By Tania Phillips
Five Cowboys have the named in the Toowoomba Rugby League Clydesdales representative team to compete in this year’s XXXX 47th Battalion Memorial Trophy at Kingaroy and the South Burnett this weekend.
Teams from Queensland Rugby League’s Central region will descend on the region for the competition which was born 53 years ago as an ode to those who served in what was unofficially known as the “Wide Bay Regiment” that served in World War II.
The 47th Battalion Memorial Trophy was donated by veteran Peter Marcellos in 1971 to commemorate those he served alongside and has become the premier southern Queensland country rugby league competition.
Cowboys Caleb Murphy, Hayden Ensbey, Jake Speed no relation, Joseph Vite and Thomas Bell will be joined by Wattles player Cooper Tate Roach in the team which will be coached by Cowboys mentor and Queensland Country Coach Col Speed. Wattle player Matt Christensen was also in the running for the team but succumbed to a knee injury.
As well as looking to defend the title the team – drawn from across the Toowoomba Rugby League Competition – won last year, the event will also be a good chance for Speed and the country selectors to check out the players from across the region to finalise the Qld country side. Country will take on City before the Host Plus Cup Grand Final game in September in Brisbane.
Speed said the team would leave Friday lunch time and would play on Saturday and Sunday.
“There are nine teams competing and we’ll play against teams from South West Outback, South Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Central – there’s nine teams in total,” he said.
“This will be my third year and I’m one from two. It’s a tough competition but we’re up for it. There’s a very good squad, totally different from last year but everyone’s keen which is great. I think we had 25 or 26 at training last Wednesday and I’ve cut that back to 19 as of Monday.
“We had training last week and another one last night and we’ll have a captain’s run on Friday when we get up there.
“It’s very tough and you’re only allowed to have 19 players and they’re 25 minute halves. It’s about utilising your team’s strength to the best of your ability and a bit of luck and managing your injuries. We have four games so your pre-game and post game preparation is really important.
“We’re looking forward to it. Any time you can represent your region and your community is an honour.
“It’s great opportunity for me and the coaching staff to work with players of this level and calibre. It’s unbelievable to ring up someone and tell them they’ve been successful in their selection for a rep team. The response has been overwhelming.”
It has special meaning for Speed who said he already has an idea of the players they want for the country team from the Foley Shield competition up north earlier in the year but this competition is a chance to “put an eye over” those competition in the 47th battalion.
“We haven’t got much of a turnaround because I think that team needs to be selected in the next two weeks in preparation for the game in September,” he said.
“That’s another difficult job to do but it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
