Festival of footy kicks off in NQ

THE Bindal Sharks All Blacks Rugby League Carnival has kicked off, bringing more than $1.1m of economic value to the city. More than 850 players, including some past and present NRL players, will take the field across 32 teams for the three-day weekend. It is expected to draw between 7000 and 10,000 spectators over the next three days.

Townsville MP Scott Stewart said the carnival of rugby league had been going for 25 years, with this year bigger than ever. The state government has provided $35,000 in sponsorship to support the event. Mundingburra MP Les Walker said there would be a pop-up vaccine clinic at the carnival. Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said players and field officials would be undertaking health checks.

Bindal Sharks All Blacks 2021 convener Jenny Pryor said the top eight open men’s and women’s teams played for the Davco Farming Shield and the silver competition was the Myuma Ltd shield.

“Football and music brings our people together in happy times, watching our men playing with their natural talents, kids running free and our Elders relaxing watching their grandchildren or great grannies playing,” Ms Pryor said.