CQ NRL Bid beefs up the region
Sam Woods | 28th March 2012 10:54 AM
CQ NRL Bid representatives Walson Carlos and Steve Bell with Denison State School students, Kaleb Bock, Kiersten Reiner and Daniel Putarakkit.
GRASSROOTS football is where it starts, and if Walson Carlos has anything to do with it, that's where it is going to end as well.
The CQ NRL Bid community and business development manager was getting stuck into a skills and drills session at Denison State School yesterday, alongside former
State of Origin legend Steve Bell and
Central Highlands development officer Andrew Lawrence.
The CQ Bid has always maintained local football as one of its primary areas of focus.
"One thing that we are acutely aware of is the importance of grassroots rugby league to the overall health of the game," Carlos said.
"Every element of the grassroots of rugby league in Central Queensland has been carefully considered and planned for."
To that end, Carlos and his roving team of development co-ordinators appear to be making every effort to ensure the next generation of CQ footballers are active participants now and well into the future. Even if they can't quite grasp the correct name of their local hero just yet
"And who knows who this is?" one development officer asks of his Grade 3 audience, indicating in Steve Bell's direction.
"Yeah, you're Mason!" comes a reply in quick succession.
After a number of visits to schools throughout the Central Highlands this week, Carlos said the bid team was beefing up its presence in the region.
"It's an exciting time for the bid," he said.
"There will be a shortlist down to three to four bids, and they advised us that by September or October we should know who they are."
Already there have been strong claims made by a number of rival NRL Bids from across the country and overseas, including Central Coast, Perth, New Zealand, a second Brisbane team and even Papua New Guinea as an outside chance.
However, just like the grassroots plan, what the CQ Bid team believes will give them the edge will be their "viability" as a potential NRL club.
"Denis (Keeffe - CQ NRL Bid CEO) has been very positive about the latest developments," Carlos said.
"He has been very impressed with the grassroots football and development programs... in the end it comes down to viability."
The quality and quantity of talent this region possesses is sure to add more weight to Keeffe's viability argument.
From the beginning it has been Keeffe's desire to draw on this grassroots base they are so heavily investing in, with the ambition to recruit 70% of its playing staff from Central Queensland.
Carlos said the Bid team will continue to develop its school clinic program in the region, with visits at least once a term.
http://www.cqnews.com.au/story/2012/03/28/cq-nrl-bid-team-beefs-up-presence-in-region-sports/
