Page 19 - Annual Report 2016

REGIONAL

North Queensland

The North Queensland Touch Association is geographically the largest region of the six Queensland
regions. Its boundaries stretch from Glenden in the south, Mount Isa to the west, to Weipa
and Thursday Island in the far north, comprising 21 affiliates. It is also the home of the North
Queensland Tropical Cyclones.

The North Queensland Open and Technical Director Sue Salter and
Senior Championships were held in Coaching Director Peter Shefford have Referee Director Joe Lo
June, and the Junior Championships in worked together to improve the quality Grande and his team of senior
October. The inclusion of the Under of coaching throughout the region. The referees continue to keep this
9s, Under 11s and Under 13s divisions first elite coaching course was held, arm of our sport strong in
in the junior championships meant with eight participants working towards NQ. A number of our referees
an increase in numbers from 2015. attaining this qualification. NQ had five performed at representative
We also welcomed invitational teams representatives at the State of Origin - level in 2016, including:
from Victoria and Central Queensland three coaches, one assistant coach and
to participate in the Under 16 girls. one manager. 14
The inaugural Women’s Country Cup
Challenge was held between North With the new facilitators course rolled
Queensland and Central Queensland, out in 2016, we now have 21 upskilled NTL (7 appointed to finals)
along with an exhibition game from active presenters located across eight
our NQ men’s representative players, of our affiliates. 4
including NRL young gun Kalyn Ponga
and Cowboys legend Matt Bowen. The NQ Touch appreciates all those who NYC (2 appointed to finals)
NQ All Schools Championships was have assisted our region throughout
held in August, with team numbers 2016 and look forward to working
increasing to 52. This event has also together in 2017. 58
started to attract interest from schools
outside the region. Frank Stampa NQ Opens and Senior
Chairman Championships
The NQ Tropical Cyclones were
represented by nine teams at the 2016 122
NTL. Congratulations to all teams, in
particular the Women’s 40s and Men’s
55 teams who won their divisions. NQ NQ Junior Championships
was also represented at the 2016 NYC.
Our six junior teams competed at the
Junior State Championships, with the
Under 14 boys winning their division.

Most affiliate team numbers remained
steady with a minor increase in senior
team numbers, however junior numbers
did not rise as anticipated. Oztag and
Touch Rugby League still present firm
competition at the junior level, with
strong advertising campaigns which
we believe contributes to our junior
numbers stalling.

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