Queensland Government supports future Indigenous rugby league stars

The Queensland Government has thrown its support behind the state’s rising Indigenous rugby league stars by pledging $25,000 in funding.

The Minister for Communities and Youth Warren Pitt said the funding would assist the Australian Rugby League (ARL) Queensland Indigenous Under 16s team during this month’s Indigenous Tri-Series against New South Wales.

The Queensland Indigenous Under 16s team will play their first game against their New South Wales counterparts this Saturday (4 November), ahead of the fourth-round Tri-Nation Series clash of Australia and Great Britain in Sydney at the Aussie Stadium.

Mr Pitt said the Under 16s Indigenous Tri-Series was an important element of the ARL’s Indigenous Program, which aimed to encourage and support Australia’s up-and-coming rugby league stars.

“I wish our Queensland Under 16s rugby league team every success in this month’s Indigenous Tri-Series,” he said.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for these young people to showcase their talents in front of a massive crowd of ARL fans, while also developing their skills as future role models for their communities.”

Mr Pitt said the funding for the Queensland Indigenous rugby league team was being provided equally by the Department of Communities and Sport and Recreation Queensland.

The Queensland Under 16s team arrived in Sydney today (Thursday 2 November), where they will have just three training sessions before their first game on Saturday.

The Queensland team will also compete against New South Wales in Brisbane at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 18 November, and again before the final Tri-Nations match in Sydney on November 25.

The 17 young Indigenous players (listed below) were selected after a vigorous and extensive search throughout Queensland for the state’s future rugby league players.

Mr Pitt said he was keen to support such a positive program which aimed to promote opportunities for Queensland’s young Indigenous people and develop their potential as future sports stars.

Queensland Indigenous Under 16s

1. Ben HENAWAY Townsville Centrals

2. Stafford SALTNER Cherbourg

3. Godfrey BELL Brothers St Brendan’s (Brisbane)

4. Sean YORSTON Brisbane Valleys

5. Aaron BANI Cairns Saints

6. Theeran PEARSON-YEATMAN Cairns Suburbs

7. Ben JONES Redcliffe

8. Gordon SANTO Charters Towers (prev Torres Strait)

9. Jack FORD Brisbane Souths

10. Don CHAMBERS Brisbane Vallleys (prev Weipa)

11. Caleb LITTLEBOY Rockhampton All Blacks

12. John WHITTLE Ipswich Norths (prev Weipa)

13. William DEAN BribieIsland (prev MountIsa)

14. Leichton BICKEY Mackay Souths

15. Zane KENN Redcliffe

16. Abrose BIN JUDA BribieIsland

17. Wilfred JACKONIA Weipa

Media contact: Joe Begley 3235 4280