NORTH’S BEST TAKE ON RUGBY RIVALS
Saturday, May 1, at West Barlow Park, Cairns
6pm: NQ v SQ (Women’s) 7.30pm: NQ v SQ (Colts/U19)
Sunday, May 2, at West Barlow Park, Cairns
Noon: NQ v SQ (Women’s) 1.30pm: CQ v SQ (Colts/U19)
Monday, May 3, at The Paddock, Machans Beach
9am: NQ v SQ (Colts/U19)
THEY are used to standing on opposite sides of the field as they prepare to take each other’s heads off, but Cairns and Townsville rugby union players will bury the hatchet in a bid to get one over on their Queensland Country Rugby Union counterparts.
The best colts (under-19) and women’s players from North Queensland will face off against Central and South Queensland this weekend, with Queensland Country selection up for grabs.
The Queensland Country Championships gives players the opportunity to show selectors what they’re capable of and push their case for higher honours.
It’s also a chance for the north to show up their southern rivals.
But North Queensland outside centre Declan Cannon, who plays for JCU Mariners in the FNQ Rugby competition, said Cairns and Townsville players would have to get on the same page to make that happen.
“It will be good to get the Cairns boys and Townsville boys mixing well and playing together, we’ll see how that goes, and also to see other teams’ structures and how they play differently.“
NQ Colts FNQ players: Ben Molony, Blaz Semei, Declan Cannon, Ethan Vaevae, Jack Thomas, Jerome Singapu, Kevin Edmonstone, Lucas Phillips, Luke Depiazzi, Preston Alberts, Rataro Marsters. NQ Women’s FNQ players: Annette Brown, Becka Marsters, Charlotte Johnstone, Elianna Suluvale, Francis Newman, Kama Mairu, Kyiesha Zaro, Martha Nomoa, Melissa LeBlanc, Moera Blair, Stephanie Barns, Steveie Darby-Brennan, Angel Blair (development).