How heart has driven Ivanhoes to a century of success

The oldest rugby league in Cairns will celebrate the milestone this weekend.

Ivanhoes hosted long-term rivals - and friends - Brothers in Round 16 of the FNQRL on Friday night, and on Saturday night will host a function to mark the historic occasion.

The journey started in 1923 when Hugh Kennedy appointed the first president of a club formed during a meeting at a Winkworths hardware shop on McLeod St.

A “working man’s club” since its inception, Ivanhoes hit the ground running as they secured three of their 11 total senior premierships within their first few years, with three titles in a row from 1926-28.

They have had various homes over the journey, at one point training at Norman Park (now the Munro Martin Parklands), and for many years had a clubhouse at Morehead St, Bungalow, as their home base.

It wasn’t until the 1970s when the Knights began their march to Smithfield, with the first game at their current ground in 1988.

But what has remained consistent is the heart of the club.

The people - players, staff, officials, volunteers, and the dedicated supporters - all cherish Ivanhoes for different reasons, with the club playing major parts in their lives.

Life member Laurie Henley has headed the reunion committee for at least the past 18 months, leading a team of volunteers in organising what is one of the biggest weekend’s in the club’s long history.

For Henley, one of many lifelong Ivanhoes people who can trace family links to the Knights back for generations, said loyalty was a key component of the club.

“It’s loyalty through the families, and all the way through the grades at the club,” Henley said.

“It was almost expected that family would play for Ivanhoes. It’s more than a club.

“Even now, if we watch A-grade play we’re seeing as many as four family members playing in that team.”

Ivanhoes showcased that quartet a few weeks ago when they modelled a replica of the 1963 jersey, which the team wore against Kangaroos.

In that photo stood A-grade members Brent Oosen, Dallas and Connor Skardon and Hunter McCombie - four men who are descendants of William Henley Snr, who played for the club from 1932 to 1937.

The club has worn replica jerseys throughout this campaign, with designs reminiscent of the 1991 premiership team, 1963, the current strip, and, on Friday, the 1920s.

Ivanhoes president Noel Slade praised Henley and the reunion committee for their tireless work in bringing the historic celebration together, as well as the FNQRL for ensuring they could host long-term rivals Brothers this week.

“I’m super proud of our club, my family has had a big history at the club but there’s other families who go back as well - the Henleys go back to the 1930s,” Slade said.

“My grandfather had a couple of games after World War II, and my wife’s grandfather played in the 1930s as well.

“We are a big family club.

“It’s been massive for the club, we’ve had a lot of guys who haven’t been around for a long time come back and it’s been great to see them.

“I’m really proud of what everyone’s achieved.”

Heath Stroud was president for 11 years between 2000 and 13 among the decades of service he gave the club, and was among the group which has canvassed former players and coaches to select a team of the 21st century.

That 18-man team will be unveiled at the Pullman Reef International function on Saturday, on a night when Stroud will join the Ivanhoes family to celebrate its history.

“In the earlier years the club was my whole life,” he said.

“At the games every weekend, raffles on Friday night - it was very busy.

“We made a lot of friendships and shared a lot of laughs through the time.

“The best part was seeing the 15 or 16-year-old boys become men and join the A-grade team.

“We made the grand final in 1998, our 75th year, and while we didn’t win on that day a lot of the team were guys who had come through the club.”

The Knights are well and truly on the march to another memorable campaign, with all three teams in the mix for minor premiership and a tilt at grand final glory.

It would be the first time Ivanhoes have won a premiership since Ben Rauter coached the Knights to the 2016 premiership - the club’s first in 25 years.

The club had made the grand final a season prior but fell to Innisfail, and Rauter said it didn’t take too much to bring everyone back.

“It was very rewarding,” Rauter said.

“We led a group of players who hadn’t really experienced grand finals before, and the best part were that they were mostly Ivanhoes juniors.

“It wasn’t just the players, but the club enjoyed it as a whole.

“The standard was set during that 2015 season.

“It’s tough to get to a grand final regardless of what competition you play in.

“It was tough (in 2016) but most of the boys came back and wanted to go again.

“Everyone contributed in their own way. It’s hard to single out players but it was great to see Ben Reed, and his brother Josh in that team.

“Ben had captained the club and to see that rewarded with a premiership was great.”

This year, marquee recruit Josh Dugan has added experience and an elite touch to a team filled with Ivanhoes-produced stars like Rhylee Herd, the Skardons, Oosen, and young gun Beau Hodges, but Henley said it is how coach Lindsay Styles has brought the squad together which is underlining their success.

“You can see the camaraderie between the players, and what Lindsay and his assistant coach, his dad Wayne, have done,” Henley said.

“You can see what they have put into the team.

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“Not every coach has that connection with the players, it’s great to see.”

That heart is what has fuelled Ivanhoes for 100 years, and the hope will help the club strive into the future.

matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au

Originally published as How heart has driven Ivanhoes to a century of success