By Tania Phillips
The Cowboys undefeated TRL reserve grade team will have the honour of playing the curtain-raiser to Saturday night’s Host Plus Cup game between the Western Clydesdales and Burleigh Bears at Father Ranger.
The elevation to curtain raiser and taking on Newtown in the 2.30pm game came after the Newtown club pulled out of first grade this week due to lack of numbers.
The Queensland Rugby League fixture, to be played at 6pm, will see fourth placed Burleigh play the Western Clydesdales, currently rebuilding after losing key players at the end of last year and is a chance for local rugby league fans to see top football in their own town. Both Burleigh and Western Clydesdales, who draw players from this region, are NRL feeder clubs and the competition is considered the next tier down from the National game.
There will be plenty to entertain the crowd between the local game and the Host Plus match with the Cowboys club organising kicking competitions and other activities while the Clydesdales will hold a junior coaching clinic.
Cowboys first grade coach Col Speed said it was disappointing for his side, who are the unbeaten leaders of the TRL A Grade competition, not to be playing particularly given the competition leaders are coming to the pointy and of the season and have another bye in two weeks’ time.
“It’s a catch 22 there are some blokes who need a week off and there are some blokes who need game time,” he said.
“But the opportunities to be a curtainraiser to a Q Cup game don’t come around every day. Whilst it’s disappointing, we’ll be out there to support our Reggies and the Western side because that’s our pathway and link to the Queensland Cup. So, we’ll out there and support those guys as much as we can.
“I think there is a junior coaching clinic too.”
Col said despite the setback the Cowboys are still focussed on their football.
“I’m currently away in Townsville, Mitch Wilson took the boys at training and they were fantastic we are still focussed on what we need to do on the run home,” he said.
“We have six games to go after this one and we’re still focussed on that.
“It’s disappointing to lose Newtown from the A grade competition but also I’m glad commonsense has prevailed. I was a coach of the Newtown Lions in my first year and basically we were lacking numbers and the boys had to double up and play two games on that day which was wrong, I believe, for player welfare situations. The communication that came back down was that if we didn’t go and play it, it wouldn’t look good. At least this time some people in charge have taken into consideration the players welfare as a major concern. It’s a good thing that they are looking after the players. What’s in the future for Newtown beyond now is up in the air I guess and that’s probably a bit of a concern for everyone.
“To be honest they were quite competitive at the start of the year, I’m not sure what’s happened.
“Like every club there are a lot of people involved and a lot of people have put a lot of time and work, sweat and tears into the club and you want to hope it survives.”
However, he said when a club pulls out it does affect the whole competition.
“On the other side unfortunately clubs lose out on revenue, and you might get the average for and against for the round but there is match fitness as well.
“We are going into a situation where we have a week off, play another home game and then we have another week off and then we go and finish the season off. We just have to readjust the plan and get on with it.”
The reserve grade kicks off at 2.30pm with the Host Plus game at 6pm. Tickets are available at the gate on the day.
