In Round 1 this season, the Intrust Super Cup entered it’s 25th year as a statewide competition in Queensland.
During this time, there have been many brilliant players take part each week to showcase their skills and thrill the fans.
To acknowledge this milestone and to highlight some of the amazing talent the competition has helped foster and unearth, we're asking fans to vote on a 25-year team.
This team is not an official team, unlike the 20-year team, which was unveiled on grand final day in 2015, but rather, a chance for fans to have their say on who they think has lit up the competition during its 25 years.
As there is such a diverse range of talent to pick from, members of the Queensland Rugby League staff have helped select a shortlist of players for each position, taking into account their contributions to the game during their time in the competition.
The positions
Fullback
Winger
Centre
Five-eighth
Halfback
Hooker
Prop
Second rower
Lock
Utility
The criteria for selection
- Players to have played in at least two seasons, ideally 50 games
- The ‘game impact’ of players has been taken into account, with players who have made key contributions to winning results
- Entertainment value – when they play, does it help bring fans through the gates?
The first position for the fan-picked 25-year team is fullback.
Intrust Super Cup 25-year team fullback nominees
1. Ryan Cullen
A member of the 20-year Queensland / Intrust Super Cup Anniversary Team, Cullen starred at Redcliffe, Easts and Central Queensland and played in more than 150 Cup games. In his career, Cullen crossed for 114 tries, was selected for representative duties with the Queensland Residents, featured in two grand finals and won a premiership.
2. Shannon Walker
A superstar in his time, Walker was electrifying on the field with his confidence and speed. His performance in the 2017 grand final is part of the competition’s folklore with his tries helping guide Tweed to victory against the Redcliffe Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
3. Jahrome Hughes
Now an established NRL player with the Melbourne Storm whose versatility has seen him move into the halves, Hughes is a two-time winner of fullback of the year in the Intrust Super Cup, going back-to-back in 2015 and 2016 while playing for Townsville Blackhawks.
4. Reggie Cressbrook
Another member of the 20-year team, the versatile back who hails from Woorabinda claimed two premierships while playing with the Burleigh Bears, and was part of the 2004 extra time epic against Easts Tigers. Described by fellow Intrust Super Cup graduate Billy Slater as one of his favourite players, Cressbrook also scored 1089 points, with 89 tries, 366 goals and a field goal.
5. Nick Parfitt
The highest points scorer in the the history of the competition, Parfitt played in 173 games where he crossed for 113 tries, kicked 483 goals and booted three field goals. A star for the Burleigh Bears, the Maryborough Rovers junior also played for Toowoomba Clydesdales and also featured in six NRL games for the Brisbane Broncos.
Vote now in the poll
Poll closes on Thursday, April 2, at 10am and results will be published that afternoon.
If your choice isn't listed - be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments on the Intrust Super Cup Facebook page.
* Statistics courtesy of Brad Tallon
