Laurie Spina Shield: Junior players from Torres Strait, Mount Isa, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gold Coast head to Townsville for rugby league spectacular
Some of the Cowboys emerging young guns and NQ favourites took to the field in the Laurie Spina Shield – now, the next generation is following in their footsteps.
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The next stars of the NRL could be taking to the field in Townsville for the annual Laurie Spina Shield next week.
Seventy-eight under 11 juniors from clubs in the Torres Strait, Mount Isa, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gold Coast will head to Townsville to take part in the North Queensland Cowboys annual carnival.
Cowboy young gun Jaxon Purdue represented his junior club, North Devils Mackay, at the carnival in 2016 and still remembers the exhilaration of taking part.
“I remember seeing all the Cowboys players walking around the field and sort of pinching myself,” Purdue said.
“All of the little towns that don’t get to see the Cowboys much come along and you get to go meet your idols and see them walking around the field and watching you play, it’s awesome.
“I think my best memory was after the carnival finished, we got to high-five the Cowboys players as they walked around the field after their NRL home game.
“It’s a bit crazy to think that now I’m one of those Cowboys, and it makes me really want to interact with the young kids because I remember how special and inspiring it was for me.”
He’s not the only Cowboy to have participated, with Jake Clifford playing for the Tully Tigers in 2009.
“To go from the signing session, to playing the games and then to running the relay at halftime of the Cowboys game, it’s such an enjoyable weekend,” Clifford said.
“There’s something special about that age group, I’m still great mates with all the people I played with in that competition.”
The two-day Laurie Spina Shield will be held at Queens Park, Townsville starting on Friday 4 July and finishing up with the iconic Fastest Feet team relay across Queensland Country Bank Stadium at the Cowboys home game (half time of the NRLW curtain-raiser) on Saturday 5 July.
Originally published as Laurie Spina Shield: Junior players from Torres Strait, Mount Isa, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gold Coast head to Townsville for rugby league spectacular
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