REDBACKS QUICKLY SQUASHED
IF it was up to the US organisers of Major League Triathlon, the Gold Coast’s newest sporting franchise would have been known as the Redbacks.
America’s fascination with Australia’s legion of poisonous animals wasn’t as high on the agenda of triathlon officials though, who have plumped for the Tritons moniker, linking the Gold Coast to the mythological Greek god, the messenger of the sea.
It probably sits well with cricket’s South Australian franchise too given they already carry the Redbacks name.
Triathlon Australia did seek the tick of approval from the Gold Coast’s NRL franchise before confirming their name though, with the Titans firm supporters of the city’s newest team.
Titans boss Graham Annesley said Triathlon Australia CEO Miles Stewart had discussed the name with him.
“Miles came to see me to tell me they were going to call the team the Tritons and to ask me if we had any issue with that and of course we didn’t,” Annesley said.
“Anything we can do to help promote sport here locally and overseas, we’re happy to do it.”
The Titans and AFL’s Gold Coast Suns had representatives at the Tritons launch, with Annesley saying the organisations wanted to support each other where possible.
“A city of this size deserves to have national teams on the sporting stage in all sorts of sports,” Annesley said.
“To have another Gold Coast team playing on the international stage in the United States is a great thing.”
The inaugural Major League Triathlon season includes six US teams and one each from Canada, Mexico and Australia racing the mixed
A CITY THIS SIZE DESERVES TO HAVE NATIONAL TEAMS ... IN ALL SORTS OF SPORTS” TITANS CEO GRAHAM ANNESLEY
team relay format. “Our best shot at the Olympic Games may be a team medal, so that’s going to be a really coveted place for our kids to fight into because we’ve got one of the best teams in the world,” Stewart said.
And while the first season of racing will be exclusively in the US, Australia is keen to host a round on the Gold Coast in the future.
“Hopefully long-term we’ll have one of the legs of the event here,” Stewart said.
“The Gold Coast is a happy hunting ground for us and it has a place on the world stage of triathlon. People know the Gold Coast in triathlon.”