GOING HARD FOR WALKABOUTS
BREANNE Saltner has only played one game of rugby league in her life, but she’s ready to run hard and represent her culture in this weekend’s Bindal Sharks All Blacks carnival.
Saltner will play for her family team the Townsville Walkabouts as they field a women’s side for the first time in the annual indigenous rugby league carnival at Townsville Sports Reserve.
More than 900 players across 30 teams will take the field over the three days in the under-17, women’s, and open men’s divisions, with sides coming from as far away as the Cape.
The attacking style of the All Blacks rugby league always excites the crowd and a handful of NRL talents are expected to feature this weekend, including Cowboys centre Javid Bowen.
Saltner played for the first time on Palm Island last weekend in the inaugural Edna Coolburra Plate and she was excited to get another chance to Walkabouts jersey.
“Our men’s team has been going on 31 years so my father decided to put in our first Walkabouts women’s team this year,” she said.
“We’re coming in to win it, but also to have a good time with the girls.”
The top eight open men’s teams will play for the Sam Reuben Shield while the rest play off for the Kaleob Leo Shield to honour two indigenous leaders who recently passed away.
The NQ Indigenous All Stars will also take on the Queensland Police invitational men’s and women’s teams on Sunday.
“It’s not just our people that want to come and watch the natural talents of our players … let’s see how we can all come together as a community,” All Blacks convener Jenny Pryor said.
The under-17 and women’s competitions kick-off today at Townsville Sports Reserve with the open men in action from tomorrow culminating in the finals on Sunday. wear the