Recruit to repay businesses which showed faith in NPL newcomer United attract Rawlins
NORTH Queensland United recruit Justin Rawlins hopes the fledgling National Premier League franchise will eventually be embraced by the football community to the point where it showcases “the best 11 players in the region”.
The former Townsville Warriors captain says the pressure is on to repay the community’s help in keeping the club afloat by avoiding relegation to ensure there’s a pathway for young talent.
The experienced centre back is the first of what is expected to be many players to make the leap from the local premier league to the next level.
Rawlins had been wrestling with making the leap for several seasons and said the greater community feel around the club had convinced him to sign.
But after the club was saved at the 11th hour by local businesses digging deep to provide sponsorship, the pressure is on to avoid being demoted in their first season.
“A couple of businesses dug deep to give more sponsorship and the last thing the region needs is for this team to drop out,” Rawlins said.
“With this town being so rugby league dependent, other sports do struggle and if you fall out there’s not as much following there.
“I don’t expect us to be world beaters by any means, but we want to get results to stay out of the relegation zone and give the young kids something to aspire to, to make sure there’s a chance to do that in Townsville.”
He said the process of getting to the point where the team would field the best local talent would take time.
“There’s still plenty of real talented guys in the local comp that won’t be there and that won’t happen overnight. It will break down over a while,” Rawlins said.
“A big push for myself is to have that mindset about thinking it’s not so much about our local clubs, but local football, and making sure our top team is actually the top 11 players in Townsville.
“We’re starting to build toward that this year and it won’t be the top 11 players straight away, but it will get back on track eventually.
“It’s got more of a local feel to it this year, more community- based, and I think that’s what NQ Football has to go back to instead of having different entities.”
NQU coach Michael Brooks plans to announce a 20 to 23- man squad after next weekend.
“We’ve got another half dozen trialling at the moment and there will definitely be more local boys coming in,” Brooks said.
“We’re really starting to see some of the best players in North Queensland who have been playing in the local comp willing to come on board and get a taste of the NPL set- up.”
The club has also signed former Northern Fury captain and midfielder Corey Waples and winger Hamish Cassady.