# 1996 Cairns Cyclones season

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, which included two split rounds. The 'Final 6' system was used in the Finals Series to determine the Premiers.

## 1996 Cairns Cyclones Squad

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
* David Maiden
* Steve Womal
* Steve Howlett
* Nathan Woods
* Chris Vanoletti

## Best and Fairest Player Award

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.

## 1996 Channel Nine Cup
### 1996 Ladder

| 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 Tigers$^1$ | 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 | -15 | 18 |
| 9 | Norths Devils | 8 | 7 | 0 | 334 | 332 | 2 | 16 |
| 10 | Port Moresby Vipers | 8 | 7 | 0 | 323 | 408 | -85 | 16 |
| 11 | Central Capras | 7 | 8 | 0 | 309 | 336 | -27 | 14 |
| 12 | Mackay Sea Eagles | 6 | 8 | 1 | 306 | 285 | 21 | 13 |
| 13 | Bundaberg Grizzlies$^1$ | 4 | 10 | 0 | 211 | 348 | -137 | 9 |
| 14 | Logan Scorpions | 3 | 10 | 2 | 236 | 346 | -110 | 8 |
| 15 | Sunshine Coast Falcons | 1 | 14 | 0 | 184 | 397 | -213 | 2 |
| 16 | Ipswich Jets | 0 | 15 | 0 | 138 | 478 | -340 | 0 |
$^1$Awarded One Point due to Game being Cancelled.

### 1996 Channel Nine Cup Minor Premiers and Premiers

* Minor Premiers: Toowoomba Clydesdales
* Premiers: Toowoomba Clydesdales

## 1996 Cairns Cyclones Matches

* Round 1 Saturday, 30 March 1996
| Cairns Cyclones | 30–4 | Norths Devils |
| Tries: Andy Henley Robbie Schmidt (c) 3 Richard Murgha Goals: John Clifford 5 from 5 | | Tries: 1 Goals: 0 |
* Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns Attendance: 1,000
* Notes: Half-time 6–4
* Round 2 Sunday, 7 April 1996
| Redcliffe Dolphins | 30–18 | Cairns Cyclones |
* Venue: Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe
* 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.
* Round 3 Saturday, 13 April 1996
| Cairns Cyclones | 26–12 | Logan Scorpions |
| Tries: Andy Henley Robbie Schmidt (c) 2 Richard Murgha David Maiden Goals: 3 from 5 | | Tries: Brendon Lindsay 1 Goals: 2 |
* Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
* 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.
* Round 4 Saturday, 20 April 1996
| Brisbane Wests Panthers | 14–20 | Cairns Cyclones |
| Tries: M. Seaby S. Valentine Goals: J. Brown 3 | | Tries: David Maiden 2 Craig Cycgler Robbie Hollingsworth Goals: Mick Skardon Shannon van Balen |
* Venue: Purtell Park, Bardon
* 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.
* Round 5 Saturday, 27 April 1996
| Cairns Cyclones | 42–4 | Past Brothers |
* Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
* Round 6 Saturday, 4 May 1996
| Mackay Sea-Eagles | 22–20 | Cairns Cyclones |
* Venue: Mackay Junior Rugby League Grounds
* Round 7 Saturday, 25 May 1996
| Cairns Cyclones | 26–8 | Sunshine Coast Falcons |
* Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
* Round 8 Saturday, 1 June 1996
| Central Capras | 14–18 | Cairns Cyclones |
* Venue: Victoria Park
* Round 9 Saturday, 15 June 1996
| Cairns Cyclones | 16–6 | Toowoomba Clydesdales |
* Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
* Round 10 22 June 1996
| Easts Tigers | 16–22 | Cairns Cyclones |
* Venue: Langlands Park, Stones Corner, Brisbane
* Round 11 Saturday, 29 June 1996
| Cairns Cyclones | 10–19 | Wynnum Manly Seagulls |
* Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
* Round 12 Saturday, 6 July 1996
| Port Moresby Vipers | 29–22 | Cairns Cyclones |
* Venue: Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby
* Round 13 Saturday, 13 July 1996
| Cairns Cyclones | 8–6 | Souths Magpies |
* Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
* Round 14 Sunday, 21 July 1996
| Ipswich Jets | 14–24 | Cairns Cyclones |
* Venue: North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
* Round 15 Saturday, 27 July 1996
| Bundaberg Grizzlies | 16–18 | Cairns Cyclones |
* Venue: Salter Oval, Bundaberg
* Week 1 Semi-final Saturday, 3 August 1996
| Cairns Cyclones | 12–16 | Easts Tigers |
* Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
* ↑ Queensland R.LEAGUE 1996 Table Archived 2012-02-08 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 Dec 2007
* ↑ Queensland R.LEAGUE 1996 Results Archived 2013-03-18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 Dec 2007
* ↑ "QRL".