Barba's stellar season



5th September 2012 10:00 AM





AFTER a near Cinderella season, Mackay's Ben Barba is now considered among the best players in the NRL.



Mackay’s Ben Barba has gone from strength to strength this year and was tipped to take the Dally M player of the year award last night.

AAP Images

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AFTER a near Cinderella season, Mackay's Ben Barba is now considered among the best players in the NRL.



He capped off a stellar year by running away with the prestigious Dally M Medal at a gala function at Sydney Town Hall last night.



He finished the home-and-always rounds with 32 votes, six ahead of Cowboys' Matt Bowen (26) and seven ahead of Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.



Barba finished the regular NRL season equal leading try scorer with 21, alongside Cowboys' Ashley Graham.



The dynamic Canterbury fullback also had more line-breaks than any other NRL player this season.



Barba earned favouritism for winning the Dally M Medal last night, the league's highest individual honour, after a season that yielded several length-of-the-field tries.



The fringe Queensland player has thrived under the coaching of Des Hasler and is now an NRL force.



Mackay rugby league fan and identity Alf Abdullah said Barba deserved the prestigious award, after a five-star performance over the past month.



Abdullah praised Barba's brilliance and noted his near man-of-the-match efforts over the past month were why many had claimed he had been the NRL's best player.



"His last four or five games have been outstanding," he said of the former Mackay player.



Abdullah said Hasler's work with Barba had made him a near complete player this season.



"Hasler has done a lot of work him, particularly in defence, and that has improved that part of his game immensely," he said.



Dad Ken Barba, speaking from Sydney yesterday, said his son had his eye firmly on winning the grand final.



"His form this season has been a credit to Canterbury for showing faith in him. Whatever happens we'll be proud of him."



Mackay rugby league patron Col Grosskreutz felt Barba would go close to a bench spot for the Maroons next season.



A humbled Barba was also crowned Fullback of the Year and claimed the Provan-Summons People's Choice Award and the Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for that magical length-of-the-field try he set up for Josh Morris against the Storm in round 16.



All that remains now is for Barba to cap a season to remember with a premiership, starting with Manly this Friday night at ANZ Stadium.





www.dailymercury.com.au/story/20 ... ar-season/





Barba highlights the continued production line of CQ talent.



11 Juniors in the NRL Finals Week 1 (included players on extended bench)

Barba's stellar season



5th September 2012 10:00 AM





AFTER a near Cinderella season, Mackay's Ben Barba is now considered among the best players in the NRL.



Mackay’s Ben Barba has gone from strength to strength this year and was tipped to take the Dally M player of the year award last night.

AAP Images

Advertisement



AFTER a near Cinderella season, Mackay's Ben Barba is now considered among the best players in the NRL.



He capped off a stellar year by running away with the prestigious Dally M Medal at a gala function at Sydney Town Hall last night.



He finished the home-and-always rounds with 32 votes, six ahead of Cowboys' Matt Bowen (26) and seven ahead of Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.



Barba finished the regular NRL season equal leading try scorer with 21, alongside Cowboys' Ashley Graham.



The dynamic Canterbury fullback also had more line-breaks than any other NRL player this season.



Barba earned favouritism for winning the Dally M Medal last night, the league's highest individual honour, after a season that yielded several length-of-the-field tries.



The fringe Queensland player has thrived under the coaching of Des Hasler and is now an NRL force.



Mackay rugby league fan and identity Alf Abdullah said Barba deserved the prestigious award, after a five-star performance over the past month.



Abdullah praised Barba's brilliance and noted his near man-of-the-match efforts over the past month were why many had claimed he had been the NRL's best player.



"His last four or five games have been outstanding," he said of the former Mackay player.



Abdullah said Hasler's work with Barba had made him a near complete player this season.



"Hasler has done a lot of work him, particularly in defence, and that has improved that part of his game immensely," he said.



Dad Ken Barba, speaking from Sydney yesterday, said his son had his eye firmly on winning the grand final.



"His form this season has been a credit to Canterbury for showing faith in him. Whatever happens we'll be proud of him."



Mackay rugby league patron Col Grosskreutz felt Barba would go close to a bench spot for the Maroons next season.



A humbled Barba was also crowned Fullback of the Year and claimed the Provan-Summons People's Choice Award and the Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for that magical length-of-the-field try he set up for Josh Morris against the Storm in round 16.



All that remains now is for Barba to cap a season to remember with a premiership, starting with Manly this Friday night at ANZ Stadium.





www.dailymercury.com.au/story/20 ... ar-season/





Barba highlights the continued production line of CQ talent.



11 Juniors in the NRL Finals Week 1 (included players on extended bench)

"The CQ NRL Bid is off to Mackay this Saturday. This is your chance to ask the CEO, Denis Keeffe, and our Chairman, Geoff Murphy, all your questions. We will be at the Mackay Junior Rugby League Grand Finals at Virgin Australia Stadium so come in and see us and also watch some great footy as the Juniors give it their best."



https://www.facebook.com/cqnrlbid

"The CQ NRL Bid is off to Mackay this Saturday. This is your chance to ask the CEO, Denis Keeffe, and our Chairman, Geoff Murphy, all your questions. We will be at the Mackay Junior Rugby League Grand Finals at Virgin Australia Stadium so come in and see us and also watch some great footy as the Juniors give it their best."



https://www.facebook.com/cqnrlbid

The Spot Light – Junior Development Success and Mal for Immortal



www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2012/09/the- ... -immortal/

The Spot Light – Junior Development Success and Mal for Immortal



www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2012/09/the- ... -immortal/

RUGBY LEAGUE TALENT APLENTY IN CQ

www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2012/09/rugb ... nty-in-cq/

RUGBY LEAGUE TALENT APLENTY IN CQ

www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2012/09/rugb ... nty-in-cq/

Young Willy gets helping hand



Michelle Curran | 26th September 2012 11:23 AM

PROUD parents John and Robyn Mohr, from Clermont, watched as their 14-year-old son, William, spoke at a press conference in his honour at CQ Leagues Club.



Will Mohr



PROUD parents John and Robyn Mohr, from Clermont, watched as their 14-year-old son, William, spoke at a press conference in his honour at CQ Leagues Club.



They had travelled to Rockhampton to collect their son following a four-day CQ NRL Bid junior development squad training camp at Rockhampton Grammar School.



Fortunately, the Mohrs could sit in on yesterday's press conference to hear their son had become the first recipient of the new CQ Pentag-Nidera Sports and Education Bursary. "This is the part I like ... that the bursary will be a big help for mum and dad," John Mohr chuckled, pointing at the information sheet about the bursary.



As part of the bursary, the Mohr family receives substantial financial assistance towards sports and educational costs throughout the year, which William said would be very useful.



"It will help me a fair bit with travel. I live in basically the middle of nowhere and it is not always cheap to get around...every day it takes me two hours to travel to my school Marist College in Emerald, and then two hours back again. I'm pretty excited to receive this award," said William, who plays in the forwards for the under-13 team.



William is one of five children who have grown up on the Mohr farm 50km out of Clermont. He started playing league at the age of seven because his older brother played, and he has grown into a promising competitor.



Leading grain company Pentag-Nidera recently approached the CQ NRL Bid team, expressing their desire to help one of the junior boys whose family lived on the land, CQ NRL Bid business and community development manager Walson Carlos said.



"William immediately came to mind. He's a constructive player and also very humble.



"We've been keeping an eye on him for a while, he's made the Queensland under-13 side and he's a good kid, from a good family," Carlos said.



Meanwhile, the four-day camp in Rockhampton was very successful. Mohr said both the under-13 and under-14 squads trained several times and were well prepared for next month's southern tour.



www.themorningbulletin.com.au/st ... nd-sports/

Young Willy gets helping hand



Michelle Curran | 26th September 2012 11:23 AM

PROUD parents John and Robyn Mohr, from Clermont, watched as their 14-year-old son, William, spoke at a press conference in his honour at CQ Leagues Club.



Will Mohr



PROUD parents John and Robyn Mohr, from Clermont, watched as their 14-year-old son, William, spoke at a press conference in his honour at CQ Leagues Club.



They had travelled to Rockhampton to collect their son following a four-day CQ NRL Bid junior development squad training camp at Rockhampton Grammar School.



Fortunately, the Mohrs could sit in on yesterday's press conference to hear their son had become the first recipient of the new CQ Pentag-Nidera Sports and Education Bursary. "This is the part I like ... that the bursary will be a big help for mum and dad," John Mohr chuckled, pointing at the information sheet about the bursary.



As part of the bursary, the Mohr family receives substantial financial assistance towards sports and educational costs throughout the year, which William said would be very useful.



"It will help me a fair bit with travel. I live in basically the middle of nowhere and it is not always cheap to get around...every day it takes me two hours to travel to my school Marist College in Emerald, and then two hours back again. I'm pretty excited to receive this award," said William, who plays in the forwards for the under-13 team.



William is one of five children who have grown up on the Mohr farm 50km out of Clermont. He started playing league at the age of seven because his older brother played, and he has grown into a promising competitor.



Leading grain company Pentag-Nidera recently approached the CQ NRL Bid team, expressing their desire to help one of the junior boys whose family lived on the land, CQ NRL Bid business and community development manager Walson Carlos said.



"William immediately came to mind. He's a constructive player and also very humble.



"We've been keeping an eye on him for a while, he's made the Queensland under-13 side and he's a good kid, from a good family," Carlos said.



Meanwhile, the four-day camp in Rockhampton was very successful. Mohr said both the under-13 and under-14 squads trained several times and were well prepared for next month's southern tour.



www.themorningbulletin.com.au/st ... nd-sports/

CLERMONT’S WILLIAM MOHR AWARDED CQ PENTAG-NIDERA SPORTS & EDUCATION BURSARY



www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2012/09/cler ... n-bursary/



he's a QLD U13 player and must say I was only out at Clermont about 3 weekends ago and it is quite small and indeed in the middle of the bush basically so would be a lot of travelling and time.

CLERMONT’S WILLIAM MOHR AWARDED CQ PENTAG-NIDERA SPORTS & EDUCATION BURSARY



www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2012/09/cler ... n-bursary/



he's a QLD U13 player and must say I was only out at Clermont about 3 weekends ago and it is quite small and indeed in the middle of the bush basically so would be a lot of travelling and time.

Camp full of aspiring league stars



Michelle Curran | 27th September 2012 10:20 AM







Have your say »



Tags: rockhampton, rockhampton grammar school, rugby league, sports

Joshua Ambrose-Robinson enjoys a friendly game of tag-footy during the QRL Mod Camp.

Allan Reinikka









CENTRAL Queensland fans just can't get enough of rugby league.

This week, Rockhampton Grammar School is hosting this year's biggest CQ NRL Bid-sponsored Queensland Rugby League Mod Camp, with more than 110 kids taking part.

"We run these programs every year throughout the state, and this one in Rocky is definitely the biggest one we've had all year," QRL education development officer and camp manager Dominic Draper said.

In the four years the camps have been up and running, enrolment numbers at the Rockhampton camp have doubled.

"We have a waiting list of kids wanting to attend and I was still getting phone calls from people when the camp started on Tuesday," Draper said.

Children from Longreach, Barcaldine, Emerald, Blackwater, Springsure, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Marlborough, Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast have enrolled in the four-day camp.

Its focus is on the development of rugby league players aged between 10 and 12.

"So far, the kids are having a great time. We are doing drills, learning new skills, learning about rugby league and what it is like to spend time away from mum and dad," Draper said.

CQ NRL Bid business and community development manager Walson Carlos said the CQ NRL Bid was very happy to be major sponsor of such an important event for grassroots development of rugby league in the region.

"The CQ NRL Bid is committed to developing the grassroots of rugby league in Central Queensland and I want to commend the QRL, and in particular Dominic Draper and his team, for providing this wonderful opportunity for the young players to enjoy some fun footy activities in their holidays," Carlos said.

The Bid is committed to advancing rugby league in CQ through the QR National Schools Program, the QR National Scholarship Program and the CQ NRL Bid Junior Development Program.

It also sponsors local league organisations and clubs throughout CQ.







www.themorningbulletin.com.au/st ... ing-rugby/

Camp full of aspiring league stars



Michelle Curran | 27th September 2012 10:20 AM







Have your say »



Tags: rockhampton, rockhampton grammar school, rugby league, sports

Joshua Ambrose-Robinson enjoys a friendly game of tag-footy during the QRL Mod Camp.

Allan Reinikka









CENTRAL Queensland fans just can't get enough of rugby league.

This week, Rockhampton Grammar School is hosting this year's biggest CQ NRL Bid-sponsored Queensland Rugby League Mod Camp, with more than 110 kids taking part.

"We run these programs every year throughout the state, and this one in Rocky is definitely the biggest one we've had all year," QRL education development officer and camp manager Dominic Draper said.

In the four years the camps have been up and running, enrolment numbers at the Rockhampton camp have doubled.

"We have a waiting list of kids wanting to attend and I was still getting phone calls from people when the camp started on Tuesday," Draper said.

Children from Longreach, Barcaldine, Emerald, Blackwater, Springsure, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Marlborough, Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast have enrolled in the four-day camp.

Its focus is on the development of rugby league players aged between 10 and 12.

"So far, the kids are having a great time. We are doing drills, learning new skills, learning about rugby league and what it is like to spend time away from mum and dad," Draper said.

CQ NRL Bid business and community development manager Walson Carlos said the CQ NRL Bid was very happy to be major sponsor of such an important event for grassroots development of rugby league in the region.

"The CQ NRL Bid is committed to developing the grassroots of rugby league in Central Queensland and I want to commend the QRL, and in particular Dominic Draper and his team, for providing this wonderful opportunity for the young players to enjoy some fun footy activities in their holidays," Carlos said.

The Bid is committed to advancing rugby league in CQ through the QR National Schools Program, the QR National Scholarship Program and the CQ NRL Bid Junior Development Program.

It also sponsors local league organisations and clubs throughout CQ.







www.themorningbulletin.com.au/st ... ing-rugby/

Nine boss keen for NRL expansion



Michelle Curran | 28th September 2012 10:01 AM











Comments (4) »



Tags: channel nine, cq nrl bid, rugby league

TYING up two-and-a-half hours of Channel 9 boss David Gyngell's time was a coup for CQ NRL Bid campaigners Denis Keeffe and Geoff Murphy.



Channel Nine Network chief executive David Gyngell (right) can see the value of another Queensland team.

PAUL MILLER

Advertisement

<div style="display();</script><noscript><a href="clk.atdmt.com/2D1/go/229344756/direct/01/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="view.atdmt.com/2D1/view/229344756/direct/01/" /></a></noscript></>



TYING up two-and-a-half hours of Channel 9 boss David Gyngell's time was a coup for CQ NRL Bid campaigners Denis Keeffe and Geoff Murphy.



The CQ NRL Bid chief executive and chairman were on a recent mission in Sydney to discuss NRL expansion and the inclusion of a Central Queensland-based team with Gyngell.



Having arrived an hour early for their meeting at Channel 9's Willoughby office, they were just getting comfortable when the receptionist approached the pair.



"She asked who we were, and we were suddenly ushered into his office straight away ... he is such a busy man and to sit down with him for two-and-a-half hours was very encouraging," Keeffe said on his return to Rockhampton.



"Gyngell had a fair bit to say about it, and where a team should go. He is an absolute rugby league nut."



The Rockhampton pair were buoyed by Gyngell's support of expansion and the addition of another Queensland team to the present 16-team NRL competition.



"Many people have got it into their heads that NRL expansion was off the cards for the next five years following last month's $1 billion broadcasting agreement with Nine and Fox Sports," Keeffe said.



"But Gyngell said that was just the assumption people had made because it was not mentioned in the announcement. He also said expansion was not brought up at all during negotiations for the TV deal, but it was something he could not overlook."



Of particular interest to Gyngell, was the ninth game in the NRL draw which, through Australian anti-siphoning laws, would have to be shown on Free-to-Air TV (Channel 9).



"The idea of scheduling a local Queensland derby for this ninth game was appealing to him. Derby games between the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys always rate off the scale in Queensland.



"Queenslanders consume rugby league at a rate like no other, and with so many Sydney-based teams already in the competition, it made sense to Gyngell to include another Queensland team in the mix - which would also provide variety," he said.



An Ipswich-based team or a team in Gosford were also viable options for Gyngell. These teams posed serious competition to a Central Queensland team, despite the fact a team in CQ was likely to prove as popular with the public as the North Queensland Cowboys.



During the same visit to Sydney, Keeffe and Murphy also met Fox Sports chief executive Patrick Delany.



"A 17-team competition appealed to Delaney ... Fox Sports would not get any extra games in their TV coverage, but they would most likely see subscriptions increase, with supporters wanting to watch their new team - especially for away games," Keeffe said.



The strategic importance of expansion from 16 to 18 teams for the NRL was also raised at the meetings with Gyngell and Delany.



"The heartland of the game needs to be secured against the expansion ambitions of the AFL.



"The AFL have published their expansion plans and these plans include another AFL team located in the rugby league heartland of regional Queensland. A CQ NRL team would lock up the east coast of Australia for the NRL for generations and effectively block the AFL in regional Queensland," he said.



The next six months are crucial for the CQ NRL Bid.



"The plan is due out late this year or early 2013, and we could know by then if we have a team in the competition," Keeffe said.



www.themorningbulletin.com.au/st ... for-expan/

Nine boss keen for NRL expansion



Michelle Curran | 28th September 2012 10:01 AM











Comments (4) »



Tags: channel nine, cq nrl bid, rugby league

TYING up two-and-a-half hours of Channel 9 boss David Gyngell's time was a coup for CQ NRL Bid campaigners Denis Keeffe and Geoff Murphy.



Channel Nine Network chief executive David Gyngell (right) can see the value of another Queensland team.

PAUL MILLER

Advertisement

<div style="display();</script><noscript><a href="clk.atdmt.com/2D1/go/229344756/direct/01/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="view.atdmt.com/2D1/view/229344756/direct/01/" /></a></noscript></>



TYING up two-and-a-half hours of Channel 9 boss David Gyngell's time was a coup for CQ NRL Bid campaigners Denis Keeffe and Geoff Murphy.



The CQ NRL Bid chief executive and chairman were on a recent mission in Sydney to discuss NRL expansion and the inclusion of a Central Queensland-based team with Gyngell.



Having arrived an hour early for their meeting at Channel 9's Willoughby office, they were just getting comfortable when the receptionist approached the pair.



"She asked who we were, and we were suddenly ushered into his office straight away ... he is such a busy man and to sit down with him for two-and-a-half hours was very encouraging," Keeffe said on his return to Rockhampton.



"Gyngell had a fair bit to say about it, and where a team should go. He is an absolute rugby league nut."



The Rockhampton pair were buoyed by Gyngell's support of expansion and the addition of another Queensland team to the present 16-team NRL competition.



"Many people have got it into their heads that NRL expansion was off the cards for the next five years following last month's $1 billion broadcasting agreement with Nine and Fox Sports," Keeffe said.



"But Gyngell said that was just the assumption people had made because it was not mentioned in the announcement. He also said expansion was not brought up at all during negotiations for the TV deal, but it was something he could not overlook."



Of particular interest to Gyngell, was the ninth game in the NRL draw which, through Australian anti-siphoning laws, would have to be shown on Free-to-Air TV (Channel 9).



"The idea of scheduling a local Queensland derby for this ninth game was appealing to him. Derby games between the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys always rate off the scale in Queensland.



"Queenslanders consume rugby league at a rate like no other, and with so many Sydney-based teams already in the competition, it made sense to Gyngell to include another Queensland team in the mix - which would also provide variety," he said.



An Ipswich-based team or a team in Gosford were also viable options for Gyngell. These teams posed serious competition to a Central Queensland team, despite the fact a team in CQ was likely to prove as popular with the public as the North Queensland Cowboys.



During the same visit to Sydney, Keeffe and Murphy also met Fox Sports chief executive Patrick Delany.



"A 17-team competition appealed to Delaney ... Fox Sports would not get any extra games in their TV coverage, but they would most likely see subscriptions increase, with supporters wanting to watch their new team - especially for away games," Keeffe said.



The strategic importance of expansion from 16 to 18 teams for the NRL was also raised at the meetings with Gyngell and Delany.



"The heartland of the game needs to be secured against the expansion ambitions of the AFL.



"The AFL have published their expansion plans and these plans include another AFL team located in the rugby league heartland of regional Queensland. A CQ NRL team would lock up the east coast of Australia for the NRL for generations and effectively block the AFL in regional Queensland," he said.



The next six months are crucial for the CQ NRL Bid.



"The plan is due out late this year or early 2013, and we could know by then if we have a team in the competition," Keeffe said.



www.themorningbulletin.com.au/st ... for-expan/

Jump on board and let's get a team



Lisa Maynard | 9th October 2012 8:02 AM











Tags: cq nrl bid, gladstone, rugby league

CQ NRL Bid director encourages residents to get behind the push for a team, citing the social and economic benefits, and the boost it would give local league.



CQ NRL Bid Gladstone director Peter White urges everyone who wants to see a local team playing in the national league to get online.

Christopher Chan

Advertisement

<div style="display();</script><noscript><a href="clk.atdmt.com/2D1/go/229344756/direct/01/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="view.atdmt.com/2D1/view/229344756/direct/01/" /></a></noscript></>



THE CQ NRL Bid set a target of 100,000 members, which they hoped to reach by the end of the year.



Membership is just over 40,000, which prompts the question: have you become an online member yet?



Earlier on in the year, bid chief executive Denis Keeffe said he wanted at least 10,000 of those 100,000 members to come from Gladstone.



CQ NRL Bid Gladstone director Peter White encourages the Gladstone public to embrace the project.



White said that apart from the obvious economic and social benefits that having a Central Queensland-based NRL club will have, there would also be an enormous benefit to local junior and senior rugby league players, as they would have a direct path to the best rugby league competition in the world.



"Not only that, but they will be able to remain in their own region with the supporting network of their own family and friends," he said.



"That is a huge plus for our players and something which at the moment is non-existent."



White said support was great at the moment and he knew everyone really wanted to see the CQ NRL bid be granted a licence.



"I think a lot of people, however, are unwilling to allow themselves to believe that it could really happen," he said.



"I understand this.



"However the best way that people can assist in ensuring that it will happen is to get online and become a member. It's free and it is vitally important.



"I urge anyone who really wants to see and experience our own NRL team to take two minutes of their time and show their support."



www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/sto ... q-nrl-bid/

Jump on board and let's get a team



Lisa Maynard | 9th October 2012 8:02 AM











Tags: cq nrl bid, gladstone, rugby league

CQ NRL Bid director encourages residents to get behind the push for a team, citing the social and economic benefits, and the boost it would give local league.



CQ NRL Bid Gladstone director Peter White urges everyone who wants to see a local team playing in the national league to get online.

Christopher Chan

Advertisement

<div style="display();</script><noscript><a href="clk.atdmt.com/2D1/go/229344756/direct/01/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="view.atdmt.com/2D1/view/229344756/direct/01/" /></a></noscript></>



THE CQ NRL Bid set a target of 100,000 members, which they hoped to reach by the end of the year.



Membership is just over 40,000, which prompts the question: have you become an online member yet?



Earlier on in the year, bid chief executive Denis Keeffe said he wanted at least 10,000 of those 100,000 members to come from Gladstone.



CQ NRL Bid Gladstone director Peter White encourages the Gladstone public to embrace the project.



White said that apart from the obvious economic and social benefits that having a Central Queensland-based NRL club will have, there would also be an enormous benefit to local junior and senior rugby league players, as they would have a direct path to the best rugby league competition in the world.



"Not only that, but they will be able to remain in their own region with the supporting network of their own family and friends," he said.



"That is a huge plus for our players and something which at the moment is non-existent."



White said support was great at the moment and he knew everyone really wanted to see the CQ NRL bid be granted a licence.



"I think a lot of people, however, are unwilling to allow themselves to believe that it could really happen," he said.



"I understand this.



"However the best way that people can assist in ensuring that it will happen is to get online and become a member. It's free and it is vitally important.



"I urge anyone who really wants to see and experience our own NRL team to take two minutes of their time and show their support."



www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/sto ... q-nrl-bid/

eep the faith in bid



Lisa Maynard | 9th October 2012 7:42 AM











Have your say »



Tags: gladstone, nrl bid

HAVE faith, it will happen. That's the message CQ NRL Bid chief executive Denis Keeffe wants to get across.



CQ NRL Bid chairman Denis Keeffe is confident a new team will be added to the league.

Sharyn Oneill

Advertisement

<div style="display();</script><noscript><a href="clk.atdmt.com/2D1/go/229344756/direct/01/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="view.atdmt.com/2D1/view/229344756/direct/01/" /></a></noscript></>



HAVE faith, it will happen.



That's the message CQ NRL Bid chief executive Denis Keeffe wants to get across.



After Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant's recent comments to The Queensland Times and other outside speculation on NRL expansion after the Nine and Fox Sports recent broadcasting announcement, Keeffe said he wanted to let people know that they should hold the line.



"This thing's not going away," he said.



Keeffe said it was only a week and half ago that he and bid chairman Geoff Murphy spoke to Channel 9 boss David Gyngell and Fox Sports chief executive Patrick Delany in Sydney, at which time neither party had ruled out the advantage of additional teams.



He said Gyngell believed there needed to be another Queensland team in the league sooner rather than later.



Both Gyngell and Delany were on stage when the broadcasting announcement was made, so their support was nothing to shrug off.



"I haven't had anything confirmed by John Grant," Keeffe said.



"I am very confident that we have made a compelling argument. It's business as usual for us."



Keeffe said a team in CQ was likely to prove as popular with the public as the North Queensland Cowboys, and nothing should be assumed until NRL's strategic plan was finalised.



The NRL Commission's board will meet on Friday, when the expansion issue and the strategic plan will be discussed.



ARLC media manager John Brady said he would not pre-empt the meeting's result.



"The strategic plan will be discussed at the meeting and we'll be closer to it at that point, but there is no set time frame for the release of the plan," Mr Brady said.



www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/sto ... Gladstone/

eep the faith in bid



Lisa Maynard | 9th October 2012 7:42 AM











Have your say »



Tags: gladstone, nrl bid

HAVE faith, it will happen. That's the message CQ NRL Bid chief executive Denis Keeffe wants to get across.



CQ NRL Bid chairman Denis Keeffe is confident a new team will be added to the league.

Sharyn Oneill

Advertisement

<div style="display();</script><noscript><a href="clk.atdmt.com/2D1/go/229344756/direct/01/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="view.atdmt.com/2D1/view/229344756/direct/01/" /></a></noscript></>



HAVE faith, it will happen.



That's the message CQ NRL Bid chief executive Denis Keeffe wants to get across.



After Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant's recent comments to The Queensland Times and other outside speculation on NRL expansion after the Nine and Fox Sports recent broadcasting announcement, Keeffe said he wanted to let people know that they should hold the line.



"This thing's not going away," he said.



Keeffe said it was only a week and half ago that he and bid chairman Geoff Murphy spoke to Channel 9 boss David Gyngell and Fox Sports chief executive Patrick Delany in Sydney, at which time neither party had ruled out the advantage of additional teams.



He said Gyngell believed there needed to be another Queensland team in the league sooner rather than later.



Both Gyngell and Delany were on stage when the broadcasting announcement was made, so their support was nothing to shrug off.



"I haven't had anything confirmed by John Grant," Keeffe said.



"I am very confident that we have made a compelling argument. It's business as usual for us."



Keeffe said a team in CQ was likely to prove as popular with the public as the North Queensland Cowboys, and nothing should be assumed until NRL's strategic plan was finalised.



The NRL Commission's board will meet on Friday, when the expansion issue and the strategic plan will be discussed.



ARLC media manager John Brady said he would not pre-empt the meeting's result.



"The strategic plan will be discussed at the meeting and we'll be closer to it at that point, but there is no set time frame for the release of the plan," Mr Brady said.



www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/sto ... Gladstone/

CQ NRL bid on the agenda



TICK tock. Tick tock.



Decisions at a NRL Commission board meeting today could bring a timeline and criteria for expansion of the league.



However, don't hold your breath for an announcement by the end of the day.



That is how CQ NRL Bid chief executive officer Denis Keeffe thinks.



The board meeting today will discuss the NRL Commission's strategic plan, of which any future expansion would be part.



"Some of the things in the strategic plan have already been implemented," Keeffe said.



He said any decision at the meeting could be weeks before being announced publicly as there were a number of bodies to report to.



"I think they will set some criteria and timelines," Keeffe said.



Meanwhile, the bid's development squads will head to Brisbane on Wednesday to play against Marsden State High School.



www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ne ... a/1579856/

CQ NRL bid on the agenda



TICK tock. Tick tock.



Decisions at a NRL Commission board meeting today could bring a timeline and criteria for expansion of the league.



However, don't hold your breath for an announcement by the end of the day.



That is how CQ NRL Bid chief executive officer Denis Keeffe thinks.



The board meeting today will discuss the NRL Commission's strategic plan, of which any future expansion would be part.



"Some of the things in the strategic plan have already been implemented," Keeffe said.



He said any decision at the meeting could be weeks before being announced publicly as there were a number of bodies to report to.



"I think they will set some criteria and timelines," Keeffe said.



Meanwhile, the bid's development squads will head to Brisbane on Wednesday to play against Marsden State High School.



www.themorningbulletin.com.au/ne ... a/1579856/