Post by England 3 Lions on Dec 25, 2008 14:55:41 GMT 10
CDRL boost to Cape York league
Emma Greenwood
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
© The Cairns Post
THE Cairns District Rugby League has thrown further support behind the sport%u2019s push into Cape York, investing $5000 in a talent identification program.
The CDRL’s financial resources will back up work being done on the ground by new Queensland Rugby League development officers based on the Cape.
David Westley (Weipa) and Dominic Carter (Bamaga), who took up development roles in October to service the Cape York and Torres Strait areas, will also act as talent spotters and steer youngsters to Cairns for a taste of higher level training and city life.
CDRL president Nigel Tillett said the program had been initiated in partnership with the QRL’s Northern Division, which waived the $5000 licensing fee it charged Cairns to host the annual NRL pre-season trial.
"It was waived on the condition we used it for talent ID," Tillett said.
Players chosen will be given the opportunity to head to Cairns to train with an A grade club or, perhaps, the Northern Pride Academy.
Tillett envisaged the program being made available to those from age 17 onwards who were not still at school. He singled out former Weipa product Palmer Wapau, now on contract with the Broncos, as an example of what could be achieved.
"He’s an example of what we know they (the development officers) are going to find up there," Tillett said of the rampaging forward.
Wapau paid his own way south to link with the Innisfail Leprechauns and former coach Terry Aquilina after initially being spotted by Kangaroos patriarch Tom Tassell in Weipa.
He then left for Queensland Cup powerhouse Redcliffe and earned a contract with the Broncos after a standout season with the Dolphins.
Tillett said league’s extra spend on the Cape was not a result of AFL’s continued work in the region but a response to what the community wanted.
"We fought to get the QRL and State Government on board," Tillett said of years of negotiations for development officer funding.
"We were aware of the success AFL had had up there and it just goes to show the communities want organised sport."
Source: The Cairns Post
Emma Greenwood
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
© The Cairns Post
THE Cairns District Rugby League has thrown further support behind the sport%u2019s push into Cape York, investing $5000 in a talent identification program.
The CDRL’s financial resources will back up work being done on the ground by new Queensland Rugby League development officers based on the Cape.
David Westley (Weipa) and Dominic Carter (Bamaga), who took up development roles in October to service the Cape York and Torres Strait areas, will also act as talent spotters and steer youngsters to Cairns for a taste of higher level training and city life.
CDRL president Nigel Tillett said the program had been initiated in partnership with the QRL’s Northern Division, which waived the $5000 licensing fee it charged Cairns to host the annual NRL pre-season trial.
"It was waived on the condition we used it for talent ID," Tillett said.
Players chosen will be given the opportunity to head to Cairns to train with an A grade club or, perhaps, the Northern Pride Academy.
Tillett envisaged the program being made available to those from age 17 onwards who were not still at school. He singled out former Weipa product Palmer Wapau, now on contract with the Broncos, as an example of what could be achieved.
"He’s an example of what we know they (the development officers) are going to find up there," Tillett said of the rampaging forward.
Wapau paid his own way south to link with the Innisfail Leprechauns and former coach Terry Aquilina after initially being spotted by Kangaroos patriarch Tom Tassell in Weipa.
He then left for Queensland Cup powerhouse Redcliffe and earned a contract with the Broncos after a standout season with the Dolphins.
Tillett said league’s extra spend on the Cape was not a result of AFL’s continued work in the region but a response to what the community wanted.
"We fought to get the QRL and State Government on board," Tillett said of years of negotiations for development officer funding.
"We were aware of the success AFL had had up there and it just goes to show the communities want organised sport."
Source: The Cairns Post