This year’s Under 14 Central Outback Broncos Challenge finals were held at Roma Cities Rugby League Club recently with all teams playing in the finals series.
This year again had the support from the Central Division and the Brisbane Broncos with Michael Devere and David Stagg attending the grand final to give out awards for the player of the match in each game and presented the trophy to the winning team, Benderoo/Mitchell.
They also presented the awards for the player of the year for each club and the overall player of the year and attended schools in the area on the Friday before the games.
The continued support from a club like the Brisbane Broncos to an event in the outback has been greatly appreciated by all involved.
The winning team is a combination of players from the newly formed Benderoo Bulls coming out of Surat, Wallumbilla and Yuleba and the long-time established Mitchell Magpies and were coached by Wendy Clark.
This is the first time a female has coached a team in this competition and has done a great job with the boys who did not lose a game for the season.
They came up against a very committed Western Ringers team who jumped to an early 10-0 lead but were eventually run down 16-10 in the final.
Players competed from towns situated in Cunnamulla, Charleville, Mitchell, Wallumbilla, Surat, Yuleba, Miles, Roma and St George with all teams hosting one round each.
The support from parents to transport the boys to the games has once again has been a show of commitment from people in the Outback.
Some players have travelled up to 600 kilometres each way to compete in this competition.
The competition was originally organised so that young players in the Under 14 age group could get some footy with a very limited number of competitions being held in the outback for this age group and the benefit from these games is there for all to see.
As junior rugby league continues in the outback, the improvement in the players has been rewarding to see.
Some players have been selected in the Central Crows junior teams at the recent Central Division Junior Carnival and they will play at the QRL State Junior Carnival later this month.
PLAYERS OF THE CARNIVAL WINNERS
Overall Player of the Carnival: Jed Bignell
St George: Beau Petfield
Western Ringers: Joel Saffy
Miles: Martyn Steel
Benderoo/Mitchell: Matthew York
Roma: Connor Postle
