2018 Intrust Super Cup Country Week announcement
Six Queensland towns will host Intrust Super Cup fixtures for the first time as part of ‘Get in the Game’ Country Week, Sports Minister Mick de Brenni announced today.
Speaking during Channel 9’s broadcast of the Intrust Super Cup match in Townsville, Minister de Brenni revealed Goondiwindi will host the televised match between the Redcliffe Dolphins and Easts Tigers.
Minister de Brenni said the game’s footprint will be spread far and wide across the state, with Maryborough, Cooktown, Normanton, Bowen and Hughenden all part of the historic Round 19 action on the weekend of July 21-22.
“We’re thrilled that six towns will welcome the Intrust Super Cup into their neighbourhood for the very first time,” Minister de Brenni said.
“From inspiring our kids to lace up some boots to injecting cash into regional economies, we’re excited about the opportunities these games provide.”
Each Queensland town is set to be a hive of activity over the course of the weekend, with community events to run in conjunction with development opportunities for junior participants, coaches and referees.
Queensland Rugby League Managing Director Robert Moore said NRL Game Development teams, former league greats and QRL directors and staff from all departments will engage with local communities.
“This initiative delivers residents in rural and regional centres a form of entertainment and inspiration,” Moore said.
“At the same time, it provides a valuable experience for participating players as they give back to the community.
“We’re extremely grateful to the Queensland Government for its sponsorship and support of this initiative, as they share our passion for the game in rural and regional Queensland.
“Last year, more than $150,000 in revenue was generated by the local clubs who hosted Country Weeks games.”
Every game across the round will carry significant appeal, particularly with the September finals series looming.
In Maryborough, early competition front-runners the Burleigh Bears clash with the Central Queensland Capras.
The unspoilt beauty of the Cape York Peninsula will provide a stunning backdrop to the match in Cooktown, 328km north of Cairns, between the Northern Pride and Ipswich Jets.
Traditional suburban rivals Souths Logan and Wynnum Manly are off to Normanton, a rural town 40km south-east of the mouth of the Norman River on the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The Whitsunday Region welcomes the Sunshine Coast and Mackay Cutters to Bowen’s Denison Park, while Tweed Heads and Townsville Blackhawks clash in Hughenden, a town located on the Flinders Highway, 376km west of Townsville.
The match between the Papua New Guinea Hunters and the Norths Devils in Lae, PNG, is the only game outside of Queensland.
- 2018 ‘Get in the Game’ Country Week: Round 19 Intrust Super Cup (July 21-22)
Maryborough –Burleigh Bears v CQ Capras
Cooktown – Northern Pride v Ipswich Jets
Goondiwindi – Redcliffe Dolphins v Easts Tigers (Channel 9)
Normanton – Souths Logan Magpies v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Bowen – Sunshine Coast Falcons v Mackay Cutters
Hughenden – Tweed Heads Seagulls v Townsville Blackhawks
Lae – PNG Hunters v Norths Devils
