XXXX Foley Shield: Warrior Crampton's hunt for modern day greatness

Ageless warrior Davin Crampton knows more than most the value of the XXXX Foley Shield, even in this day and age.

In a bygone era, the competition - which kicks off in earnest on Saturday - had established Queensland and Australian representatives in action or picked straight from the side.

In those halcyon days, 20,000 people would squeeze into Cairns showgrounds for a home leg and while the rugby league landscape is a bit different these days, it’s the closest any talent who dodges eager eyes will come to put their name up in lights.

Crampton, 34, will be one of Cairns’ leaders in one of the rare occasions in which the XXXX Foley Shield will be decided outside Townsville.

This year is the backrower’s seventh such carnival. He is approaching his second with Cairns and has three for Townsville and two with Mt Isa/Midwest – the latter where he made his name with a decorated Cup career and NRL contract from humble beginnings in Normanton.

“It was from the Foley Shield where I got picked up. It was 2010, I was only 20 and that was literally my ticket that I needed to get out of my hometown. I was 20kg lighter than I am now and a bit quicker,” Crampton said.

“Growing up in Normanton you’d hear the stories about how Mt Isa used to be a force in the Foley Shield with Frank and Vern Daisy, the two brothers, you’d hear so much about those two lads running around in the Foley Shield and how much it means to the Mt Isa area.

“You sort of take your hat off to those two fellas because if it wasn’t for those stories from them fellas, that kept me going trying to push and try to make a name like them.

“I remember we made the grand final one year with Mt Isa/Midwest and one of the brothers came in and told us what the Foley Shield means to him and his experiences and I wish I could have that feeling and be in that place one day.

“The take home from it was more about the passion and the pride and the love for rugby league really, just a love for the sport and how much the sport can help out an Indigenous lad from a small town or small community, just how much they could use the game as a vessel to progress further.”

The Mossman Port Douglas Sharks captain-coach in the Far North Queensland Rugby League A grade competition knows while Mt Isa isn’t involved anymore, there’s players who have worn the Cairns gold and green before him for whom it still means the world.

And he’ll be urging his troops to dig deep, not just for the legends but for their families. He expects many to make the trip from communities on the Cape York Peninsula to show their support during the three-day carnival.

Interim FNQ Rugby League chairman Chey Bird said there were none better than his former Northern Pride teammate to remind his team the significance of the “time honoured competition”.

“Davin’s a natural leader, he leads by his actions, he’s a man of few words but when he does speak, people listen,” Bird said.

“He’s the elder statesman now with a wealth of experience playing at state league level and been part of NRL systems and he got his break through the Foley Shield representing Mt Isa/Midwest when it became a carnival style, so he’s always been a big advocate for the Foley Shield and the opportunities it can present to young players keen to make a mark in the game.

“I’m a footy nerd so when you look back through the history of the competition itself the who’s who of rugby league royalty from north Queensland came through Foley Shield… it’s up to us in the here and now to maintain that history and tradition as best as we possibly can.”

Cairns will be up against it, Crampton said, in the face of former Hostplus Cup players littered around the Townsville and Mackay squads. But the home side is looking pretty handy itself, boasting players such as 2012 NRL Dally M medallist Ben Barba and a few budding youngsters.

“The quality of footy is through the roof,” Crampton said.

“Last year it felt like Cup playing against Townsville and Mackay. There were players in there like Shaun Nona lining up for Townsville and the likes of him and a few other regular Cup players who recently finished up so the players are there, the quality is there.

“I think these young fellas coming through, if they want to test to see where they’re at or if they’re Cup ready, Foley Shield against Townsville and Mackay would be a good start.”

The XXXX Foley Shield takes place at Barlow Park, Cairns from April 29 to May 1. Catch every match live by subscribing to Qplus.tv.

Main image: Davin Crampton during his Northern Pride days