Sport
29 May, 2024
Region names strong squads for Outback carnival in Cloncurry
NQ United will field men's and women's teams at the Outback Challenge.
Players from all corners of the North West and Gulf will join forces next week to represent North Queensland in the 2024 Queensland Outback Senior Challenge Carnival.
The matches will be played at Cloncurry’s Eddie Lee Field and will feature the state’s best rugby league players west of the Great Dividing Range.
The men’s team will feature players from both the Mount Isa Rugby League competition and the Gulf Cluster.
Coach Darren Munns has no shortage of talent in his squad, with players from Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Burktown, Croydon, Normanton, Wanderers, Townies and Brothers to join forces to represent NQ United.
On Saturday, June 8, the men’s team will play matches against the Central West and South West rep squads.
NQ United women’s coach Mal MacRae will also feel confident about his squad’s chances when they take on a Southern Outback team in Cloncurry.
Most of his players come from the Mount Isa competition, which also features Cloncurry, although there is strong Gulf representation in the squad.
Following the completion of the Queensland Outback Senior Challenge Carnival, state representative teams will be selected for the annual Queensland vs NSW Outback grudge match.
Last year, Queensland defeated NSW 52-0 in the Beetson-Gibbs Outback Interstate Challenge.
Mount Isa’s John Doyle has already been named as the Outback Queensland men’s coach.
See next week’s paper for a full preview of the Outback Challenge.
NQ OUTBACK SQUADS
Women: Caitlyn Pascoe, Leela Foster, Minyarta Rugby Wheeler, Nikita Aitkens-Kum-Sing, Yasmin Crebbin, Jordan Marshall, Shakiah Douglas, Chyma Henley, Noreena Sam, Chanice Kum-Sing, Hannah McCarthy, Gabrielle Holder, Deni-Jay Drake, Jessica McCracken, Shyniah Heness, Carly Hooper, Seani Bradshaw-Daniel, Hannah Clarke, Gracie Ryder, Hannah Smith.
Women’s coach: Mal MacRae
Men: Trent Lyons, Graham Ellis, Elijah Joe, Clay George, Kieren Ned, Haupeke Brown, Marty Paulson, Chavez Hegarty, Gordon Barry, Daniel Seitula, Dalex Loogatha, Harlem Russell, Lance Cope, Simeona Tala-Sio, Trevor Henry, Sage Marshall, Travis Pickering, Blake Dirdi, Jarvis George, Nesta Tutunoa.
Men’s coach: Darren Munns