A battle for the ages
Cross-code showdown to honour lost military personnel
Townsville’s Masters Rugby League team will be taking to wheelchairs for a cross-code clash against a side stacked with world cup level talent.
Members of the Townsville Pirates playing side will compete against the Townsville Cassowary side in a match hosted by the North Queensland Wheelchair Rugby League Association.
The match-up will be the first of two held next week in honour of ADF servicemen who have lost their lives.
Named for Todd Langley, who served for eight years in Townsville during his career, the memorial match was arranged after several stars of the Cassowaries returned to Townsville after representing their nation as part of the recent Wheelchair Rugby League world cup.
The Pirates’ Peter Shefford said his team had been given a tough crash-course in just how demanding the wheelchair game can be.
“A lot of us watched the Australian Wheelaroos in the recent Rugby League World Cup and admired the courage and toughness – not to mention the skill level – of these athletes,” Shefford said.
Pirates Masters chairman and player Paul Musumeci is recovering from a partial knee replacement, and leapt at the chance to get active again in a different way.
“I love Rugby League in all forms; it was so good to get the competitive feeling back tonight after missing it for a while,” Musumeci said.
“Having lined up with and against a number of these players in practice sessions since, that opinion certainly hasn’t wavered.”
Among the expected lineup for the Cassowary side will be Zac Schumacher, Bayley Mckenna and Adam Tannock, all of whom represented Australia as part of the most recent Skyring Wheelaroos line-up.
Schumacher, himself a former serviceman, took up the sport after suffering a hip injury and is always eager to spruik the sport’s benefits.
“I’m looking forward to another opportunity to showcase our fantastic and inclusive sport,” Schumacher said.
“We have male and female players of all ages; and a mixture of able-bodied and disabled athletes taking part.
“It’s also great to be able to combine next week’s game with a charitable cause.”
The match will take place on Wednesday, April 19 and will be held next to the RSL on Casey Street in Aitkenvale. Match entry will be free and food and drink will be available.
All proceeds from the match will go towards Suicide Prevention Queensland.