Why little mention of the CQ NRL bid?

[papabear]

since announcing their bid what has been the increase in numbers in junior rugby league?

 

[WayneBennett]

Here Goaty Goat goat

 

[WayneBennett]

Comets sounds better

 

[CQ Italia]

since announcing their bid what has been the increase in numbers in junior rugby league?

Yeah it would be interesting to see for all bids. Tried finding what the figures were from the QRL around mid-year, but no response.... I'll try to find out from the bid.

 

[CQ Italia]

CQ CAPRAS – exciting times ahead


A few weeks ago the CQ Capras and the CQ NRL Bid consolidated their considerable resources into one dedicated and coordinated organization to operate the CQ CAPRAS in the Intrust Super Queensland Cup (ISC Q Cup). The CQ NRL Bid Chairman, Geoff Murphy is the new CQ Capras Chairman. His very competent board comprises directors from the Bid board and the former CQ Capras board. I will serve as CEO of both the Bid and the CQ Capras and Walson Carlos will retain his responsibilities as Community and Business Development Manager of the Bid along with the vital role of Operations Manager of the CQ Capras. John Harbin will be the head Coach and he has retained the bulk of his dedicated support staff from last season. The team is not finalised yet but it comprises mostly local CQ players with a few “imports” who will complement the “born and bred” players most of whom represented the CQ Capras last year with a great deal of pride and resolve. We are all dedicated and determined to make the CQ Capras successful both on and off the field.

FULL ARTICLE - http://www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2012/11/cq-capras-exciting-times-ahead/

 

[CQ Italia]

CQ Capras hope membership packages entice fans to Browne Park

Michelle Curran
21st Nov 2012 4:39 PM

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The CQ Capras hope to pack out Browne Park at all of their home games in 2013. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin. The CQ Capras hope to pack out Browne Park at all of their home games in 2013. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin. Chris Ison

RUGBY LEAGUE: The Central Queensland Capras have issued a challenge to the public to get behind them and support them in 2013.

Next season, they want to see Browne Park return to its glory days, where crowds flooded into the Capras' home ground fired up and ready to support their team, making it an intimidating environment for the Queensland Cup opposition to visit.

"It used to be part of the culture in Rockhampton to come down to Browne Park on a Friday or Saturday night after work and support the Capras - they were a founding club in the Queensland Cup. People knew the players having watched the players progress through the junior ranks to senior level," CQ Capras' chief executive Denis Keeffe said.

Keeffe and Capras' head coach John Harbin were at Rockhampton Leagues Club yesterday (Wednesday) to announce the club's enticing 2013 membership packages, and said it was a momentous day for the club who recently merged with the CQ NRL bid.

"We have issued a challenge to the public to get behind the Capras this season...if the team is to be successful, it has to start with the public and then the corporate support will come after that," Keeffe said.

The CQ Capras set a conservative figure of registering 500 members to begin with, which Keeffe thought was achievable with the great packages available for adults, children and young adults, as well as families.

"I was in Rockhampton during the halcyon days of Browne Park when it was always packed, with an intelligent crowd, who knew when it needed to get behind the team to lift them...we have mostly CQ blokes playing for the Capras, we need to get some wins, and make Browne Park a formidable place to play at again," Keeffe said.

That was in 2002-03, when Keeffe was CEO for the North Queensland Cowboys and the Capras (then Comets) had an affiliation with the NRL team.

Meanwhile, Harbin added a solid member base and the support of the public in the Capras' 12 home games (two trial matches and ten Intrust Super Cup matches) next season would be invaluable to the team.

It would also help provide the Capras with the resources needed to create a professional environment which players looked for in a club, particularly when there was no cash incentive for them.

"There have been times where we have overachieved and that has been due to the public, who we hope will come back to rugby league - a full Browne Park is a sight to see and we can achieve that if we produce the kind of football the crowd want to see," Harbin said.

Crowd numbers at Browne Park had fluctuated throughout the years, but the coach said people spoke of the "Glory Days" during the 1960s where huge crowds would attend games and in later years where a trial match would attract crowds of around 5000. In 2008, Browne Park hosted the seventh place playoff of the Rugby League World Cup where Tonga thrashed Scotland and engrossed a crowd of almost 6,000.

For information on the CQ Capras' membership packages and to join up, go to www.capras.com.au


http://www.themorningbulletin.com.a...-membership-packages-entice-fans-bro/1631336/

 

[CQ Italia]

CQ NRL Bid Development Staff Member & Former NRL/ESL player Justin Loomans helps startup new Junior RL club at Emu Park in the Rockhampton JRL Competition.

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/new-junior-rugby-league-club-destined-for-coast/1628607/

 

[CQ Italia]

Tails wag as Bulldogs are set to return for Mackay match


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• Andrea Davy
• 24th Nov 2012 6:08 AM

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Related Items

• » Storm and Bulldogs to play in Mackay
• » Tickets for NRL game selling fast
• » Doggies' fans get jump for tickets
• » Behaviour at stadium 'fantastic'

NRL fans will get to see this sight again with news the Bulldogs will play another match in Mackay next year. Lee Constable
THE tails of Doggies fans in Mackay will be wagging after Friday's announcement that Canterbury Bulldogs will play the Newcastle Knights in Mackay next year.
The much-awaited 2013 NRL premiership draw clearly stated Virgin Australia Stadium would host another Bulldogs home game on Sunday, July 7.
This is a huge win for stadium committee members who campaigned hard to bring another NRL match to Mackay after the stadium hosted its first successful match in July.
Virgin Australia Stadium chairman Greg Sutherland said it was a sign that they had obviously got it right the first time they hosted the Bulldogs Mackay game.
There was even talk there might be another Bulldogs match brought to town just two weeks after the July 8 match was scheduled, Mr Sutherland said.
The 2013 NRL premiership draw has this Bulldogs vs Storm match venue labelled "to be advised".
Mackay provided a sell-out crowd when the Bulldogs defeated the Melbourne Storm earlier this year and the forthcoming July match will include a strong local flavour as well.
Dally M Medal winner Ben Barba clearly thrived under the influence of a home-grown crowd in July.
He will be joined by his good mate and Knights player Dane Gagai as well as experienced Knights forward Nev Costigan, all players who started out in the Mackay Junior Rugby League.
Bulldogs chief executive officer Todd Greenburg said the game would be as memorable as their first match in Mackay.
"We are thrilled to once again take a Bulldogs home game to Mackay where we will take on the Newcastle Knights in round 17 on Sunday, July 7," Mr Greenburg said.
"Some locals who had never seen a live NRL game not only witnessed home-grown junior Ben Barba at his brilliant best but also watched the two 2012 grand finalists go head to head.
"It is memories like these that last forever and create life-long supporters of our great game."
He said next season's game would be a ripper.
"This (next year's) match will be broadcast on free to air with the games host broadcaster Channel Nine," he said. "This will provide incredible exposure and branding for the city of Mackay and will provide significant economic impact for the region.
"Last season's sold-out game is a great indicator of the area's passion for rugby league.
"To be able to deliver another NRL game to Mackay is a great result for all stakeholders.
"Speaking with Wayne Bennett it is clear the Knights are very supportive and I have no doubt this season's game will be even bigger and better."

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/repeat-of-last-sellout-bulldogs-game-expected-dogg/1634505/

 

[CQ Italia]

CAPRAS LAUNCH SPONSORSHIP & CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP PACKAGES FOR 2013 SEASON
November 28, 2012 By capras



Capras Chairman Geoff Murphy, Coach John Harbin and CEO Denis Keeffe welcome new Capras corporate partner Tristan Boyce from ASN

RUGBY LEAGUE: The CQ Capras today launched their Sponsorship & Corporate Partnership packages for 2013. The new and improved packages include a wide array of sponsorship opportunities for Central Queensland businesses.

CQ Capras CEO Denis Keeffe said the range of options in the packages were designed to give all businesses and local organisations a chance to support Central Queensland’s number one sporting team.

“The CQ Capras now have the strong links with the CQ NRL Bid and I can guarantee we are going to take this club forward to be bigger and better than ever. It is vitally important that we (Capras) provide our 2013 sponsors and corporate partners with valuable benefits that reward their investment. We are committed to doing this – the Capras are committed to servicing our sponsors and corporate partners, because without them this club cannot be successful. ” Keeffe said.

Newly appointed CEO Denis Keeffe who also serves as CEO of the CQ NRL Bid said he was looking forward to the opportunity to speak with local businesses and even those interested sports fans about the opportunities to be involved with the Capras.

“There are business people and sports fans in CQ that are looking for a great night out, with a chance to listen to a guest speaker who has made their mark in the sporting or business world, along with some corporate hospitality. This is something the Capras can provide in 2013. I encourage those people interested in being a sponsor for the Capras to contact us and see what we can offer you.”

The CQ Capras have extended an open invitation to all those interested in sponsoring the club in 2013 to come along to Rockhampton Leagues Club next Wednesday night for an Information Evening hosted by Chairman Geoff Murphy and CEO Denis Keeffe.

To RSVP please contact the Capras office on 07 49225388 or email admin@capras.com.au this week.

http://capras.com.au/2012/11/capras...rporate-partnership-packages-for-2013-season/

 

[CQ Italia]

CQ NRL Bid's plea for support from Fraser Coast
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Griffith Thomas
29th Nov 2012 8:27 AM

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CQ NRL Bid and chairman Geoff Murphy and CEO Denis Keefe. CQ NRL Bid and chairman Geoff Murphy and CEO Denis Keefe.

CQ NRL Bid representatives have forecast they will have a team playing in the competition by 2017 and reckon there is every chance one of their foundation players could come from the Fraser Coast.

CQ NRL Bid CEO Denis Keefe and chairman Geoff Murphy flew into town yesterday to present their bid strategy to more than 60 people at the Combined Chamber of Commerce Breakfast at Susan River Homestead.

It was the bid team's first attempt to spread the gospel throughout the Fraser Coast.

Keefe said they remain as committed as ever despite the Australian Rugby League Commission delaying expansion talks until 2014 and how the Fraser Coast can benefit.

"Regional Queensland is proudly different; We are not metro. We want to passionately support something that belongs to us and we think a rugby league team would probably be the core of what we want," he said.

"We think the Fraser Coast will play a vital role.

"For Fraser Coast people, rugby league dominates as a pastime for sport.

"We are trying to build a membership right across the region."

So far that membership is at 40,000 with a target of reaching 100,000, while more than 150 corporate partners have committed their support.

While the CQ NRL Bid's southern boundary extends to Bundaberg, Keefe said he was excited to build a presence on the Fraser Coast which will spike once they help resurrect a Bundaberg Intrust Super Cup (formerly known as Queensland Cup) program.

He said the Fraser Coast was a "wonderful" breeding ground for NRL talent and hoped local juniors would come through their development programs and end up playing for CQ in the NRL.

"We want to base a Q Cup program in Bundaberg to involve the Fraser Coast and the greater Wide Bay area," he said.

"After school there is clearly no defined pathway for talented people and for the mass of people who participate (in rugby league).

"Our idea is to provide those pathways and provide opportunities. We are working with people in Bundaberg to set up a steering committee.

"We think we will be up and running by 2014 or 2015."

To support the CQ NRL Bid, visit www.cqnrlbid.com.au and become a Bid or corporate member.

 

[CQ Italia]

CQ - A Changing Market

The CQ NRL Bid staff travel all over Central Queensland regularly, and often beyond what we would categorise as the normal boundaries of CQ.

When we present the benefits and merits of the CQ NRL Bid and then ask for questions the most common questions almost always concern the location, tactics, and chances of success or otherwise of the "opposition" compared to our Bid. This "opposition" refers to other bidding regions and cities. E.g. NSW Central Coast (Gosford), Perth, Brisbane Bombers, PNG, Ipswich, etc. I do consider these regions in our tactics but I do not malign them or their motives because they are NOT the real opposition.

The real opposition is the AFL and I am not being derogatory or dismissive of the AFL. In fact I envy many of their achievements and ambitions to dominate the Australian sporting landscape. The AFL is resourced and committed and their stated tactic is to target the "heartlands" of Rugby League. This policy is ongoing and is currently being implemented very openly in the western suburbs of Sydney and at the Gold Coast. Many observers do not realise that other more strategic and longer term attacks are also very current.

PJ Marsh is a good friend, a wonderful former player and a genuine good man. He originates from Central Queensland; he has resettled here in his post NRL life and developed a career in the vast coal mining industry of CQ. PJ provides his time and energies to the CQ NRL Bid in many capacities and is a very valued mentor in the development and scholarship programs of the Bid. His passion for Rugby League and for his community is obvious and enduring.

PJ called me last week from his home in Middlemount, where he works and lives. He is always so positive and happy so I always enjoy our football discussions, whether these discussions involve talking about a promising young player in the Central Highlands or just talking generally about the upcoming NRL or Q Cup seasons. Last week PJ was very upset and I was immediately concerned.

He was agitated and kept asking me about the Bid's progress. He said a few times "mate, we have to get our own NRL club in CQ". The reason that PJ was not his normal happy and enthusiastic self was the AFL. Their development staff were in Middlemount and had just signed PJ's son up to their respected "AFL Auskick" program. In fact in the last few days, PJ was asked to go to one of the program's sessions, as a parent, and help out ? of course PJ obliged. PJ and his son went to the local AFL ground in Middlemount ? that's right an AFL ground right in the very middle of our "heartland".

Has the Rugby League community lost PJ's son? I don't know and neither does PJ but as PJ said "I am going to support my son all the way, so if he decides to do AFL, I'll back him all the way".

CQ is now an avid Rugby League market but it is changing quickly and some of these changes are significant.
Please go on line and apply for membership NOW.

Please support the CQ NRL Bid by going on line at www.cqnrlbid.com.au and become a Bid or Corporate member -
from the desk of the CEO, Denis Keeffe

www.cqnrlbid.com.au

 

[CQ Italia]

Son of former NRL star takes to Aussie Rules instead

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• Rebekah Polley
• 5th Dec 2012 10:24 AM

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PROGRAM NEEDED: PJ Marsh, pictured with Joel and Jacob Van Zanden, wants to see a rugby league program for local youngsters. Chris Ison
FORMER NRL great PJ Marsh was not his usual, enthusiastic self last week.
Marsh had just called CQ NRL Bid CEO Denis Keeffe and Keeffe said Marsh hadn't been himself because he had just signed his son up to the AFL's Auskick program.
While Marsh said he supported his son in whatever endeavour he chose, he questioned why the NRL did not have a similar program for youngsters.
He said AFL had made its presence known in the mining town of Middlemount, where the Marsh family was based, but rugby league had not made the same effort in the three years he lived there.
"It is like the NRL in general has taken its popularity in western and central Queensland for granted and not followed up with junior programs, like Auskick, therefore losing kids to different football codes," Marsh said.
"I don't know what the NRL should do, but obviously the AFL do.
"The NRL needs to step up."
Growing up in Blackwater, Marsh said he remembered an AFL field but not playing on it and not knowing much about the code until he was 12 or 13 years old. Meanwhile, his son was a professed West Coast Eagles fan and knew the players in the team. He suggested the NRL needed to talk to the AFL because it had obviously implemented a program that worked. Above all, Marsh encouraged central Queensland to get behind the CQ NRL Bid.

"We need to get behind it and push harder," Marsh said.

http://www.cqnews.com.au/news/taken-for-granted/1647529/

 

[CQ Italia]

AFL grows in central Qld's rugby league heartland


By Paul Robinson
Updated Wed Dec 5, 2012 3:01pm AEDT
Photo: PJ Marsh would prefer his son to play rugby league than AFL (Getty Images)
Map: Rockhampton 4700

A group pushing for a national rugby league team in central Queensland says the AFL is making inroads into rugby league heartlands.
Dennis Keefe from the CQ NRL Bid says the AFL has a policy of heavily promoting their game in traditional rugby league areas.
He says it has been so successful, it has managed to convince the son of former NRL star PJ Marsh to take part in the AFL's Auskick program in the Central Highlands.
"PJ Marsh is a little bit fazed by the whole thing as it's got a personal touch now where his son has been approached and actually been involved in the very productive development programs of the AFL," he said.
"So PJ was a little bit shaken by the whole deal.
"He's a very proud father, he said if his son wants to play AFL or take up AFL he will support him all the way, [but] in saying that, PJ said he would much rather his son pursue a career in rugby league.
"He's been surrounded, in some ways inundated, by the promotion of the AFL game in Central Queensland."
Mr Keefe says the AFL is pouring money into rugby league areas.
"We're outnumbered on the ground probably three or four to one by the AFL and we're out resourced as far as straight money," he said.
"Remember that up until now the AFL received a lot more money from their media partners than what the NRL did so they are much more resourced than us and they're using that resource to attack our heartland."
Rugby league dominates

The AFL says it does not expect to break rugby league's dominance in central Queensland in the near future.
Scott Smithwick from AFL Capricornia says numbers taking up the sport in Central Queensland are rising, but rugby league still dominates.
"It's gradually getting more and more popular but at the moment I think league's pretty safe," he said.
"We are trying our hardest of course to try and give the kids an option other than rugby league but it seems to be the top dog at the moment and I can't see that changing any time in the future.
"Out at Emerald we get 100 Auskickers per year, Blackwater we got 80-odd this year, so it's gradually growing in numbers from what it has been in the past."
AFL plans

Mr Smithwick says the AFL Capricornia competition in Rockhampton and Gladstone is strong, and he would like to revive a competition on the Central Highlands.
"Whether it's 18 a side competition or whether it's a competition involving the new hybrid game of AFL Nines which have brought out, so it's a little bit more flexible than 18-a-side competitions," he said.
"In the end I believe that we are actually going to be pushing towards that.
"It might not be for 10 years, but in the end I think we will be aiming for that."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-05/afl-grows-in-central-qlds-rugby-league-heartland/4409852

 

[Clarke]

Quick give this area a NRL team before the AFL takes over. The way this bid talks about that I'm of the belief that its the number 1 criteria to getting a NRL team.

 

[Perth Red]

Having an NRL team is not the only answer, the $200mill from the ARLC for grass roots development is the big answer to this. Just need the QRL to get off their backsides and get a plan, get the money and make it happen. It should be the QRL's responsibility to develop jnr programmes not NRL clubs. They can add presence etc but the programmes should be driven by the ARLC/QRL.

Is there no jnr clubs in CQ that this kid could have played for?

 

[CQ Italia]

Having an NRL team is not the only answer, the $200mill from the ARLC for grass roots development is the big answer to this. Just need the QRL to get off their backsides and get a plan, get the money and make it happen. It should be the QRL's responsibility to develop jnr programmes not NRL clubs. They can add presence etc but the programmes should be driven by the ARLC/QRL.

Is there no jnr clubs in CQ that this kid could have played for?

There is the Middlemount Panthers, but being such a small mining town they may have limited age groups. or maybe he can't play enough league. Middlemount is two hours away from Blackwater, 1.5 from Moranbah. Two strong league CH towns.

Case in point there is a 17 year old this year who played for a Central Highlands agrade side, but hadn't played junior rugby league for years and had to rely on limited games through school. He will now play for Capras U18s in the state comp next year.

 

[CQ Italia]

Quick give this area a NRL team before the AFL takes over. The way this bid talks about that I'm of the belief that its the number 1 criteria to getting a NRL team.

Still the fact is the CQ bid is getting good media exposure within our own region 2 years before any expansion is thought of as opposed to limited/nothing for most other bids.

But I'm in agreeance with Perth, all state bodies/bids/clubs need to be working hard and thinking innovatively with junior programmes

 

[Perth Red]

There is the Middlemount Panthers, but being such a small mining town they may have limited age groups. or maybe he can't play enough league. Middlemount is two hours away from Blackwater, 1.5 from Moranbah. Two strong league CH towns.

Case in point there is a 17 year old this year who played for a Central Highlands agrade side, but hadn't played junior rugby league for years and had to rely on limited games through school. He will now play for Capras U18s in the state comp next year.

Can't imagine he is going to get a lot more afl games to play than he would RL games? He is an eagles fan wtf? From CQ supporting a Perth afl team, sound like marsh's butterfingers dropped the kid on his head when he was a baby!

 

[Clarke]

Still the fact is the CQ bid is getting good media exposure within our own region 2 years before any expansion is thought of as opposed to limited/nothing for most other bids.

Doesn't seem to be any exposure anywhere else though. And quite a few fans of Rugby League who follow the sport closely are fed-up with the AFL is taking over line.

 

[gyallop]

local media means their isnt much news content or local rag is a fan, it doesnt make the content newsworthy or the major's would pick it up which they havent. At least the NRL bid which belongs to Geoff Murphy is directing some of the public money raised back to the RL public by supporting the Capras.