It started more than 10 years ago, when a Cloncurry side played an invitational game against Mount Isa's under 20s.

Cloncurry was determined the winner of this encounter in 1994 from ``drinks after the game'', according to current president Neil Dickinson-Jones - but little did they know this moment would signal the start of a rugby union club.

Wayne ``Simo'' Simonson - an established businessman at Cloncurry - was playing for Euros at the time, but teamed up with the invitational Curry side for the exhibition game.

``He got speaking to John `Tubby' Jeckle [a council engineer] who had already formed the constitution for the Cloncurry Rugby Club but couldn't get players,'' Dickinson-Jones said.

``Simo said he could get them.'' 

Cloncurry Rugby Union was officially formed in 1995, entering into the MIRU C-grade competition.

``Tubby came up with the name `The Non-Descripts' so we needed the Question Mark as our symbol,'' Dickinson-Jones said.

In Cloncurry's initial year, they played in a set of maroon jerseys - purely because Lemmons Store had a spare set on hand.

The blue, white and yellow stripes were adopted in 1996 when Cloncurry played in the reserve grade decider, ultimately losing.

They would bounce back to win reserve grade in 1997, before repeating the dose in 2000 thanks to, arguably, the club's greatest on-field moment.

``The Curry had one or two early games in the season, but then lost all the remaining games,'' Dickinson-Jones said.

``With the property and station workers having other commitments, and the Isan opposition having a bye in the A-grade [competition].'' 

Despite the troubled season, Cloncurry went on to win all three finals, securing the premiership from last place.

``As there were limited times to sing the team song for a victory, Steve Curley had to relay the team song from the change room door while on the phone to a former player in Emerald,'' Dickinson-Jones said.

In 2001, the reserve grade was dismantled, with Cloncurry entering the A-grade draw.

Thirteen years later and the Question Marks are yet to taste premiership glory, although they have contested three A-grade grand finals in that time.

It must also be remembered that Cloncurry faces a different prospect to its three opponents in the MIRU season.

While Euros, Keas and Warrigals are each based in Mount Isa, the Question Marks essentially have two camps - one in Mount Isa and one at Cloncurry.

They rarely get the opportunity to train together, making their feats all the more remarkable.

Another hurdle Cloncurry faces is in their own backyard - where they host a round of fixtures once a month.

The Question Marks struggle to host functions because the Mount Isa-based teams usually half-heartedly show for Cloncurry games.

Keas forfeited one match at Cloncurry while others were against seriously undermanned opposition.