Two generations fuelling Tigers’ bid for Haisman Shield glory

Almost 9,000 runs, more than 500 wickets, and a trophy cabinet chock-full of silverware underscore one of the great local cricket careers, but it’s the chip off the old block that stands as one of the senior Yze’s best highlights.

“It’s unreal, to be honest,” Yze said.

“I’m very proud and honoured to be able to play with Nate.

“It’s probably one of the key factors behind why I'm still playing, to be honest.

“I always wanted to play a game of cricket with him and now that's been achieved and hopefully, there are many more games to come.”

The younger Yze is Central Park-St Brendan’s 189th A-grade player, and the advice from his all-conquering father on arrival to the top grade was simple.

“Just back himself,” Yze said.

“There's a reason why he got into the team; he knows his game and what he can and can't do, and I just said ‘mate, it's a game of cricket’.

“The standard’s a little bit higher, there's going to be a bit more pressure, obviously the opposition are going to get into him and that’s just normal.

“But at the end of the day, all you’ve got to do is watch the ball … which is easy to say.”

While he'll need time to find his groove in what promises to be a fiercely competitive 2025-26 competition, all signs point to the young gun developing into a star in his own right, earning selection in the Northern Rivers Academy and Dowling Shield for Greenvale.

“He's got a fair bit going on, and he's achieved a little bit so far, but there's still plenty of work to go,” Yze said.

“He’s a very quiet kid, but he’ll back himself every day of the week.

“He’s very determined and doesn't want to let anyone down; I think he just wants to perform at his best and make sure we're a strong A-grade side.”

After three rounds, the Tigers sit second on the Haisman Shield ladder, their first loss coming last weekend by four wickets to Waaia after playing “three quarters” of a good game against the reigning premier, according to Yze.

But there’s no doubt in his mind with the talent at their disposal that their best is good enough, hoping to climb back onto the winners’ list against Katandra at Katandra Recreation Reserve.

“There's still room for improvement, but I think if we're on song then we should be okay,” he said.

“There's certainly more that we can achieve as a team if we put our head to it.

“(Round two debutant) Tom Mellington showed great poise and character, Tyler (Larkin) and Connor Hayes are still young in terms of cricket age.

“You’ve got a Gus Byrne who's knocking on the door, our B-grade’s got a few good young kids coming through.”

Around the grounds, Karramomus, the last unbeaten side in the competition, host Mooroopna at Vibert Reserve in an effort to stay that way.

Nagambie and Tatura lock horns in an early-season top six battle, while the seventh-placed Waaia will aim to pull itself back into the top echelon when it faces Old Students.

Pine Lodge remains in the hunt for a maiden win, facing a Numurkah side coming off a miracle 20-run win against the Eagles, while Nagambie will look to build on its thumping nine-wicket win against SYCU when it hosts Tatura.

Kyabram (fourth) tackles the winless Shepparton Youth Club United.

But out at Katandra, the Central Park-St Brendan’s father-son duo will hopefully continue their association at the top level of their competition, and with the pieces there for the Tigers to go one better than last year, will it be a Yze one-two combination that pulls them back to the apex of the Haisman Shield?