Central claims piece of history

TRL stars a chance at Qld Rangers selection

RUGBY LEAGUE: Toowoomba stars have given themselves every chance of earning Queensland Rangers call ups after helping Central Division to back-to-back QRL Divisional Championship wins.

Jason Wardrop, Corey Blades, Steve Franciscus and Matt Duggan played well as part of the Central team that took out consecutive QRL divisional crowns for the first time.

Central downed South-East 22-10 on Saturday at Southport before backing up to beat North Queensland 20-18 on Sunday.

Wardrop was especially good as he took out player-of-the-carnival honours all but ensuring his return to the Queensland Rangers squad when it is named this week.

Central coach Eugene Seddon was thrilled with the success of his squad.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “It wasn’t anything we discussed (in the lead-up). But we thought we had the chance to do something that hadn’t been done before. We’re the first team to go back-to-back at the carnival.”

Seddon was especially happy with conceding just 28 points during the two games.

He was also impressed with the four TRL representatives, especially Wardrop.

“They went really well,” Seddon said. “Jase, he was our captain, and he led from the front.”

THE Toowoomba rugby league community has this weekend paid tribute to one of its most respected figures after Scott Kuhnemann lost his battle with cancer.

The former Souths Tigers and Toowoomba Clydesdales player died on Friday after a year-long battle with cancer. He leaves behind a wife and three children. He was 46.

Members of the Toowoomba rugby league community were in mourning over the weekend with TRL matches pausing for a minute’s silence prior to kick-off.

Kuhnemann was a key member of the Clydesdales squad which won the first Queensland Cup title in 1996.

Coach of that team Gary Lawrence regarded Kuhnemann as a true gentleman.

“He was a gentleman. There was a smile and a kind word for everyone,” Lawrence said.

Not only was Kuhnemann a player of undisputed quality, but he also helped younger players come through the ranks.

After his own playing career, he remained involved with the game in coaching capacities and inspired the next generation.

“He was my favourite player growing up,” Mustangs under 18s coach and former Souths junior Eugene Seddon said.

Kuhnemann also ran a business, Sportstar Screenprinting, which clothed plenty of players from various clubs over the season.

“He was universally respected. It’s a big loss obviously for his family and rugby league,” TRL chairman Brian Gilroy said.