10 May 2023

Rugby league ready to make comeback in 2022

| Matt Nicholls
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Senior rugby league was last played in Cape York in 2019. This is a game between Napranum Bulldogs and the Weipa Raiders at Andoom Oval.

THERE has been no senior rugby league in Cape York since 2019 but Robbie Moore hopes that changes this year.

The FNQ area manager hopes to reignite the Cape Cluster competition in 2022, starting with a carnival in Coen in May.

“The interest hasn’t dropped off it’s just getting the teams and communities organised,” Moore said.

“The threat of COVID-19 was also a roadblock for rugby league.

“In the past, Queensland Rugby League has done just about everything to make the games happen.

“We’ve flown in referees, sports trainers and other people to run the cluster weekends.

“That just can’t happen anymore. We are prepared to invest in clubs and communities and train them to the level that’s required, but we can’t continue to fly personnel up to Cape York and put on the games. The teams need to be organised amongst themselves.”

Moore said there would be training courses held in the lead-up to the Coen gathering in May and asked clubs to contact him to register their interest in playing this year.

“We think we’ll get a team out of Coen, teams out of Weipa, Napranum and Lockhart River, and maybe sides out of Aurukun, Mapoon and Wujal.

“If Cooktown and Hope Vale are interested we can also get them involved in the competition.”

Moore said the Coen game would be used as an induction to kick off the season and then it would be up to teams to arrange fixtures.

“It might be Coen goes to Lockhart and Weipa plays Napranum locally.

“It doesn’t have to be a carnival, although that can help with numbers.”

If your club is interested in playing, email [email protected]

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