THE North Queensland Tropical Cyclones' under-20 men created history at Caloundra last Saturday by becoming the first team from the region to capture a national Touch league title.

The Cyclones secured the title with a 9-7 win in the final against Hunter Western Hornets to put the memories of their 2009 semi-final exit behind them.

The Cyclones, comprising eight Townsville players and the Cairns quintet of skipper Lawrence Oberleuter, Lachlan Conlon, Brayden Lazarus, Brent Croydon and Tom Searle, led 6-2 in the decider before weathering a Hornets comeback.

Conlon, Lazarus and Searle each scored in the final, securing a title which Cyclones coach Craig House said had been four years in the making.

"Four of the boys have been together for four years," he said. "They were 16 years old when they started this quest."

House said the experience gained by his young charges, who progressed from nervous youngsters to cool-headed veterans during his four years at the reins, had contributed to the victory.

"The first year for them (2006) was probably a bit daunting but this year they took the competition by the scruff of the neck, confidently taking on every competitor in the division and coming out on top," he said. "They were a bit more dedicated this year because, for four of them, it was their last year in the division and they all felt they had something to prove. It was the last roll of the dice."

That experience came in handy as players had to adjust from playing in hot and fine conditions at the tournament start to plying their skills in ankle-deep water and mud by the time the four-day tournament concluded last Saturday.

"North Queensland boys normally want to be flamboyant and show the big steps and moves, but to play it safe in what was still an entertaining game showed how much they’ve developed," he said.

"They’re the first North Queensland team to win a national title at any level. Hopefully, we can get more support for the sport here now and people realise that we do have the skill and ability to field strong teams here."

House said bitter memories of being bundled out of the semi-finals in last year’s national league at Port Macquarie was the probable added motivation for the team’s title-winning performance.

The team: Casey Evans (Townsville), Jake Carter (T), Richard Chew (T), Brent Croydon (Cairns), Lawrence Oberleuter (C), Brayden Lazarus (C), Tom Searle (C), Sean Lynch (T) Lachlan Conlon (C), Allan Serrurier (T), Luke Goninan (T), Hayden Boyce (T), Kristian Congoo (T).

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