FNQ gridiron recruiting for talent

The Cairns Falcons’ coach is keen to speak to as many displaced FNQ athletes as possible over the next few months, recruiting for the upcoming north Queensland gridiron season.

Hare Coakley runs the ball in the NQ Gridiron series match between the Cairns Falcons and the Townsville Cyclones, held at Vico Oval, Mooroobool. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

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Jim Garcia is keen to speak to as many displaced FNQ athletes as possible over the next few months, recruiting for the upcoming north Queensland gridiron season.

Entering his third campaign at the helm of the local Falcons, Garcia believes the sport of gridiron will benefit from their later start to the season, missing much of the coronavirus carnage.

“Usually kicking off later in the year is looked at as a bit of a hindrance but this year it actually has worked in our favour,” Garcia said.

Jason Scott finds clear space in the NQ Gridiron series match between the Cairns Falcons and the Townsville Cyclones, held at Vico Oval, Mooroobool. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“It always adds spice to the season when you are playing for something.

“It is business as usual for us.

“We have an enthusiastic bunch of guys coming back from last year.

“I will not say we have had a lot of people from other sports, but if league, union or AFL players want to come down, and knock heads together, we are here and all are welcome.”

The 2020-21 NQ gridiron season looms as one of the strongest yet, adding a fifth team, this time out of Townsville, again.

The competition is as focused and serious as it has ever been, Garcia thinks.

The Falcons line up for a play in the NQ Gridiron series match between the Cairns Falcons and the Townsville Cyclones, held at Vico Oval, Mooroobool. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Gridiron Queensland last week announced the North Queensland competition will be able to run later this year.

GQ clubs will return to contact training when restrictions move to stage three, which is planned to occur on July 10.

Clubs will run their season as per usual starting on October 31 with the normal four-week break for the Christmas-New Year period, and recommencing in the second week of January and finishing the season with the highly-contested Reef Bowl in mid-March 2021.

“For the safety and well- being of our members and guests, and as required by Queensland Health and the Office of Sport and Recreation, all of our clubs will be operating under strict COVID-safe plans, which include social distancing, a contact tracing register, hand sanitiser stations, good hygiene practices, and restricting the number of people permitted to no more than 100,” Gridiron Queensland said.

“We are all looking forward to getting back out on the gridiron again.”

The Falcons fell to Rockhampton in last season’s decider.

Originally published as FNQ gridiron recruiting for talent