Potential Thurston replacements ready to shine and other top stories.

• Potential Thurston replacements ready to shine

  WITH Johnathan Thurston set to miss the next fortnight, his absence will provide an opportunity for one of the Cowboys lesser lights to shine.Thurston may still be named to take on the Melbourne Storm in today’s team announcement but the club can tinker with the line-up right up until an hour from kick-off at 1300SMILES Stadium this Saturday.It’s a tactic Cowboys coach Paul Green has employed a number of times this year, as he and his fellow NRL coaches strive to keep their opponent’s guessing.T..

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• Hype builds for Burdekin

  

  BURDEKIN have pumped even more hype into their premiership credentials with a 45-15 win over Ross River in a fiery game of Townsville and District Rugby Union.Players from each team were red carded after punches were thrown during a second half brawl, casting a shadow over Saturday’s proceedings despite Burdekin winning the Reg Fuller Shield.The annual shield game is played between the two teams, and Burdekin won it off Ross River with another free-flowing performance to notch up four wins in a ..

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• Where are you, Migaloo? White whale watch

  

  THE search for a great white whale is set to start again in North Queensland, with all eyes on Migaloo as he makes his way up the east coast. The famous whale was spotted off the NSW coast last week and now the Gold Coast is on standby to see if he makes an appearance, while North Queenslanders are hoping he makes it up this far.Before last week it had been two years since Migaloo was last sighted.Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority whale expert Matt Curnock said there was no guarantee Miga..

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• Herbert count may go to court

  

  INCUMBENT LNP MP Ewen Jones has crept back into the lead in the recounting of votes to determine who represents Herbert for the next three years.Mr Jones yesterday led Labor’s Cathy O’Toole by just one vote. However, that number is expected to change when a ruling is made on votes deemed informal.Even then, a decision may be affected by possible legal challenges from both sides.Counting continues today, with a senior Australian Electoral Commission officer set to jet into Townsville to judge the..

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• Fury fight for draw

  

  THE Northern Fury have produced arguably their best 90 minutes of the season to draw 0-0 with title National Premier League title contenders Brisbane City.For the first time all year Fury coach Ian Ferguson could say post-match that his team played as a unit, giving supporters a glimpse of what could be in store for next year.City had more chances during Saturday’s game in Brisbane, but the Fury had theirs as well, with Corey Waples finding his range with an early free kick, only for City goal k..

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• Sparkies wary of merger shutout

  

  TOWNSVILLE electricians are concerned the commercial arm of the State Government’s new energy body will make it too difficult for small businesses to compete.It comes after it was revealed yesterday the newly formed Energy Queensland would need to spend $3 billion less on its networks over the next five years after a decision by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) last year.Treasurer Curtis Pitt yesterday said lower capital spending from the merged Ergon Energy and Energex would likely mean mo..

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• Finals footy locked away

  

  FINALS footy has been locked up in the Townsville and Districts Rugby League A grade competition after Norths outclassed Western Lions yesterday 42-18.Norths have locked up a guaranteed top five spot in the new-look TDRL finals format, with the Devils leapfrogging Lions into fourth, while Centrals moved into third with a 16-12 win over minor premiers Herbert River in Ingham.Burdekin scored a 40-18 win over University in Ayr but needed Norths to drop yesterday’s game against Lions to have any hop..

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• “Fake” wife acted for accused killer

  

  A WOMAN who posed as an accused murderer’s wife has said the man confessed to killing her and she helped him try to cover it up.Tara Cassandra Worrall, 30, and accused murderer Michael Hutchinson, formed a close bond, akin to a father-daughter relationship, before the pair became embroiled in alleged criminal activity.A Townsville court heard Worrall was told by Hutchinson that he killed his wife Julie Hutchinson by punching her and she hit her head against a cabinet.Read the full text of this s..

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• Mayor happy with first 100 days

  

  SIGNIFICANT milestones marked the first 100 days since the since the new Townsville City Council was sworn in – including a change of CEO, a budget, purchase of land for the CBD stadium and the start of a management review.Praising the work of her council team since officially being sworn in on April 8, Mayor Jenny Hill said the hard work had only just begun, with more changes to come in order to best serve the community and leave a lasting legacy on the city.The full council will meet today for..

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• Bulldogs roll past Tigers in TAFL

  

  THE Thuringowa juggernaut just keeps on rolling after the Bulldogs claimed a 11.20 (86) to 9.9 (63) win over defending AFL Townsville premiers Hermit Park at Neil French Oval on Saturday.The Tigers were starting to find some consistency after winning their past three games, but they couldn’t contain the unbeaten Bulldogs who had raced to a four-goal lead by quarter-time.Blake Leonard and Bryce Kelly led the way with three goals each and they could have had more if not for some wayward kicking in..

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Townsville can take cue from stadium out west .	Our wacky weather .
Former Black Caviar assistant trainer enjoying new start in Townsville .	Pauline Hanson won't identify Muslims in One Nation because it could 'put them in danger' .