Why little mention of the CQ NRL bid?

[CQ Italia]

CQ NRL Bid reflect on the last 12 months

CQ NRL Bid's year I come back to one person and his family. A few months ago when John Grant announced a NRL expansion consideration date of around 2014, my heart sank, but only for a very short time.

Instinctively I called Geoff Murphy and asked him if this announcement was a hindrance to his dream of a NRL club for Central Queensland. In his normal controlled and very positive demeanour, Geoff explained to me that his commitment to the establishment of CQ's own NRL club was absolutely rock solid with even more resolve than before the announcement. I felt a twinge of guilt for even a moment's doubt.

I suppose only history will judge Geoff's allegiance to his beloved Rugby League and to Central Queensland but in the present, I know that the CQ NRL Bid would not have been the central focus of my 2012, without his loyalty to this sometimes elusive dream.

In 2012 the CQ NRL Bid continued to establish and operate its Rugby League development programs including the QR National (the new QRN company name is Aurizon) sponsored Schools and Scholarship programs as well as the 13's and 14's CQ Development Program. Recently the Bid also accepted the Queensland Rugby League's invitation to joint venture manage the three CQ Capras teams in the ISC Queensland Cup (Cyril Connell 16's, Mal Meninga 18's, and Intrust Super 1st grade). It has been a "building and reinforcement" year and personally very rewarding.

We had many contributors to our successful 2012 and this space is not large enough to thank them all for sharing the vision and dream.

I have mentioned Geoff Murphy and his whole family. These people are providing the vision and the bulk of the resource that is driving the whole community benefitting endeavour. The directors of the Bid, Capras, and Leagues Club boards are always providing the strategic guidance needed in these complex organisations. I appreciate your valuable contributions. CQ NRL Bid and Capras' staff of Walson and Dominique are the wheels that never stop turning the process forward. They are to be congratulated for their work ethics and result driven attitudes. They are supported by the management and staff of the associated Leagues Clubs and we all need this ongoing support.

To all of the other vital stakeholders, including the media, the political representatives, the corporate partners of the Bid and the Capras, the thousands of members and to all those who want the Bid to succeed and the Capras to be the pride of Rugby league in CQ, I wish you all a safe and a happy Christmas and thanks for reading this non-journalistic written column.

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]

QRL hosts its annual summer camp

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• 22nd Dec 2012 6:00 AM

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Bennett Ladbrook ready to make a quick pass at the NRL Development Camp held in Yeppoon. Chris Ison
ASPIRING rugby league players from around the region converged on the Capricorn Coast as the Queensland Rugby League hosted its annual summer camp.
The camp aimed to assist the development of rugby league in Central Queensland. It began on Monday at Yeppoon Active Recreation Centre, Cooee Bay.
Around 70 kids from Bundaberg, Middlemount, Gladstone, Roma, Longreach, Emerald, Tannum Sands, Charleville, Blackall and Rockhampton attended the week-long camp.
Event co-ordinator and NRL Game Development officer Dominic Draper said the camp not only offered development, but also an opportunity for the kids to enjoy themselves.
"Its along the lines of 'come along, have a good time and also learn a lot about the game'," Draper said.
"We're trying to help the kids develop and not just in rugby league, but also in their life skills and stuff like that because it's really important for them."
Draper said the camp provided a lot of development, interaction with other players as well as giving coaches and volunteer staff the opportunity to further their skills.
"The camp is a part of the Game Development division of the NRL and nearly all the staff at the camp have been coaches for representative teams, as well as former NRL coach Murray Hurst and former Manly Assistant Dennis Moore working with the players," Draper said.
"It's also about developing coaches and first aiders, we're giving back to the volunteers as well."
The camps were supported by the CQ NRL Bid and Draper said the QRL Central Division was very appreciative.
"We have some CQ NRL bid representative players attending the camp and the CQ NRL bid is the major sponsor of the event. Without their sponsorship we wouldn't be able to hold the camp," he said.
"With their support it makes it affordable for kids to come along and it has been great. They've helped out with prizes and have been fantastic about it."
Draper said while the camp was open to anyone who wanted to come along, there were a few kids attending who were handpicked to attend.
"Two kids from out west, one from Charleville and one from Blackall, received an award at a carnival and Prime Properties in Rockhampton sponsored them to come along," Draper said.
"We have a few rep players as well as a few aspiring to be there.
"You don't have to be a rep player to come along, it's a good mix of kids and they have been absolutely fantastic.
"They've probably been the best group we've had together and they've just been unreal and really well behaved."
As this year marks the third year of the development camp, Draper said he was looking forward to future events.



http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/its-always-footy-weather-qrl-summer-camp/1695412/

 

[Joker's Wild]

The Capras getting belted every week cant be helping this bid. A feeder situation needs to be sorted out in order to bring some success to the area and give the CQ bid a platform to work from

 

[gyallop]

Capras werent helped by the regions spare dollars going to Murph to fund his bid rather than into Capras and grass roots. No fan of Grant's dismissal of expansion but the upside is now that the bid has joined forces with Capras that spare cash is heading their way which may help them in coming years.

 

[CQ Italia]

It doesn't help there will be nearly two dozen CQ juniors in the NYC squads for 2013 alone, add in dozens of players from CQ at other QCup/NSW/Fringe NRL Squad players. But yeah the bid will bring in more money and hopefully in a few years time the Capras will be in a stronger position and bring more of these fringe and NYC (as they turn 21) players back

Interesting enough there is around 13 CQ juniors at the Broncos NRL/NYC squads for 2013 after 5 schoolboy signings from last season and Capras will get 4 feeder players (1 will probably play NRL all year, another fringe, and 2 will begin NYC).

The old Comets board left a large financial state at the end of 2011 so it's about rebuilding over time and bringing back more sponsors and new corporates.

 

[papabear]

imo the biggest downfall of this bid is the lack of support they will get to their sydney away games which will constitute a good 30% of there matches.

IMO they would have been better of teaming with an old sydney club like the central coast bid to have a good go.

As it stands, in my opinion letting in another titans would be a travesty.

 

[CC_Roosters]

Regarding the rockhampton rugby league why are there only 4 senior teams in the grade competition? I thought league was strong at grass roots level there, this seems to terribly underrepresent the sport. Wouldn't a merged gladstone/rocky league provide more games and competition?

Doesn't this bid emphasise the strength of its juniors? Doesn't seem to be too many of them but correct me if i am wrong.

 

[CQ Italia]

Regarding the rockhampton rugby league why are there only 4 senior teams in the grade competition? I thought league was strong at grass roots level there, this seems to terribly underrepresent the sport. Wouldn't a merged gladstone/rocky league provide more games and competition?

Doesn't this bid emphasise the strength of its juniors? Doesn't seem to be too many of them but correct me if i am wrong.

The Extended League / Challenge Cup (Rocky & Gladstone) not happening only comes down to Gladstone RL - even with decent prize money on offer. They have a large majority of players as shift workers (so only have one day off for family etc). Unfortunately. It would be at least 10 Agrade/Reserve Grade team comps.

Rockhampton Rugby League Seniors could have more teams, but club's require all three grades, otherwise they don't allow it - I think they should be pushing for more senior teams (i.e. in Reserve or Agrade). Biloela want to enter Rockhampton SRL, but finding it difficult to get past red tape. Still the RSRL has good prize money due to the Leagues Club and other loyal sponsors.

Juniors however is strong with 8 clubs (Emu Park new in 2013) in the Rockhampton JRL and some clubs having 2 teams most grades. I know at Rockhampton Norths there are often too many players in most squads (e.g. a friend coaches a junior grade with 8 players extra wanting to join)

 

[CC_Roosters]

The Extended League / Challenge Cup (Rocky & Gladstone) not happening only comes down to Gladstone RL - even with decent prize money on offer. They have a large majority of players as shift workers (so only have one day off for family etc). Unfortunately. It would be at least 10 Agrade/Reserve Grade team comps.

Rockhampton Rugby League Seniors could have more teams, but club's require all three grades, otherwise they don't allow it - I think they should be pushing for more senior teams (i.e. in Reserve or Agrade). Biloela want to enter Rockhampton SRL, but finding it difficult to get past red tape. Still the RSRL has good prize money due to the Leagues Club and other loyal sponsors.

Juniors however is strong with 8 clubs (Emu Park new in 2013) in the Rockhampton JRL and some clubs having 2 teams most grades. I know at Rockhampton Norths there are often too many players in most squads (e.g. a friend coaches a junior grade with 8 players extra wanting to join)

ok thanks, nice explanation. A bit odd they would put be seen to be blocking or making it difficult to field more senior sides even if at a lower/second division level.

 

[CQ Italia]

ok thanks, nice explanation. A bit odd they would put be seen to be blocking or making it difficult to field more senior sides even if at a lower/second division level.

Think it's more due to preferring to see clubs with both junior and senior entities for a pathway (so places like Mt Morgan, Emu Park, Woorabinda etc could have at least 1 senior grade).
At one stage they were looking at expanding Reserve Grade, but don't want to turn it into a "pub comp".

Fitzroy and Gracemere junior clubs are merged in seniors. Cap Coast and Rockhampton Tigers (formerly AllBlacks) are both junior clubs). Emu Park will have a few junior teams, Justin Loomans runs the club and wanted a Reserve Grade side.

 

[Springbokfly]

Central Coast and Perth

 

[Perth Red]

You know a bid is desperate when it pulls out the "AFL will take over" card! Then he confirms his desperation by having a dig at the Perth bid. Brothers have clearly got him rattled!

FORMER Cowboys boss Denis Keeffe has warned the NRL risks losing rugby league in Central Queensland if they ignore expansion claims.
Keeffe, the chief executive of the Central Queensland expansion bid, says the state's regional centres are under "attack" from AFL, who realise installing a professional code in the cities is a key to winning the hearts and minds of the public.
Right now NRL expansion is on the back burner, with the ARL Commission to reconsider the option at the end of 2014. The queue of franchises lining up to be part of a likely 18-team competition, though, is long and getting longer.
As well as CQ, two Brisbane franchises, a Perth bid, Central Coast, Papua New Guinea and the Western Corridor (Ipswich) all want in.
Strategically, Keeffe said Central Queensland's Rockhampton-based bid should be priority No. 1 for the NRL.
"If (the NRL) think you can delay this expansion into CQ for an indefinite period or for a lengthy period, when you come back to CQ for an expansion option, you (the NRL) will not find the same avid rugby league market exists today," he said.
"The AFL or even the A-League will fill this vacuum and you (NRL) will never get it back. (The NRL's) ambitions to secure the heartlands of our game will be lost."
Momentum is definitely building in the region and Keeffe said Central Queensland had the financial and public support needed.
The CQ NRL bid has 42,000 members, two licensed league clubs in Rockhampton and Bundaberg, 15,000 social media members, 170 corporate partners, and operates the Central Queensland Capras in the Queensland Cup.
They also have plans for a NRL-compliant 20,000-seat stadium and accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers gave CQ its seal of approval after a six-month analysis last year.
"We are assured of our long-term viability, which is the big concern of the NRL," Keeffe said.
While rugby league is the region's premier sport, the public travel eight hours south (Brisbane) or north (Cowboys) to watch NRL.
"The AFL are well resourced and absolutely committed to code dominance in Australia," Keeffe said. "I know dominance is a strong (word) but it's the language of the AFL and an accurate description of their ambitions.
"The AFL have declared that an AFL club will be in place in regional Queensland by 2020 and based in North or most likely Central Queensland. The only way to prevent this AFL attack into the real heartland of our game is to establish NRL in CQ."
Keeffe has an impressive track record with North Queensland sporting franchises. He was the inaugural chief executive of the Townsville Crocodiles, stamping the club as the off-court envy of the league, while he played a leading hand in rebuilding the Cowboys' brand and reputation when installed as CEO near the turn of the century.
With an aim of being admitted to the NRL in 2016, Keeffe said a Central Queensland presence would boost the league's coffers.
"(CQ's admittance would) introduce some of the world's most significant companies to the NRL as sponsors, supporters and promoters," he said.
On field, with four Queensland teams spread across 1400km, he said benefits were obvious.
"(CQ's admittance would) establish another six massive rivalry games with the existing three Queensland clubs," he said. "For example, replace the worst-pulling Cowboys game and put in CQ, which equates to full stadium and massive viewers on TV.
"We have spoken to (Channel) 9 and Fox Sports and they want to have a ninth game weekly with a guaranteed audience - not waiting to grow the support as in a Perth experiment."
He added that a new NRL club in an established rugby league heartland might just uncover the next Matt Bowen or Matt Scott. "Opportunity is all that is required," Keeffe said. Keeffe's final message to the NRL's decision-makers was short but heartfelt. "Please do not take us for granted."

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2013/05/11/381145_sport.html

 

[RedVee]

You know a bid is desperate when it pulls out the "AFL will take over" card! Then he confirms his desperation by having a dig at the Perth bid. Brothers have clearly got him rattled!


http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2013/05/11/381145_sport.html

But is he wrong?

 

[CC_Roosters]

You know a bid is desperate when it pulls out the "AFL will take over" card! Then he confirms his desperation by having a dig at the Perth bid. Brothers have clearly got him rattled!


http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2013/05/11/381145_sport.html

Lol where is the evidence the afl have done anything in central queensland where it barely exists outside of southern expats. If this bid has to resort to scaremongering then they have already lost

The afl are only interested in capital cities, a pro side between townsville to Brisbane in any code is light years away

 

[Perth Red]

as is calling Perth an "experiment". How insulting to the WARL who have spent the last 8 years rebuilding the game, the sporting public who have flocked to NRL games here and the WA Govt who have invested heavily in a rectangular stadium. As I said, signs of desperation from a bid that is being left behind.

 

[CQ Italia]

Lol where is the evidence the afl have done anything in central queensland where it barely exists outside of southern expats. If this bid has to resort to scaremongering then they have already lost

The afl are only interested in capital cities, a pro side between townsville to Brisbane in any code is light years away

they have much more development officers than rugby league in our catchment (in saying that it may have changed with ARLC) and AFL clubs are visiting more often.

 

[CQ Italia]

as is calling Perth an "experiment". How insulting to the WARL who have spent the last 8 years rebuilding the game, the sporting public who have flocked to NRL games here and the WA Govt who have invested heavily in a rectangular stadium. As I said, signs of desperation from a bid that is being left behind.

WA crowds dropped off when the wins weren't coming is one reason it may have been mention.

Capras under big management are getting big crowds for QCup standard (if not leading the way).

"Desperation"? I dare say any other bid won't come close to the financial strengths of CQ. The business and financial (viability) aspects are the most important aspect (yes community engagement etc are important also, but will have no problem in league heartland). We have at least half a dozen juniors in strong contention or already selected for QLD/AUS/NZ this season alone. Current NYC and QCUP players we could provide 25+ already for a NYC squad alone. We're only one of two bids who operates a semi-professional club.

As for the Brothers rattled and being left behind argument :sarcasm: they've only just started - well behind majority of the bids. Even than a few of the Brothers clubs have been in the media as "unsure".

If bid merits are based on the early media attention when bids first start and not the work produced, than the Bombers, Brothers etc are leading the way before a business plan is even started. Far from "left behind" in a business (paper) sense, as opposed to what's written in newspapers atm.

 

[Perth Red]

they have much more development officers than rugby league in our catchment (in saying that it may have changed with ARLC) and AFL clubs are visiting more often.

Which has nothing to do with having to have an NRL team and everything to do with level of grass roots funding. To suggest AFL are going to put a team in Rockhampton is laughable.

As for your comments on Perth crowds, different time, different environment and zero relevance to Perth or the NRL in 2017. Really AFL and questioning another bid? not exactly strong indicators that your bid is very confident!

 

[CQ Italia]

Been a while since posting about Expansion.

But two more CQ juniors debuting in the NRL in recent weeks, both from my junior club. Former Capras captain Tim Glasby with Storm and tonight Corey Oates still yet to turn 19 yo with the Broncos, contracted with Capras but plays u20s.

Current Capras FB Cameron Munster is off to Storm next year but can play five eighth and another from my junior club, only 19 yo this year also.. Chased by a number of clubs including Broncos and Bulldogs

 

[Rosetta]

CQ gained $500,000 in funding from the Federal Government today to assist in their bid for an NRL team.