It’s a great week to be a North Queenslander.
We are still buzzing up here over the success of our Townsville team, who went down to Rockhampton and overcame the Rustlers 40-28 in the XXXX League Championship semi-final on Saturday.
They have now secured themselves a spot in the competition final on July 30, with Townsville playing host to the Gold Coast in the deciding match, which will crown the best A grade team in the state.
It was a really great game – a strong effort – and everyone in North Queensland was so excited.
It’s not often you get the whole of the North cheering for a Townsville team, but they were on this occasion, watching from far and wide.
Now all our clubs and leagues are right behind Townsville in their quest to become our state final winners.
The match will be played at Neil Stewart Oval at 4pm on Saturday, July 30.
This final also really couldn’t come at a better time for Rugby League Townsville and District, after they moved under the one governance model this year.
I know they already have some big plans in the pipeline for the XXXX League Championship final and they want to have a whole array of games played throughout the day, from our littlest under 6s experiencing the game in their first year right through to our senior team.
We want to showcase our talent and inspire the next generation of kids coming through.
All of us up here in Queensland Rugby League know it’s going to be a wonderful occasion and RLTD are doing everything they can in ensuring it’s one of the best events of the year.
We will also have quite a lead up into the XXXX League Championship final, with the upcoming school holidays also marking the kick off of our carnival circuit.
We’re Queensland’s home of carnivals up here, with an underage competition available in every grade.
The Nate Myles Cup under 13s tournament will take place this weekend with 29 teams, while next weekend we will also see the under 10s Gorden Tallis Cup in action with a whopping 72 teams.
And these carnivals are not just big for our players, but our match officials too.
Our young referees will be heavily relied upon over these coming weeks, with 288 games at the Gorden Tallis Cup and 73 at the Nate Myles Cup.
When we talk about having an experience for all, it’s certainly a big deal for our young match officials to be part of these events - they meet other match officials from all over the region and come together to help and enjoy the game as much as the players.
It’s going to be an exciting month ahead.
Outside of carnival season and XXXX League Championship preparations, we also have our Positive Environment Program in full swing with its adaptation here in North Queensland.
This program is designed to help our volunteers tackle any behaviour issues across the game, to increase positivity, and make everyone feel safe and included.
We see this as a huge educational opportunity for each and every one of us in the game to ensure we’re creating the best possible environment in any area that showcases rugby league.
Rugby league has a unique ability to make a difference in our community and the PEP is such a proactive program that has been highly supported by all leagues and clubs across North Queensland.
We here in the North stand by our values and beliefs – and the QRL’s values and beliefs – in ensuring that our game is inclusive for all. This program helps us to do this, to live by our values and creates a safe and inclusive space for all.
I think we are seeing people buy into these values and it also opens the door to attract so many more wonderful people to our game.
So to everyone who has jumped on board I do want to say thank you. Thank you for ensuring our game continues to thrive up here.
