Mostran relishing custodian role in booming game

Cory Mostran is focused on the legacy he can leave for future generations as he looks to earn another state call-up during the Queensland Wheelchair City v Country clash.

The annual contest, being streamed on Qplus.tv, takes place at Caloundra Indoor Stadium at 4pm Saturday with another brutal, high energy contest looming.

City representative Mostran said the matches grew in intensity each year just as much as the interest in wheelchair rugby league on the back of Queensland's triumph over NSW and the exposure of the Wheelaroos' 2023 World Cup campaign.

"I honestly think with the players coming from Townsville and the players we've been developing here, it's going to be quick, hard-hitting and show off a lot of our skills," he said.

"We've been looking forward to this weekend for a bit now, just to get everybody together and see the Queensland coach after winning the last two interstate games.

"I honestly think we're going to go on a run and we'll break the Queensland State of Origin men's record of eight in a row and if we get close to or on par with the Queensland women's interstate record of 17 wins in a row, we'll be happy."

Mostran travelled to the UK to watch his fellow Queenslanders, including brother-in-law Shaun Harre, represent Australia at the Rugby League Wheelchair World Cup last year and likened it to being at a packed Suncorp Stadium during State of Origin.

It was a landmark moment for the 32-year-old founding member of the South East Queensland Wheelchair Rugby League, who will play a link role in the City team, to witness how far the sport had come.

"Just seeing the younger people that we've been bringing through the system is good because we know we're doing our job and the sport will be around for a long time," Mostran said.

Having the chance to enjoy the game he loved watching his brother-in-law play is something he couldn't have imagined after shattering his T5/T6 vertebrae in a motorcycle accident in his hometown of Alice Springs as a 20-year-old.

Mostran said he had some difficult times adjusting to his new life, but was lucky to have fantastic support around him when he moved to the northside of Brisbane soon after his accident.

"There were some hard times at the start. It was life-changing. It was pretty depressing but then I came over here and found rugby league and found my purpose," he said.

"At the time there was no activities really in Alice Springs for people with wheelchairs, so I made the move to be closer to my sister and brother-in-law.

"I'd watched my brother play able-bodied league and I thought I'd love to be out there, so my brother-in-law and sister and I went out to find a sport we could play  together and it was really brand new, but we fell in love with it and basically took it over and started it up.

"I'm not going to be the last person to have a disability... so if I can build a sport for others to play in the future, I know I'm doing my job seeing the smiles on these little kids that were always sitting on the sideline. It's something special.

"That's the best thing about the sport, it's for everybody. It's breaking down barriers and stigma. 

"Don't get me wrong, I love making the Queensland team and all my brothers, but I also enjoy seeing other people win too."