The junior Queensland Outback teams were selected at the Arthur Beetson Foundation Junior Muster in Charleville at the weekend.
Northern Outback, made up of played based around Mt Isa, made the 12-hour trip to face Southern Outback in under 14 and under 16 boys and the under 14 and under 17 girls.
Friday night started with coaches learning from Brisbane Broncos development officer James Guertjens, for them to pass on the knowledge to the Outback teams as well as their local teams back home.
There was then a number of local police attend to speak to all 160 players about the opportunities and benefits of joining the Queensland Police Service and about the qualities they love about applicants from the Outback.
After an early night, the players lined up on Saturday morning and played two games each against each other in front of the selectors trying to impress to gain Queensland Outback selection, as well as competing for the Outback Shield.
On this occasion, the winners were Northern on a countback by one try over the eight games.
The Spirit of the Outback Award was presented to a player in each team who is seen as a leader someone who helps in camp, sets a good example to others and who is just generally a really good person to have in the team.
Spirit of the Outback Award winners
Under 14 boys – Southern
Remey Nichol
Under 14 boys – Northern
Harry Douglas
Under 14 girls – Southern
Ava Henry
Under 14 girls – Northern
Manaia Tapu
Under 16 boys – Southern
Declan Ryan
Under 16 boys – Northern
Noah Cox
Under 17 girls – Southern
Tori Castles
Under 17 girls – Northern
Chelby Barry
The selected junior Queensland Outback teams in each division will participate in the Rees/Orman City Country Cultural Exchange at Coolum on the Sunshine Coast on June 24.
Junior Queensland Outback teams
Under 14 boys
Tommy Austin
Phillip Booth
Paul Collison
Jack Davis
Harry Douglas
Kalib-Earl Glozier
Lachlan MacNamara
Anara Manner-Sanderson
Jack Marshall
Robert Namok
Macen Palmer
Dylan Parkes
Wade Remfrey
Tremane Richards
Ryan Rowlands
Eugene Simmons
Rocky Smith
Tately Spain
Shadows: JJ Turnbull, Jett Dempsey, Djarwin Pender
Coach: Jeremy Barron
Assistant coach: Nigel Tremain
Manager: Dan Nunn
Trainer: Laurie Ferguson
Under 14 girls
Keeley Bambrick
Felicity Barron
Ariana Broughton
Emmy-Lou Everingham
Ella Hansen
Claire Harland
Ava Henry
Melissa Horder
Ruby King
Ricki Lee Logan
Charlotte McLean
Paige Miles
Sami-Marie Rapson
Riley Robinson
Manaia Tapu
Jordy Vonhoff
Ellie Warwick
Annalee Wilson
Shadows: Eliza Schaffer, Lucy Swift, Halor Saufanua
Coach: Ben Palmer
Assistant coach: Chris Beetson
Manager: Jace Palmer
Trainer: Jo Winkleman
Under 16 boys
Blair Ahfat
Billy Barron
Roman Body
Ty Cridge
Cesar Enoka
Cole Finter
Luke Hales
Jias Johnson
Bryce Mayfield
Hunter McCraken
Lauchlan Moore
Ryan Myers
Shane Simmons
Braden Smith
Ryder Soper
Malesiale Vatuvei
Richard Waldon
Tyler Wilson
Shadows: Sean Callopy, Isacc Foote, Jett O'Connor, Ryan Jackson
Coach: Norm Saffey
Assistant coach: Wayne Smith
Manager: Scott Richards
Trainer: Daniel Crisp
Under 17 girls
Hope Anderson
Sophie Beetson
Tori Castles
Nequwa Collins
Emmie Creevey
Jemmika Dahlstrom
Jadee Denton
India Devow
Donella Holt
Phoebe Knight
Lacy Lee
Jekeira Major
Amelia O'Toole
Jemma Patch
Dreya Seumanutafa
Eisha Simmons
Hannah Smith
Bianca Wharton
Shadows: Tarieka Melville-Simmons, Jessie Eggmolesse, Tahlia Stewart, Antoinette Pender
Coach: Wendy Clarke
Assistant coach: Zeke Field
Manager: Kylie O'Toole
Trainer: Suzanna Lund
