Dean Schifilliti Shield 2023 photographs from Ingham rugby league festival
Twenty-six teams from across North Queensland took to the field for the 2023 junior rugby league carnival as organisers look to expand the comp next year. See all the action photos.
Townsville
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The Herbert River Junior Rugby League Club is facing a wonderful dilemma after the runaway success of the sixth annual Dean Schifilliti Shield for U8s in Ingham on Saturday.
A record total of 26 teams from throughout North Queensland – two teams pulled out at the last moment – travelled to Hinchinbrook Shire for the 2023 junior league carnival, playing a total of 140 games.
Junior club president Grant Swarbrick said the tournament had continued to expand from about 20 teams in its inaugural iteration to 24 teams in 2022.
“It’s definitely growing, it was pretty good, we’ve had really good feedback from it, everyone seemed pretty happy so yes, it worked out pretty good,” he said.
“There were also a ton of supporters from all over, a really good crowd.”
Swarbrick said as the tournament grew, the junior Crushers club were facing a hard choice of capping numbers at 28 teams or building it further, including potentially expanding to a two-day competition.
A two-day competition would involve sourcing more volunteers, expanding facilities as well as problems with limits on local accommodation options.
Swarbrick said the tournament was great for the entire town, providing a welcome economic stimulus, particularly at the local fast-food outlets, with Domino’s, KFC and Maccas taking a pounding.
“The flow-on effects for town have been great, it’s money that you wouldn’t normally get.”
Swarbrick said the standard of league was also improving, a fact noted by Schifilliti himself.
He said the North Queensland league legend was kept busy signing autographs throughout the day.
“He was surprised actually. He said a lot of the young kids probably wouldn’t know who he was but a lot of kids came up to him and got autographs because a lot of the parents know him.”
In addition to teams from throughout Townsville and District, sides from Cairns, Atherton, midwest Queensland and Mackay travelled to play in the tournament.
Gladstone Brothers claimed the shield for not only the distance travelled but also their positive attitudes on and off the pitch.
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Originally published as Dean Schifilliti Shield 2023 photographs from Ingham rugby league festival
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