Spurred on: NQ Cowboys explore moving women’s team to Cairns

A Cowboys team could soon call Barlow Park home with officials set to visit the Far North again this week as part of bold new plans to relocate the squad by 2026.

A NRLW team could soon call Barlow Park home with officials set to visit the Far North again this week as part of bold new plans to relocate the squad by 2026.

The North Queensland Cowboys’ women’s team played a trial game against the Gold Coast Titans in Gordonvale earlier this month, holding an open session for fans at Alley Park.

The North Queensland Cowboys NRL Women's team held a captain's run training session and meet-and-great with fans at Alley Park, Gordonvale on Saturday before their NRLW trial match against the Gold Coast Titans earlier this month. During the open session, Cairns NRLW star Tahlulah Tillett received a pair of signed football boots from junior player Carter Francis, 8. Picture: Brendan Radke

But away from the field, Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel and chair Lewis Ramsay have been quietly advancing a bid to shift the women’s program, meeting with community leaders in an effort to strengthen ties in the region.

It’s understood that Jones Park in Westcourt was briefly considered as a potential home ground and training facility for the Cowboys women.

Tahlulah Tillett scores a try in the NRLW pre season match between the North Queensland Cowboys women and the Gold Coast Titans women's team, held at Alley Park, Gordonvale. Picture: Brendan Radke

But the venue was quickly discarded in favour of Barlow Park, with the multipurpose facility’s upgraded lighting capacity from 500 lux to broadcast standard and future upgrades ahead of the 2032 Olympics, giving it the edge.

The Cowboys QRL feeder team, the Northern Pride is also based at Barlow Park.

Barlow Park is set to undergo major upgrades in the lead up to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

Sources familiar with the proposal believe a key hurdle will be ensuring the women’s players have access to facilities equal to the men in Townsville, with the Cowboys opening their $40m high performance centre in 2021.

But, as exclusively reported by the Cairns Post in June, Sports Minister Michael Healy has instructed his department to look into establishing a Sporting Centre of Excellence in the region with Premier Steven Miles giving his “in-principle” support.

If successful, it’s hoped that the Cowboys women’s program would use the facility along with other elite athletes.

Jasmine Peters of the Cowboys runs with the ball during the round one NRLW match between Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys at PointsBet Stadium on July 27, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Mr Reibel and Mr Ramsay have met with Cairns mayor Amy Eden as well as Member for Cairns Michael Healy with negotiations expected to advance when the club’s top brass meet with the council again later this week.

North Queensland Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel has been meeting with community leaders to further plans to establish the Cowboys’ women’s program in Cairns. Picture: Alix Sweeney

If successful, the Cowboys’ major move would almost certainly spell the end of the Far North city playing a role in the Papua New Guinean NRL bid.

While in Cairns last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the PNG bid would benefit the region regardless of whether the city played any formal role in the future franchise’s establishment.

“We’re in negotiations about a range of issues when it comes to PNG entering a team into the NRL,” Mr Albanese said.

“The focus is very much on economic development for PNG but we know that a strong Papua New Guinea will have significant benefits for Cairns.”

The Hawthorn Hawks’ AFLW team already host an annual game at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns. Pictured is Mackenzie Eardley of the Hawks in action during the round eight AFLW match between Hawthorn Hawks and Richmond Tigers on October 20, 2023. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, Cairns Regional Council revealed a bold vision to turn Cairns region into the pre-eminent destination for women’s sport in Australia.

The council has also backed a bid to host the inaugural AFLW Gather Round in 2025.

The Cowboys’ women’s team lost their season opener 14-0 to the Cronulla Sharks at the weekend.

The club declined to comment on the potential women’s teams’ shift to Cairns.

Originally published as Spurred on: NQ Cowboys explore moving women’s team to Cairns