Doak kicking a penalty goal and Munro leading the forwards back on top.

Terry Connors scored two tries for the Roosters, with Jones Munro and Terrence Mosby also crossing. Doak added four goals.

The win capped off a strong finish, giving Burdekin a clear blueprint for next season.

Reserve Grade

Herbert River turned the tables in reserve grade, running out 52–28 winners despite trailing 18–10 at halftime.

The Crushers hit back through speedster Tremayne Priestly, whose pace, along with that of Jerraime Nean, Jakobym Assan and Bailey Skipper, proved decisive as Burdekin’s forwards tired.

The Roosters were kept in the contest early by the strength of Llama Ghee, Caleb Noah and John Zaro, while centres Morgan Noah and Bokeem Moore Reid also impressed.

It was a learning experience for a young Roosters outfit, with many playing their first senior season. A fifth-place finish is a solid platform to build from.

Ghee was among the best, alongside Noah, Jack Rushton, Morgan Noah and Lincoln Boccolastte. Doak again starred, backing up for both grades.

Tries came through Reid, Noah, Doak, Ghee and Zaro, with Doak adding four goals.

Other Results

A Grade: Norths def Brothers 32–16; Burdekin def Herbert River 24–18; Western Lions def Centrals 22–20. Souths and Charters Towers byes.

Reserve Grade: Herbert River def Burdekin 42–28; Bowen def Charters Towers 30–18; Brothers def Norths 44–18; Western Lions def Centrals 28–14. Souths bye.

Women: Charters Towers def Bowen 42–8; Western Lions def Centrals 10–4; Brothers def Norths 48–0. Burdekin River bye.

This Week’s Semi-Finals

A Grade: Souths v Brothers (major), Herbert River v Western Lions (minor).
Reserve Grade: Souths v Brothers, Herbert River v Western Lions.
Women: Western Lions v Centrals, Brothers v Burdekin River.

Brothers and Burdekin River finished with almost identical records. Brothers ended with 27 points (7 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses, 6 byes, 260 for/122 against, +138). Burdekin River tallied 23 points (7 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses, 4 byes, 326 for/194 against, +132).

The combined Burdekin River side only formed after the season began but has shown plenty of speed. Brothers boast the bigger pack, but Burdekin River are led by one of the smartest players in the competition, Paige Horvat.

If Horvat at five-eighth gains good ball, the pace of Tiana Krutzfeldt, Martina Monday, Toni Daisy, Tanley Rowe and Abby King could prove decisive.

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