CENTRAL QUEENSLAND’s campaign to join an expanded NRL competition is officially underway after today’s eagerly awaited launch of the CQ NRL Bid.

In front of a who’s who of Central Queensland business and industry, civic leaders and local rugby league identities, the Bid Team was presented publicly for the first time before a rousing reception at Rockhampton’s iconic Customs House.

“This is a significant day in the history of Central Queensland,” said Mr Geoff Murphy, who is chairing the Bid Team, which consists of representatives from as far afield as Mackay, Gladstone and the coalfields of the Central Highlands.

“We have assembled a team of very talented and hard working people who are committed to delivering something that has the capacity to unite the people of Central Queensland like nothing else – a Central Queenslandbased
NRL team.”

Aside from Mr Murphy, a prominent Rockhampton based businessman and managing director of the family controlled JM Kelly Group of Companies, the Bid Team boasts several high profile individuals within the Central Queensland community.

They include Gladstone Ports Corporation chief executive Leo Zussino, Emerald based Local Government Association of Queensland chairman Cr Paul Bell and homegrown Origin legends and former internationals Gary Larson and Jason Hetherington.

Other members include Rockhampton businessmen Ron Milne and Wayne Daniels, solicitor and former QRL Central Division official Stan Smith, Mackay businessmen Steve Dowden and Ken Weir and rugby league commentator and former Howard Government sports adviser Jason Costigan, also from Mackay.

Rockhampton based business development consultant Ray Conder is company secretary, with other team members being Capricorn Coast businessman and former English Super League coach Ross O’Reilly and Gladstone based commercial property expert, former local newspaper manager and Gladstone Rugby League secretary Peter White.

Rounding out the team is former Kiwi legend Mark Graham, now a Gladstone resident and coach of local side Brothers, Rockhampton Regional Development Limited chief executive Gary Kerr and retired Rockhampton businessman Robert South.

“It’s a great lineup and we would like to expand the team to engage other communities in our vast catchment, notably Bundaberg and the Central West,” Mr Murphy said.

“Yes, a CQ team would be based in Rockhampton but I would like to emphasise this is a truly regional bid from Central Queensland, from the canefields to the coalfields and from the coast to the outback. We’ll be engaging all our local communities.”

Mr Murphy confirmed that representatives of the Bid Team had already had discussions NRL chief executive David Gallop and QRL managing director Ross Livermore.

He also confirmed that Bid Team representatives had engaged in face to face discussions with senior NRL club officials such as Michael Searle (Titans), Peter Parr (Cowboys), Nick Politis (Roosters) and Shane Richardson (Rabbitohs).

“From our observations, the general feeling is that Central Queensland has the capacity to put together a very strong submission for inclusion in an expanded competition from 2013, the year the NRL has earmarked for possible expansion,” he said.

Mr Murphy said with the region’s junior league registrations about 5,000 strong, coupled with unbridled passion for the game from Mackay in the north to Bundaberg in the south and west to the border, Central Queensland could sustain an NRL side.

“Economically, and notwithstanding the global financial crisis, Central Queensland is the engine room of Queensland, as we are in one of the most resource rich regions in the world… a region that, geographically, is a long way from its nearest NRL teams.

“Our demographic is perfect for expansion. From shopping centres to cattle stations, you see people wearing NRL merchandise all the time and, of course, our league nursery speaks for itself… a production line that’s envied by many regions.

“And populationwise, we have about 450,000 people within a 300kilometre
radius of Rockhampton. Unlike people in our capital cities, people here are accustomed to travelling great distances and for NRL games, they’d pack the place out.”

Mr Murphy said in the coming months, the Bid Team would continue its community engagement while ramping up the region’s profile in the southern media.

“We accept that we have many mountains to climb but the team remains very committed to this project, a project that, if successful, would be a win win for all concerned… the NRL, the game of rugby league and of course, the people of Central Queensland.”