| Clubname: | CAIRNS CYCLONES |
| Fullname: | Cairns Cyclones Rugby League Football Club |
| Colours: | Green, white and gold |
| Founded: | 1996 |
| Exited: | 2000 |
| Sport: | Rugby League |
| League: | Queensland Cup |
| Ground: | Barlow Park |
| Capacity: | seating 1,700, standing 15,000 |
| Premierships: | Nil |
| Runners: | Nil |
| Minors: | Nil |
| Spoons: | Nil |
| Win: | 48–0 v Bundaberg Grizzlies at Salter Oval, 1998 |
| Loss: | 78–4 v Easts Tigers at Langlands Park, 2000 |
| Homejersey: | Cairns Cyclones 1997 jersey.png |
The 1996 Cairns Cyclones season was the first season that the Cairns Cyclones rugby league team competed in the inaugural Queensland Cup. The Queensland Cup was formed after the Winfield State League was closed after the end of the 1995 Season. At the time the Queensland Cup was the second tier competition under the Brisbane Rugby League.
The Cairns Cyclones team was managed by Nigel Tillett and coached by Gary Smith. They were one of sixteen clubs competing in the fifteen-week-long competition,[1] which included two split rounds. The 'Final 6' system was used in the Finals Series to determine the Premiers.[2]
1. Shannon Van Balen (Fullback)
2. Richard Murgha (Threequarters)
3. Mick Skardon (Threequarters)
4. Craig Cygler (Threequarters)
5. Chris Kelly (Threequarters)
6. Paul Fowler (Halves)
7. Robbie Schmidt (captain) (Halves)
8. Troy Lorimer (Forwards)
9. Andy Henley (Forwards)
10. Peter Deaves (Forwards)
11. Brian Fourmile (Forwards)
12. Matt Clifford (Forwards)
13. Matt Hensler (Forwards)
14. Chad Prien (Replacements)
15. John Clifford (Replacements)
16. Robbie Hollingsworth (Replacements)
17. Scott Tronc (Replacements)
Other players
Cairns Cyclone's Robbie Schmidt was awarded The Courier Mail Best and Fairest player. The award was given to the Queensland Cup player voted for as the best and fairest over the entire season. After each game, the referees vote to award three votes to the best player, two votes to the second-best player, and one vote to the third-best player.[3]
| Pos. | Team | W | L | D | P/F | P/A | P/D | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toowoomba Clydesdales | 11 | 3 | 1 | 360 | 226 | 134 | 23 | ||
| 2 | Redcliffe Dolphins | 10 | 3 | 2 | 365 | 193 | 172 | 22 | ||
| 3 | Souths Magpies | 10 | 4 | 1 | 375 | 205 | 170 | 21 | ||
| 4 | Wests Panthers | 10 | 4 | 1 | 359 | 208 | 151 | 21 | ||
| 5 | Cairns Cyclones | 10 | 5 | 0 | 310 | 224 | 86 | 20 | ||
| 6 | Easts Tigers1 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 315 | 224 | 91 | 19 | ||
| 7 | Wynnum Manly Seagulls | 8 | 5 | 2 | 325 | 225 | 100 | 18 | ||
| 8 | Past Brothers | 9 | 6 | 0 | 339 | 354 | align = center | -15 | 18 | |
| 9 | Norths Devils | 8 | 7 | 0 | 334 | 332 | 2 | 16 | ||
| 10 | Port Moresby Vipers | 8 | 7 | 0 | 323 | 408 | align = center | -85 | 16 | |
| 11 | Central Capras | 7 | 8 | 0 | 309 | 336 | align = center | -27 | 14 | |
| 12 | Mackay Sea Eagles | 6 | 8 | 1 | 306 | 285 | 21 | 13 | ||
| 13 | Bundaberg Grizzlies1 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 211 | 348 | align = center | -137 | 9 | |
| 14 | Logan Scorpions | 3 | 10 | 2 | 236 | 346 | align = center | -110 | 8 | |
| 15 | Sunshine Coast Falcons | 1 | 14 | 0 | 184 | 397 | align = center | -213 | 2 | |
| 16 | Ipswich Jets | 0 | 15 | 0 | 138 | 478 | align = center | -340 | 0 |
1Awarded One Point due to Game being Cancelled.
| Notes: Half-time 6–4 |
| Notes: Cyclones players John Clifford and Steve Howlett were sent off. The Cyclones played the last 35 minutes with 11 men. Howleet was not charged, but Clifford was suspended for a month for attacking the head of another player. |
| Team: 1. Richard Murgha, 2. Michael Skardon, 3. Steve Howlett, 4. David Maiden, 5. Chris Kelly, 6. Paul Fowler, 7. Robbie Schmidt (captain), 8. Troy Lorimer, 9. Andy Henley, 10. Peter Deaves, 11. Nathan Woods, 13. Chad Prien, 19. Matt Hensler. |
| Interchange: 14. Shannon van Balen, 15. Chris Zanoletti, 16. Robbie Hollingsworth, 17. Scott Tronc. |
| Unavailable: John Clifford (suspended), Brian Fourmile (concussion). |
| Notes: Half-time 10–6. |
| Team: 1. Shannon van Balen, 2. Richard Murgha, 3. Steve Howlett, 4. David Maiden, 5. Chris Kelly, 6. Paul Fowler, 7. Robbie Schmidt (captain), 8. Troy Lorimer, 9. Andy Henley, 10. Peter Deaves, 11. Brian Fourmile, 13. Chad Prien, 19. Matt Hensler. |
| Interchange: 14. Mick Skardon, 15. Craig Cygler, 16. Robbie Hollingsworth, 17. Nathan Woods. |
| Unavailable: John Clifford (suspended), Scott Tronc (injured). |
| Notes: Shown on ABC TV at 2.30 pm. |