The Mount Isa Mongrels are looking to take out the Queensland Police Service Rugby League State Championships this month when they compete in Townsville.
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Mount Isa Mongrels Police Rugby League Football Club will take part in the annual competition against seven other districts at Rumble in the Tropics on March 23-27 .
Re-established in 2012, this is not the first time the Mongrels have competed in this competition, claiming the QPSRLA State Championship Plate Final in 2019.
Following the cancellation of the event in 2020, team manager and player sergeant Jake Lacy said they were determined to defend their title this year.
"We are definitely looking to defend the Plate Title or even go bigger and claim the championship," Sgt Lacy said.
"Despite coming from a smaller maned district we are still competitive. In 2019 we had three players picked for the state team and they went on the play in a Tri-Series Tournament and the Player of the Carnival also came from Mount Isa."
The Mongrels team consists of 15 officers (and two non-police) from all over the Mount Isa District, including Cloncurry, Normanton, Mornington Island, Doomadgee and Kynuna; which can make it difficult to train for the competition.
"Training is extremely hard for us due to the fact we have players stationed all over the district, so we stay fit throughout the year and when we can get together for a throw around, we do," Sgt Lacy said.
"However on the day before the carnival is the only day we have to train together as a team, which could be seen as a bit of a disadvantage."
Sgt Lacy said the Mongrels were proud to man a team each year for the competition.
"All the other teams come from a whole region of police with a lot of officers. The Gold Coast Mudcrabs for example, which includes Logan and Gold Coast, have over 5000 police to pick from," he said.
"Where as we have 250 police across the Mount Isa District, so we think it is a decent effort for us to get a team together each year and be as competitive as we are.
"We are also grateful to our sponsors who support us each year. It is very expensive to travel to this competition every year, as Mount Isa does not host this carnival. So without the support of our sponsors we would not be able to field a team.
"Next year it will be held in Brisbane and we hope to be able to host this carnival in Mount Isa in the near future."
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
