New Intrust Super Cup side Townsville Blackhawks have won their inaugural match after seeing off Mackay Cutters 30-16 in the opening round of the 2015 season.
Playing their first home match adjacent to 1300SMILES Stadium at Jack Manski Oval, the Blackhawks ran in six tries to three against the Cutters with North Queensland Cowboys Kyle Feldt and Zac Santo both crossing the line.
Townsville had been crying out for an ISC franchise since 2008 after former incarnation, the North Queensland Young Guns, folded the previous season due to the implementation of the NYC under-20s competition.
Prior to the Young Guns, the Townsville Stingers played Queensland Cup for one season in 1998.
Meanwhile in other results, Easts Tigers exacted a hint of revenge for last year's grand final defeat to Northern Pride by accounting for the defending premiers 20-12 at Langlands Park.
Fringe Melbourne Storm players Mahe Fonua and Shaun Nona were amongst the scorers for Easts, who share a feeder-team relationship with the Storm alongside the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
The Falcons had nine squad members from the Storm in their side which lost 24-18 at home to the Norths Devils.
Former Test prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, back-rower Kenny Bromwich, halfback Ben Hampton, hooker Slade Griffin and former Easts Tigers centre Hymel Hunt were just some of names appearing for the 2014 wooden spooners.
Fan favourites PNG Hunters opened their season with a typically powerful performance, trouncing Souths Logan 40-18 with Thompson Teteh and Oti Bland Tony bagging two tries each.
Tweed Heads Seagulls defeated Redcliffe 42-28 in an enthralling encounter at Dolphin Oval with 13 tries scored in the match.
The Dolphins led by eight with 20 minutes to go before Tweed blew them away with four unanswered tries in the final quarter of the game.
Wynnum Manly Seagulls pipped Ben and Shane Walker's Ipswich Jets 18-16 with their younger brother, 35-year-old former Queensland Origin star Chris Walker, turning out for the Jets at North Ipswich Reserve.
In the final match of Round 1, Central Capras beat the Burleigh Bears 22-14 at Browne Park in Rockhampton.
For full details of Round 1 of the Intrust Super Cup click here.
