Nev Blair Shield teams prepare for kick-off Story inside

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1 Nev Blair Shield teams prepare for kick-off Story inside MAY EDITION MCDONALD S have continued to show their support for the sport of rugby league by announcing they will provide further sponsorship to replenish stocks of touch judge uniforms. FANS of the Brisbane Broncos can purchase a midseason membership that will get them into three Broncos home games at Suncorp Stadium. As an added bonus, the membership will get you in to the Round 15 double-header on June 18 allowing you to watch not only the Broncos v Panthers game, but also the Bulldogs v Titans game. The membership will also provide entry into the Round 14 game against the Rabbitohs, the Round 15 double-header and the Round 17 match against Wests Tigers. McDonald s who are primary sponsors of the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League and are also naming rights sponsors of the McDonald s Fixture Rounds are sponsoring Brisbane and Ipswich Touch Judges from season 2010 through to season The midseason membership is great value for rugby league fans, costing only $69. Clubs who require touch judge uniforms have already submitted their requests for uniforms with the juniors office and the uniforms will be available for collection by clubs before the 2 nd round of fixtures. McDonald s have also provided 700 ball bags for distribution throughout the clubs. For more information, visit the Brisbane Broncos website at

2 GIRLS who love to play rugby league can now sign up to get involved in the new Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League Girls Competition. The competition for girls in the Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 age divisions will kick off on Friday, May 23. Running over 10 weeks, it will give girls the chance to play the game past the age of 12 the previous cutoff age for junior female players in Brisbane. The games will be played on Friday nights under the Safeplay code and all coaching will be provided by clubs. For more information about the competition and how to get involved, contact the QRL s Women s Development Officer Belinda Sleeman on b.sleeman@qrl.com.au or by phone on (07) CONGRATULATIONS to the inaugural winner of the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League Volunteer of the Month Award Wayne Daunt from the Mt Gravatt Junior Rugby League Football Club. Wayne was nominated for the hard work and commitment he has displayed at the club as both a committee member and as a coach of the Under 9s. He was praised for his for the way he has helped the kids develop a love for football and respect for parents and their club. Nothing is too much trouble for Wayne and he is the type of role model for young makes society needs. Wayne will receive $55 Movie Gift Card to go and enjoy a relaxing time at the movies. To nominate a hard-working volunteer for next month s Volunteer of the Month, head to Forms on the Stingers website and download the nomination form or come by the Stingers office. THE Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League s Miss Junior Rugby League Quest is starting soon. The Quest has been part of the GBJRL calendar since 1972 and was established to allow the girls who give up their time supporting junior rugby league their chance to shine. Entrants in the Quest undergo a round of pre-judging on July 17 with the gala crowning to be held on July 24. Entry forms are downloadable from the Stingers website and should be returned to the Stingers office by Friday, June 25. To find out more information about the Quest, contact the Miss Junior Rugby League Quest co-ordinator Marcia Hill on (07) or

3 THE fixtures for the popular Intro League for Under 6s have started again for season The Under 6s division was included as part of the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League fixtures last season with great results. One club who are entering a team in this year s Intro League are Norths Juniors and they have achieved the rare feat of signing up triplets to the team. Izaac, Moroni and Amaron signed up with the club and are enjoying taking part in training and learning about the game. Their dad Peter took them down to the club after hearing about the Intro League from his brother. My brother s boy signed up with the team and I found out from him about the team and decided to take them down to the club a week after the sign on, Peter said. We all used to play at Norths, so there is a family connection there and that is why we chose that club. The boys are having fun and loving training at the moment. Intro League games are played at grounds across Brisbane on Friday nights and Sundays. Albany Creek Arana Hills Aspley Banyo Beenleigh Brighton Brothers Burpengary Capalaba Carina Centenary Dayboro Deception Bay Easts Forest Lake Greenbank Inala Logan Brothers Mustangs Brothers Narangba Norths PCHS Redcliffe Redlands Rochedale St. Josephs Slacks Creek Souths Stradbroke Sunnybank Valleys Waterford Wynnum

4 WITH the McDonald s Fixtures Rounds kicking off this month, the interest in the Nev Blair Shield competition is well and truly building. It is the premier rugby league competition for Under 18s in the city; so before kick off, The Buzz caught up with the teams to get the inside word on how they are looking this season. We asked the team representatives: 1) How is your team shaping up so far? 2) Why do you think your team will be in with a chance to take out the title this season? 3) Which team do you think will be the team to beat or the biggest challenge? Who is the dark horse? Scott Sipple (Team Coach) 1) We should get six or seven players back from the Mal Meninga Cup team, so barring injury, our player roster is looking pretty good and having some depth in the squad is a good thing. 2) Winning competitions takes a lot of luck including with injury and you have to have the right personnel at the end of the season but hopefully we will be in the top three or so. 3) I am only new to this competition, so I am not sure yet of the strengths of the other teams, but I would have to think Wynnum are the favourites. Stu Wilson (Team Coach) Kennedy Lauti (Team Captain) 1) We at Aspley are looking like we will have a strong squad. The boys we have are working hard, plus we still have some talented players to come back from the Mal Meninga Cup competition. 2) There is a lot of footy to play before August. We are hoping to stay healthy and build on our performances week by week. If we can gel as a team we are a chance, but seven other coaches will tell you that too. 3) Looking at the results from the pre-season comp, the Nev Blair Shield promises to be very evenly contested. Brothers and Wests have set down an early mark of their intentions with some strong performances. Logan Brothers have performed admirably while being light on for numbers at times. I expect Easts, Redcliffe, Wynnum and Souths will be strong when it comes to the crunch. 1) Not too bad at the moment, we are getting a few players back (from Mal Meninga Cup) and everyone has made all the players feel very welcome and part of the team. 2) Its a hard question to answer; but I think our main strength is that we work well as a team. 3) I d have to say that every team is going to be a challenge, and like us they will be going in to each game and trying their hardest. Billy McCartney (Team Captain) Michael Cotton (Team Captain) 1) So far, we are looking pretty good as a team. 2) If we all put the effort in and we all work hard, I think that we will be in with a chance. 3) Wynnum and Easts, just because of their reputation and their performance from last year. 1) We are looking pretty good, we have had a few injuries to players during the Mal Meninga Cup, but a few of them will come back to join our team. 2) We will be in with a chance because we show good commitment, and we will want to win for each other. 3) I think Easts and Wynnum will be the most challenging teams for us to play. I think Brothers might be the dark horse.

5 Paul Rochford (Team Coach) The Nev Blair Shield McDonald s Fixture Rounds will kick off this Sunday, May 2. Games always commence at 3:00pm and are played on a Sunday. The NBS draw and results can be found on the GBJRL website 1) Our squad is looking very strong with some size right across the field and loads of speed. 2) We can be very competitive, if we play a style of football that suits our squad. Our chances will improve if we develop into a tight knit unit during the year. 3) I m sure that all the teams will have some excellent players in their ranks. Biggest threats may be the finalists from last year Wynnum / Easts / Brothers. Big improvers could be Aspley. NBS CLUB ASPLEY BROTHERS EASTS ADDRESS Kirby Park Kirby Road ASPLEY Gibson Park via Hayward St STAFFORD W.J. Scott Park Harold St HOLLAND PARK Keiran Culgan (Team Captain) 1) We have been going alright, but we need to get more discipline in the team. We also need to get a few more players into the team. 2) I think we will be in with a strong chance, but we need to work on a few things. But if we can get the team together and work hard on our team work we will be in with a chance. 3) I would have to say Brothers at the moment that was the team we had the most trouble with during the pre-season. I also think Logan Brothers will be a challenge, because they have a strong team. LOGAN BROTHERS Civic Park Wembley Road WOODRIDGE REDCLIFFE SOUTHS WESTS WYNNUM Dick Tosser Turner Complex Ashmole Rd REDCLIFFE Brandon Park Mortimer Road ACACIA RIDGE Purtell Park Lorward Ave BARDON Kitchener Park Stradbroke Ave WYNNUM Craig Youngjohns (Team Coach) 1) We are shaping up very well, we have a lot of players coming back from the Mal Meninga Cup team who came in second in the competition and were part of the finals. 2) We have a lot of core players who were a part of the grand final last year who are coming back to the team. Last year we were the underdogs, but this year is a bit different for us, so it will be a good chance to see how we go. 3) Easts and Souths both look like they will have good sides in the competition this year. 1 st - 3 rd SEQ 13 & 14 Divisional Carnival 2 nd McDonald s Rd 1 Under 6s Rd 2 3 rd Labour Day 6 th - 9 th QSS State U 15s BUNDABERG 7 th Australia V New Zealand Test MELBOURNE 9 th Mother s Day McDonald s Rd 2 Under 6s Rd 3 Storm V Broncos 13 th - 16 th QSS State U18s ROMA 14 th Broncos V Titans 16 th McDonald s Rd 3 Under 6s Rd 4 23 rd McDonald s Rd 4 Under 6s Rd 5 26 th State of Origin Game 1 Sydney 28 th - 30 th Pink Weekend at Mitchelton 29 th Samford Stags Foot Ball Sharks V Broncos 30 th McDonald s Rd 5 Under 6s Rd 6 GBJRL Suncorp Stadium Castlemaine & Chippendall Sts MILTON

6 EVERY weekend during the junior rugby league season, mothers across Brisbane are on hand to help make sure the football runs smoothly. They give up their time supporting their child, their team and their club and some mothers take their support up a level by giving up what time they have left to volunteer at their clubs. In this Mother s Day month edition of The Buzz, we thought we might get to know some of the mothers who have played a part in helping out junior rugby league in Brisbane. MARCIA Hill is one name that is bound to come up when speaking about junior rugby league in this city. She has got a long history of involvement with junior rugby league having devoted 40 years to the game. I was a secretary at Norths for 14 years then my youngest moved clubs to Aspley so I was a mother for a year then I took over the role of club secretary and was secretary there for nine years, Marcia said of her years of volunteering. At Norths, I also used to mark the fields and clean the toilets at Aspley as well. Now, Marcia is busy being a grandmother to a talented group of grandchildren and in her spare time she volunteers with the GBJRL as a grade registrar and as a Miss Junior Rugby League Quest and Functions coordinator. She is also a GBJRL Life Member and also formerly served on the GBJRL Board. I now have two grandsons who play rugby league one for Capalaba and one for Aspley and my granddaughters play netball, the piano and swim. I thought I was going to have a break this year but I needed to get back into it, this is good for me. I am loving it but it keeps me very busy. My favourite memory of being involved in Junior Rugby League is receiving Life Membership. It was unbelievable. The whole of the 12 clubs in my Zone wrote in to say I deserved to be made Life Member and that broke me down, that hit me. My family were proud of me. Marcia Hill ALTHOUGH her son has left the junior playing fields far behind him, Diane Harrison is another mother still involved with the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League. The mother of Gold Coast Titans star Ashley Harrison Di makes sure she attends all of Ashley s home games at Skilled Park Di is a judge in this year s GBJRL Miss Junior Rugby League Quest. Speaking to The Buzz after her son s milestone 200th NRL game, Di said she was proud to see this new chapter of his journey which began when he played the majority of his junior football at Aspley. Marcia Hill Like many mothers, Marcia first got involved through her sons playing the game, but has continued her support long after her boys graduated from the junior ranks. We went down for the game we go to all of his home games. It was great and he also scored his 50th NRL try in that match, Di said. We are very proud of him. Di said while the family were thrilled with his success on the field, she was just as proud of the effort he puts in every day off the field to achieve his goals. He is very committed and he always was very committed. He was playing Colts when he was 16, Queensland Cup when he was 17 and he went to the Broncos when he was 18, Di said.

7 He moved out of home when he was 19, so while he was at home we helped make sure he had the right foods and looking after his injuries. But he was always knew what to do to look after himself and was very disciplined. Like now, for breakfast, he will make things like omelettes with three eggs, three egg whites and trim milk while we enjoy our bacon and eggs. And after games he will have three jelly lollies from the cupboard only three! They also stressed the value of getting involved with their club. I could never have done it without Jim, Marcia said of her dearly-missed late husband Jim. He was the best husband and he was the rock, as I used to call him. I could never have been a volunteer for so long if it wasn t for him. Mums and dads have to try and work together and that makes it easier. Di agreed and said her husband Barney s support and involvement with Ashley during his junior league years helped mould him into the role model he is today. My husband and I were both very much involved with his football and with his clubs. And as parents, it is about being supportive and keeping them focused. Probably the most enjoyable memory has been our youngest s first game. He has been to so many other games to watch and to get out and play was big. He did a kick on the last tackle like he had seen being done and everyone was a bit gob-smacked, but it was so cute at the time. Marleis Sparey Di and Ashley Harrison Di used to iron Ashley s training pants, but she ironed the creases so sharply that Gordon Tallis had to pull Ashley aside at training and ask him to tell his mum to stop ironing his pants because his team-mates were getting cut at training! Di Harrison as told by Marcia Hill. And the Sparey family know all about working as a team with Marleis s husband Mick working as the Waterford Juniors club secretary. I would have to say to other mums, the best thing to do is to get involved, Marleis said. The other thing I would say is to get organised! I have to know what is going on at the club and with the boys and know what to do and when. So I have a diary and a calendar and have worked out the roster so I can know what is going on! WHILE Marcia and Di have been involved with clubs in the city s north across town at Waterford Rugby League Football Club, Marleis Sparey has had her hands full with three sons and a husband playing league. Organising an efficient routine to get all her boys on the field seems difficult enough, but Marleis also volunteers her time at the Waterford Club as a registrar, assistant secretary and team manager. I got involved through my boys playing and this is my 10 th year involved with the club, Marleis said. I am still really enjoying it. It really is all about the kids. When asked to impart some advice and helpful tips for other mothers involved in league, all three women said a similar thing they could never have done it without the strong support of their families. Ashley as a Norths Junior

8 WELCOME to Backchat. This will be a column in the Greater Brisbane Buzz newsletter each month. If you have any little bits of gossip or something unusual send it in. Greenbank are planning a big social night to choose their entrant for the GBJRL Miss Junior Rugby League Quest. Recently, Backchat was at Albany Creek and had the best steak burger they have ever tasted, followed by the most wonderful hot chocolate. Make sure you send in your comments on club canteens. Which north-side club is moving? Watch this space. Which NRL star has stacked on a heap of weight - heard it was to get into his boss s new movie! Volunteers? Is there a use-by date? There is more to come - but please have your say. Heard a rumour that this year s 13 & 14 rep teams will be the best ever! The record as we know it belongs to Geoff Orman s Under 13 team from Their State Carnival score for 5 games was 296 points for and 4 points against. That might be hard to beat! Talking about records... Michael Bond is the only Brisbane player to have won consecutive player of the carnival awards 3 years in a row - Under 13s; Under 14s and Under 16s. Seems to be a lot of musical chairs at the Suncorp offices. Let s hope someone wins a prize! Had a little look at the 13s and 14s Rep training last week and we thought we were at a coaches meeting, but no, they were all there as fathers! Please send any items of interest to media@stingers.net.au THE Pine Rivers Junior League Club is celebrating 40 years in There are several families that have been associated with the club since it was established. Darcy and Claire Roberts have been stalwarts, with Darcy still refereeing at the club and Claire only recently retiring as canteen convenor. Their son Adam who played all his junior football at the club has returned this year to coach the Under 14 Division 3 side. The name Turton is also renowned within the club Bill Turton was a founding member while his son Guy was a founding player. Guy and Ali s son Gus is playing in the Under 13 Division 1 side this year and their daughters are also actively involved in the club. Kirra was crowned Miss Charity in 2009 and Jade is a Miss Pine Rivers entrant in 2010 for the Opens. Clay and Drew Turton also played all their junior and senior football at Pine Rivers and Drew is coach of the N2 opens side this year. The club will hold an official celebration to mark this milestone later in the year so keep an eye out for more information. A RECENT Under 15 Division 1 game between Capalaba Warriors and the Waterford Demons was called off after an injury to a Waterford Demon player. Unfortunately, an ambulance had to be called to attend to the player, but the actions of the Capalaba team was heartening. Here is how Capalaba Warriors registrar Hayley Swaffield saw the incident: The Capalaba team showed their sportsmanship for the injured player, by sitting along the try-line for half an hour waiting for the player to be removed from the field. The Capalaba players then made a guard of honour at the gate and clapped the player in the ambulance off the field. I think this show of sportsmanship from a group of young men, shows the respect they have not only for each other but for their opposition players, and as I stood there in my club shirt, I was definitely proud to be associated with them. She thanked the team officials for their actions and reserved special praise for the players, who did their club proud. The injured player was later released from hospital and will make a full recovery, which is good news. Waterford Demons club secretary Mick Sparey also thanked the Capalaba team for their positive actions.