The Intrust Super Cup uses this weekend’s Round 20 to take the game of rugby league to the fans, to real rugby league supporters who deserve a taste of the live stuff.
This is the fifth time an entire round has been dedicated to taking the game on the road. It is one of the rounds to look forward as the season kicks off. Mount Isa, Gympie, Ravenshoe and more are treated to a very decent spectacle.
Sure it is only second tier Intrust Super but that doesn’t mean the rugby league will be second rate. Some of the sides in the competition would trouble some lowly NRL. Most would beat Newcastle.
As the dreamer and rugby league romantic I am, I would love to see this replicated in the NRL.
But like an Australian version of the Super League’s Magic Weekend or Challenge Cup it is an idea too far out of the box for the NRL.
Their best ideas appear to revolve around themes that almost seem like the importance is on buying the new jersey, ‘Superhero Round’ being the nadir.
No doubt there’ll be arguments that this kind of country excursion should be limited to the lower ebbs of the rugby league pyramid. Or that some clubs would lose more than others. But if the NRL forced all teams to give at least one home game over a two year cycle or all teams once in a season it would work out.
It works best though when packaged together as an entire week of country football like this weekend’s Queensland Cup.
The shortfall in revenue for clubs could be topped up by the governing body who sit on an extraordinary amount of money after TV deal. Give every team in that round the same money. Plus clubs can sell game to the highest bidder.
It’s not always about the money though, clubs would be doing a good deed for regional areas which get bugger all usually.
Perhaps as a compromise the NRL could the short round games during Origin out to the bush, where only four games are played on a weekend.
It’s not as if anyone is overly interested in the NRL during the Origin spotlight. The NRL certainly don’t appear interested in the competition at that time. Take it to fans who might be! It’s worth a thought anyway.
This week’s country week games: (Featuring our match preview in 25 words or less)
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES v NORTHS DEVILS @ Barcaldine
Norths without Francis Molo for obvious reasons – Magpies in hunt for six having beaten Townsville and Easts in last three weeks.
BURLEIGH BEARS v IPSWICH JETS @ Charleville
Two of the comp’s in form teams having won six and five in a row respectively. Ipswich climbed from second last to top five. Bears on top of everyone.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v CENTRAL CAPRAS @ Mount Isa
Townsville are on the slide with four losses in five for the once invincible Blackhawks. Central are almost out of finals contention.
MACKAY CUTTERS v WYNNUM SEAGULLS @ Moranbah
Wynnum on another roll, but this game is closer to Mackay than Wynnum.
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS @ Gympie
Gold Coast based Tweed Heads come to the former Gold Rush town looking for a golden two points. Loss will just about rule out finals.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS v NORTHERN PRIDE @ Ravenshoe
Dolphins just got home against the Hunters, and won this match last year in Innisfail.
PNG HUNTERS v EASTS TIGERS @ Port Moresby
The last time the Hunters lost in Papua New Guinea was to Easts two years ago. Pity their away form isn’t as intimidating.
COUNTRY WEEK TIPS:
Magpies to beat Devils
Ipswich +5.5 start v Bears
Blackhawks to beat Capras
Wynnum to beat Cutters
Falcons to beat Tweed Heads
Dolphins to beat Pride
Tigers + 6.5 start v Papua New Guinea
PREVIOUS YEAR’S ADVENTURES
Take a trip down memory lane to see just how far the Queensland Cup has travelled in the past few seasons.
2015: Dalby, Blackall, Bundaberg, Charters Towers, Innisfail, Stanthorpe, Port Moresby.
2014: Longreach, Emerald, Moranbah, Mareeba, Kingaroy, Kokopo (Papua New Guinea)
2013: Burleigh, Roma, Whitsundays, Woodford, Toowoomba, Yarrabah
2012: A big blank in our history – anyone remember where the games were played?
Mangrove Jack
Guest
It is now becoming evident, the Q Cup is getting more entertaining and much better than the tired and boring old NRL.
Birdy
Guest
I think a really good idea for qld country week would be for souths logan to actually play a game in logan
Mike from tari
Guest
The QRL paid Ch9 to telecast an Intrustsuper Cup every week, somewhere in the vicinity of 1 million bucks, not sure if that is every year, but that was the first year.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I meant to say televised games. I know that there's one game a week on free to air (at least in qld) but I think it would be great for the lower leagues to get some exposure playing against NRL sides.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
They started doing it up here about three or four seasons ago. The quality is really high - footy wise and the commentators are alright too. Nice lead in for the arvo game of NRL. Can't believe ya's are being deprived. Another good reason to live in Queensland.
Baracuda
Guest
"I'd love to see some of the top second tier clubs invited to the nines or even just play some friendlies in the preseason." While involving non-NRL clubs in the nines would be an excellent idea, NRL clubs have been playing trials against second tier clubs since before the NRL began.
Baracuda
Guest
The FTA league viewer receives no NSW cup action whatsoever. Since the establishment of the state championship match two years ago the NSW cup grand final is now broadcast on fox sports. Common sense would dictate that channel 9 broadcast the state cups to their repsective audiences.
Johnno
Guest
Foxtel broadcast the NSW cup. 1 game every week live.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I'd love to see some of the top second tier clubs invited to the nines or even just play some friendlies in the preseason. It adds a bit of incentive to the the guys in those clubs and gives the public a look at some of the up and comers. You just have to look at the guys signed from the Ipswich jets over the off season to see what a bit of exposure can do
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
What about the Warriors hosting in say Whangerei, you'd need to make sure the stadiums could host a fair few people so as not to haemorrhage the overall attendance.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Is that right, ch9 don't broadcast the NSW cup? It's great having the early game, which is often a better standard than NRL. Wonder why they won't show it down south.
Steve L.
Guest
Why can Channel 9 broadcast the Qld cup but not the NSW cup? Channel 7 bombard Sydney audiences with AFL promotion 24/7, but 9 don't have a clue.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
I'm rapt in this initiative by the QRL, they're taking the game to the great unwashed masses purely for the love of the game. The NRL really should take notice and try something similar.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Must get me to one of those games soon. Great initiative.
Gurudoright
Guest
For me you could choose between Cairns,Rockhampton, Mackay, Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Dubbo, Wagga, Mudgee, Port Macquarie, Mt Isa, Albury, Toowoomba or Bathurst. There are plenty of places.
Baracuda
Guest
A round of NRL matches in country areas each year should account for city country origin. "Some of the sides in the competition would trouble some lowly NRL. Most would beat Newcastle." So, does that open up the prospect of promotion and relegation?
The Gurgler
Roar Guru
I'd have the three qld teams playing in country qld somewhere but not somewhere which has already had a taste of nrl. Get Melbourne to take a game to country victoria say Bendigo or Ballarat. Newcastle to take a game to somewhere in the Hunter. Canberra could cover far west nsw. Then that leaves two sydney clubs for anywhere in nsw. Grafton, Dubbo, Parkes even Broken Hill. Pipe dreams though.
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
Let's say in a fantasy world the NRL gives you the reigns for a weekend like this who would play who and where?