‘Act of God’ can end in a football silver lining

AN unavoidable “act of God” could deliver a slice of history for North Queensland’s footballers.

North Queensland Football boss Declan Carnes said he was resigned to pushing the season back a week after inclement weather washed away a week of competition last weekend.

While there were plans to reschedule that round to this weekend, forcing the cancellation of the annual City v Country representative return, competition backlash forced Carnes to abandon them. But there is a silver lining, really more of a golden lining, to the dark clouds that scuppered the football.

With the change to the post-season schedule, Carnes has launched an audacious bid to hold the North Queensland Football grand final day inside the region’s crown jewel, Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Carnes has tabled a proposal with Stadiums Queensland for the grand final day, which will include all senior divisions to be moved to the 25,000-seat stadium.

“When we rescheduled the fixtures to have them on the May Day weekend, 90 per cent of requests came through to defer the games,” he said.

“Really it left us with no choice. It is an act of God, and we have to accept it.

“But it has given us an opportunity to put a bid in on the stadium for our grand final day. The dates have lined up much better for us.”

It would be the second attempt for the round-ball code to play inside the stadium. It was set to host the Frank Farina Cup games between Townsville and Cairns during the North Queensland Games last year before it was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the season extended for a week, the grand final will now be held on the October long weekend, the same time the NRL Grand Final is played in Sydney.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Country Bank Stadium confirmed the venue had received a request from NQ Football and would “consider the proposal in line with other bookings”.

The change of date has also eased the pressure on the

Brothers women’s side, with the inaugural Kappa Cup grand final scheduled for the final weekend of September.

With Brothers still a chance to play in the decider, and eyeing off a clash with the top side from Mackay-central Queensland in July, Carnes said it was important to make sure they were available for that weekend.

NQ Football juniors will still take the field this weekend in a rescheduling of last weekend’s games, while several senior catch-up games from earlier in the season will also be played.