- Canberra Raiders Cup: Gungahlin Bulls ensure West Belconnen's title defence gets off to losing start
- John I Dent Cup: Bruce Kaino stepping out All Black brother's shadow
- NEAFL: It's not a re-badged Eastlake - Kade Klemke is building "Canberra's team"
- Capital Football NPL: Monaro Panthers celebrate 50 years back where it all began
RUGBY LEAGUE
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New Queanbeyan Blues recruits, (front from left) David Beath, Steven Prail, Francis Fainifo, George Stewart. (back from left) Brendon Taueki and Brendon Spears. Photo: Jamila Toderas Photo: Jamila Toderas
West Belconnen Warriors' had a tough start to their Canberra Raiders Cup defence, losing 24-12 to the Gungahlin Bulls at Gungahlin on Saturday.
Not only did they lose the game, but they could be without lock Harrison Whatman for next three or four weeks with a knee injury.
Tries to Dale Cooper-Shields, Channon McKaskill, Rourke O'Sullivan and Satu Opo set up the win for the Bulls.
In the other game on Saturday, former Canberra Raiders captain Terry Campese started his reign at the Queanbeyan Blues with an emphatic 68-6 victory over the Belconnen Sharks at O'Connor.
Campese's team is littered with rugby union recruits to get around the Canberra Raiders Cup salary cap points system.
But the codehoppers have proved so successful it's given him a selection headache going into his first game as captain-coach of the Queanbeyan Blues.
Originally he hoped to have one or two in his first-round side to take on the Belconnen United Sharks at O'Connor on Saturday, but he has named four in the end.
CANBERRA RAIDERS CUP ROUND ONE
Saturday: Gungahlin Bulls 24 (Dale Cooper-Shields, Channon McKaskill, Rourke O'Sullivan, Satu Opo tries; Jake Scholes 4 goals) bt West Belconnen Warriors 12 (Tori Freeman-Quay, Aidan Greenwood, Callum Greenwood tries); Queanbeyan Blues 68 bt Belconnen United Sharks 6.
Sunday: Goulburn Workers Bulldogs v Woden Valley Rams at Goulburn, 2pm; Queanbeyan Kangaroos v Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Freebody Oval, 3pm.
RUGBY UNION
Bruce Kaino has come to Canberra to reignite his Super Rugby dream. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong
That one was for you, Joel.
Royals paid tribute to former clubman Joel Britten in the best way possible after the 21-year-old lost a battle with illness just days ago.
Britten was a part of the club's 2015 Colts premiership-winning team, and first grade coach Wayne Southwell says his passing has made for a "really sad" couple of days.
The emotion was on show before the match, with a massive contingent of Royals supporters joining the players on the field in a huddle for a moment of silence to inspire a 76-12 rout of Uni-Norths.
JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND TWO
Saturday: GUNGAHLIN 28 bt QUEANBEYAN 23 at Nicholls Enclosed Oval, ROYALS 76 bt UNI-NORTHS 12 at Phillip Oval, WESTS 41 bt EASTS 0 at Jamison Oval, Tuggeranong (bye).
AUSTRALIAN RULES
Queanbeyan Tigers player-coach Kade Klemke has signed on as the Canberra Demons head coach. Photo: Canberra Demons Media
What a difference eight months can make.
The Canberra Demons opened their NEAFL campaign with a 21-point victory over the Redland Bombers at Margaret Donoghoe Oval on Saturday.
Wind back to the final round of the 2016 season, and the Demons were on the wrong end of a 53-point drubbing at the hands of the Bombers.
It was the final nail in the coffin of a horror season that bore just three wins, but the Demons can already see the light at the end of the tunnel.
NEAFL ROUND ONE
CANBERRA DEMONS 4.3 8.5 13.6 16.7 (103)
Canberra FC player Ryan Keir and Riverina Rhinos player George Pavese. Photo: Jamila Toderas
Their first hit out in the Capital Football National Premier League didn't go to plan, but the Riverina Rhinos are excited about what's to come.
The competition's new boys on the block opened their campaign in Canberra's top flight with a 7-0 loss at the hands of Canberra FC at Deakin Stadium on Saturday.
CAPITAL FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND ONE
FFA COE 3 bt WODEN WESTON 1 at AIS Grass Fields, CANBERRA FC 7 bt RIVERINA RHINOS 0 at Deakin Stadium, BELCONNEN UNITED 4 bt GUNGAHLIN UNITED 0 at McKellar Park.
Sunday: Monaro Panthers v Canberra Olympic at Riverside Stadium, 2:10pm; Cooma Tigers v Tuggeranong United at Nijong Oval, 3pm