Cowboys game-changer: Five-year pact with Rugby League Townsville District to reinforce local league
A “significant” financial investment will support both the junior and senior arms of the game in the Cowboys’ backyard. Read how the five-year deal will affect your club.
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The North Queensland Cowboys have moved to reinforce their connection with local rugby league by signing a watershed five-year partnership with Rugby League Townsville and District.
A “significant” financial investment will support both the junior and senior arms of the game in the Cowboys’ backyard, solidifying the pathway between local football and the NRL.
North Queensland officials have long held that the club was formed to give locals an opportunity to follow their NRL dreams without leaving home.
The sponsorship will fortify the foundations of the talent pyramid and keep the next generation of Valentine Holmes’, Kyle Feldts and Jason Taumalolos on track to wear the Cowboys jersey.
North Queensland chief executive Jeff Reibel said the Cowboys were “delighted” to partner with Rugby League Townsville and District.
“Since our inception in 1995, our club has been committed to growing the game at the grassroots level throughout our region and this partnership not just continues, but expands that work,” Reibel said.
“I would like to thank Roger and his committee for their eagerness to work with our club. We look forward to the opportunity to help nurture the next generation of rugby league players in Townsville as well as supporting the strong RLTD senior competition.”
The Cowboys’ state of the art training facility will be made available for coaching and player development opportunities, while local players will wear the Cowboys crest on all RLTD polos and representative jerseys through the 2028 season.
The Cowboys will also assume naming rights for all RLTD junior and senior competitions over that span.
District chairman Roger Whyte said it was the first time in the district’s history it had joined forces with the Cowboys in this fashion.
“We are looking forward to the next five years of this relationship, which I have no doubt will foster and reinvigorate the grassroots levels of rugby league in Townsville with the quality input through human and physical resources provided by the Cowboys,” Whyte said.
Whyte also paid special thanks to former Cowboys captain and premiership-winner Michael Morgan, who joined the RLTD board this year, for helping to plant the seeds of the partnership.
“This collaboration with the Cowboys dates back to January of this year when Jeff (Reibel) and Michael Morgan attended our planning workshop to provide feedback on rugby league at grassroots levels in our region,” Whyte said.
“That was the catalyst behind our two organisations striking this arrangement.”
The RLTD announced on Saturday it had also reached a three-year agreement with the Townsville Blackhawks, which will provide financial and pathways support through 2026.
Alliance Electrical will return as grounds sponsor and has purchased new goalpost pads for the junior league grounds at Kern Bros. Drive.
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Originally published as Cowboys game-changer: Five-year pact with Rugby League Townsville District to reinforce local league
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