By Ron Lane
Last week’s Queensland Police Force inter- district Rugby League Carnival proved to be a great success with a total of 10 teams, eight male and two female competing. The 300 people registered for the tournament came from far and wide, with districts such as the Gold Coast, Thursday Island, Mt Isa, Longreach, Brisbane, Central Queensland being represented.
It is now 20 years since Noosa last played host to this event and the happy to say the support from local clubs such as the Pirates Rugby League, who proudly hosted the games at Pirate Park and the Noosa Surf Club, which provided premises for the official functions and presentation of trophies, combined to make it a week to remember. Even the inclement weather which hit our district for the Tuesday Wednesday and Friday games could not stop the enthusiasm of both the players and the support groups.
What can only be classed as a major step forward for this carnival was the fact that for the first time in its 33-year history two ladies teams were on the competition calendar. With great names such as Mal Meninga, Paul Huff and Peter Jackson, just to name a few, passing through the ranks, it is easy to understand the pride displayed by the players and officials.
On Friday with the inclement weather starting to lift both finals for the ladies and the mens were held at Pirate Park. For the ladies the final was City vs Country which saw City winning 26-0 and in the men’s final, despite the wet conditions, the ball control was good and an above average game saw Central Queensland defeat Brisbane Bulldogs 8 -0.
Guest of honor for the event was Queensland’s top cop Commissioner Ian Stewart. On Monday evening during welcome drinks at the Noosa Surf Club he welcomed all to Noosa and stressed the importance of events such as this in the life of the Queensland Police. Then on Friday evening at the presentation of trophies the Commissioner acknowledged the great support of the Pirates Rugby League and the Noosa Surf Club. He then moved a vote of thanks to Inspector Garry Watts President of the Queensland Police Rugby League and his team of workers and acknowledged the massive support of sponsor Freeman Real Estate Kingaroy.
Then on behalf of the winning teams Andrew Dunkley received the trophy for Central Queensland (men’s) team and Stephany Hancock for Brisbane City ladies. The major individual trophy the Player of the Carnival went to Allan Heldsinger of the Mount Isa Mongrels. Definitely a week to celebrate and remember.
