Get in the Game - QRL Country Week

Country rugby league clubs and regional communities are set to benefit from a new partnership between the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and the Queensland Government's Get in the Game initiative.

The alliance will provide an opportunity for thousands of regional fans to experience the Intrust Super Cup on the weekend of August 9-10, with matches to be played at Longreach, Moranbah, Emerald, Mareeba and Kingaroy.

Mr Steve Dickson, Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, today announced the details for the highly anticipated ‘Get in the Game Country Week' round.

"We'll be putting $50,000 dollars into the initiative to assist the QRL in taking this wonderful game to the regions," Mr Dickson said.

"This will be a major event in each area, not only on the sporting spectacle and social side of things, but also for the economic benefits, and community events that will be held in conjunction to promote local clubs and junior participation."

Four Get in the Game Country Week matches will be played on the Saturday (see full schedule below) with Kingaroy to host the Sunday Channel 9 match between Wynnum Manly and Tweed Heads.

The bumper round of Intrust Super Cup fixtures will also feature a match on international soil between the Papua New Guinea Hunters and Ipswich Jets.

The spotlight though will be on regional Queensland, with the first of the Saturday matches to be contested by the Redcliffe Dolphins and Burleigh Bears in the town of Longreach - some 1180km north west of Brisbane.

QRL Managing Director Rob Moore believes the scheduling will assist with the growth of the game throughout country areas.

"We are extremely pleased to partner with the Queensland Government's Get in the Game initiative to deliver Country Week," Moore said.

"A key priority for both QRL and Get in the Game is to grow and sustain participation in grassroots rugby league throughout Queensland so it makes perfect sense for us to partner together to deliver these outcomes.

"The aim is to leave behind a positive legacy in these communities which facilitates the growth of our code across regional and remote areas of Queensland."

NRL Ambassadors including Petero Civoniceva (Longreach), Michael Crocker (Mareeba), Adam MacDougall (Emerald), Ben Ross (Kingaroy) and Dallas Johnson (Moranbah) will be involved in the Get in the Game Country Week festivities.

For more about the Get in the Game initiative, visit the National Parks, Recreation, Sport & Racing website.

www.nprsr.qld.gov.au

Get in the Game Country Week - Round 23

Longreach: Redcliffe Dolphins v Burleigh Bears
Saturday, August 9 - 3:30pm

Moranbah: Sunshine Coast Falcons v Mackay Cutters
Saturday, August 9 - 6:30pm

Emerald: Easts Tigers v Central Queensland Capras
Saturday, August 9 - 7pm

Mareeba: Souths Logan Magpies v Northern Pride
Saturday, August 9 - 7pm

Kingaroy: Tweed Heads Seagulls v Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Sunday, August 10 - 2pm (Channel 9)

* PNG Hunters play Ipswich Jets in Kokopo, PNG.

More: www.qrl.com.au