Country week comes to the Curry when Cloncurry hosts its first ever QRL InTrust Cup game in July.
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The highly-anticipated "Get in the Game" Country Week round will take place on the weekend of July 20-21 and seven regional venues across Queensland will host games in Round 18 of the competition.
Cloncurry will host the Wynnum Manly Seagulls who take on the Mackay Cutters in the Recreation Grounds on Saturday July 20 at a time to be decided.
Currently the Seagulls sit fourth on the ladder behind the Sunshine Coast Falcons, East Tigers and the Burleigh Bears while the Cutters sit just outside the top eight in ninth position.
Cloncurry Shire Council said after plenty of lobbying by Mayor Greg Campbell, they have secured their first ever country round game of footy in Cloncurry.
"Looking forward to a great weekend," the Council said on their Facebook page.
Nanango, Pittsworth, Thursday Island and Ilfracombe are also getting their first taste of Queensland's premier state-wide rugby league competition.
QRL Managing Director Robert Moore said NRL Game Development teams, former rugby league greats and QRL directors and staff from all departments would engage with local communities throughout the course of the weekend.
"We're extremely grateful to the Queensland Government for its sponsorship and support of this initiative, as they share our passion for the game in rural and regional Queensland," Mr Moore said.
"I've seen first-hand how much joy this event brings to outback communities, as well as our players and coaches who embrace the opportunity to travel far and wide to showcase their skills and engage with local fans.
"Last year, more than $100,000 in profit was generated by the local clubs and leagues who hosted Country Weeks games; and we look forward to seeing this event deliver another positive financial outcome in 2019."
The weekend is credited with inspiring kids to take up sport and injecting cash into regional economies.
Julia Creek (2017) and Normanton (2018) both hosted a Country Week game while Mount Isa played host to the Townsville Blackhawks v CQ Capras in 2016.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
