Community Corner: Everyone is talking rugby league in Central

They brought in a lot of Outback coaches, right through from juniors to seniors in Central West. They haven’t had any education sessions like that in a number of years, including an online seminar with former NRL coach Neil Henry and current Australian Jillaroos mentor Brad Donald.

Following on from the success of the Outback Junior Muster, Central Highlands then last week hosted the Central Queensland Capras and Burleigh Bears at Emerald in the Hostplus Cup, BMD Premiership and Hastings Deering Colts.

It was a weekend that was put together by Central Highlands Junior Rugby League president Shane Nixon and his committee.

The crowd was enormous with plenty of junior Central Highlands kids turning up, just wanting to be around the players.

There was also a coaching clinic on the Saturday morning and a fundraising dinner the night before, with the great Wayne Bennett present at both.

The smiles on the kids’ faces as they were able to be around Capras players and the likes of Wayne Bennett and the other teams from Burleigh was amazing to see.

And it doesn’t stop there.

Every year the Queensland Rugby League board hold a regional meeting and today that will take place in Rockhampton.

This weekend Rockhampton will also play host to a BMD Premiership semi-final, as our Capras – who finished on top of the ladder – take on Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Browne Park on Saturday afternoon.

Coached by the QRL’s very own Amanda Ohl, there’s a real buzz in the community at the moment.

All three of our sides are going well in the Hostplus Cup, BMD Premiership and Hastings Deering Colts.

The girls were undefeated until last weekend, our Colts side are yet to drop a match, and the men’s team are competing tremendously well.

They were only six points off beating Burleigh last week and had a couple players out with the flu. I have no doubt they’ll bounce back.

As a result, the whole community is talking rugby league.

It’s been so long since we’ve had success through all the grades and it’s making a big difference.

We also have the Rocky Juniors semi-finals this Saturday. They’re the first league to compete in the state every year, with a half a season of club and half a season of schoolboys.

Teams from all over are battling it out across the age divisions in both boys and girls competitions – Norths, Yeppoon, Rocky Tigers, Brothers, Emu Park, Capricorn Coast, Fitzroy.

But despite all this success, there are some areas going through hard times as well.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a lot of rugby league called off as a result of the rain and weather.

It was a huge disappointment, particularly in the junior ranks with the parents and kids desperate to play in any conditions.

But it was just too boggy and wet - the damage to the fields would have been irreparable for the rest of the year.

The floods also reared their ugly head again, this time in the Warwick area

Three clubs were affected out there – the Warwick Cowboys, Eastern Suburbs and Collegians JRLC.

QRL staff are working with those clubs and the leagues to assess the damage and see what type of financial assistance can be afforded, as we have done with Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Maryborough.

Coincidentally, Warwick is also where our State of Origin Queensland Maroons fan day is this year.

And that’s what I mean about rugby league being many things to many people.

While Warwick no doubt has a lot of work ahead, I also know this fan day will pick up the spirits of everyone in the community.

Most of the functions have been sold out already and it’s something for the whole Warwick and District area to be involved in. There are dinners, breakfasts, clinics – something for everyone.

It’s a nearly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rub shoulders with the Origin team.

And I hope it can be the best type of distraction for our people in Warwick.

Upcoming events in the Central region