Excitement builds for Round 1 following season launch

The 2019 Intrust Super Cup season kicked off in style today, with club representatives, competition sponsors and Queensland Rugby League staff and other key stakeholders gathering in anticipation of the season ahead.

Pathways was a key focus of the event held at the picturesque Flight Centre building in South Bank, with AJ Brimson of the Tweed Heads Seagulls and Gold Coast Titans sharing the stage with Queensland Maroons coach Kevin Walters to share his journey to the NRL.

They were also joined by fellow Titan Jai Arrow who had a distinguished career with Norths Devils that also included XXXX Queensland Residents selection before he made mark in the NRL and earned himself selection in the State of Origin team.

MC Peter Psaltis opened the day with an address to the assembled guests, which included representatives from key sponsors including Brendan O’Farrell from Intrust Super, Vincent Cosgrove from Hastings Deering and Damian Hearne from Auswide Bank.

All three were part of a panel where they shared the significance of their partnership and spoke of the alignment between their organisations and the QRL, with Mr O’Farrell especially proud to be a major sponsor of the Intrust Super Cup competition for 10 years.

While they were defeated in last year’s grand final; the Easts Tigers were a popular tip by the panelists to take out the premiership this year, with Mr Cosgrove having played for Easts as a junior.

However, both he and Mr Hearne agreed it would be great to see a regional team take the trophy this year, with both the Townsville Blackhawks (with Aaron Payne), CQ Capras (with David Faiumu) and Eric Smith (Sunshine Coast Falcons) all first-year Cup coaches this season.

After an entertaining afternoon, QRL Chairman Bruce Hatcher closed proceedings and outlined his desire for this year’s premiers to continue to the Intrust Super State Championship and win back the trophy from the NSW representatives.

Earlier in the day, all clubs took part in media duties to help promote the start of the 2019 season which will kick off next Saturday, March 2 and will feature Ipswich Jets at home to the Townsville Blackhawks in Channel 9’s Sunday match of the round.