Cloncurry’s Corey Moseley Mount Isa’s Corey Carlson battled hard for the Queensland Outback side.

Outback came into the match, played at Thursday Island, having won their past two encounters between the sides, which is annually organised by the QRL Central and Northern rugby league divisions.

But it meant little with Northern United starting the highly anticipated match on the front foot.

Skilled passing and handy attacking sets led to Northern scoring the first points of the match, but this lit a fuse in the Outback side.

Cameron Jackson finished off some quick plays from the Outback side, crashing over the line before five-eighth Steven Brownhalls converted.

Outback scored a second try through Trent Hoad before half-time but went into the break down 18-12, following two more tries to Northern.

Outback faced a strong ocean breeze in their face in the second half but still managed tries through by Marcus Cochrane, Daniel Flynn and Ashley Dybal, who were all unsuccessfully converted. 

This cost the Outback side in the end, losing by six points to a well-drilled Northern United outfit.

Northern’s Outback Player of the Match was awarded to Cameron Jackson, while Outback’s Northern Player of the Match was Steve Singleton.

RESULTS - Queensland Outback Team: 1 - Daniel Flynn (Chinchilla), 2 - Marcus Cochrane (St George), 3 - Tony Manteufel (C) (Miles), 4 - Glen Egan (Blackall), 5 - Ethan Kennedy (Longreach), 6 - Steven Brownhalls (Chinchilla), 7 - Corey Moseley (Cloncurry), 8 - Ashley Dyball (Miles), 9 - Courtney Hoad (Ilfracombe), 10 - Cameron Jackson (Barcaldine), 11 - Jim Loneragan (Tenterfield), 12 - Nathan Adcock (Quilpie), 13 - Trent Hoad (VC) (Ilfracombe), 14 - Kerrod Selmes (Quilpie), 15 - Trent Thomas (Ilfracombe), 17 - Corey Carlson (Mount Isa), 18 - Leonard Lane (Winton), Coach - Grant Bignell (Miles), Team Manager - Charmain Acton (Barcaldine), FAO - David Kerrigan (Barcaldine), Leaguesafe - Carey Volker (Miles).