Chance to represent Gold Coast at Queensland State Cup a proud moment for Aussie star Peter Norman

HE’S a Queensland, Australian and Titans NRL Touch Premiership star but proud Gold Coaster Peter Norman says the chance to represent his city on home turf this weekend will be among his most treasured memories.

HE’S a Titans NRL Touch Premiership star, the incumbent Queensland State of Origin captain and a mainstay of the Australian side.

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But proud Gold Coaster Peter Norman says the chance to represent his city on home turf at this weekend’s inaugural Queensland State Cup will be among his most treasured memories.

About 100 teams - including some from as far as Japan, Western Australia and Northern Territory – across 16 men’s, women’s and mixed divisions will take part in the three-day competition beginning today at Coomera’s Northern Gold Coast Touch Association.

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The previous incarnation of the state cup featured regional sides such as the South Queensland Sharks, with this year’s revamped competition giving players the chance to turn out for local associations including Gold Coast, Palm Beach and Redlands.

In the men’s open premier division, Norman, 28, will be a key figure in one of two teams from the Southport-based Gold Coast association and he said it was a moment he would not soon forget.

Pete Norman and Sammy-Jo Curtis are playing in Queensland Touch Football's inaugural Queensland State Cup on the Gold Coast from November 29 to December 1.

“I’m really excited to represent Gold Coast. In the past we’ve represented our region but mum and dad have been involved in Gold Coast touch for a long time so it’s pretty special to play for the Gold Coast,” Norman, who debuted for Queensland in 2012 and Australia a year later, said.

“It’s really good (to have the event back), they haven’t had a state cup in a number of years now. I think (the new format) is a much better option because it’s more teams and it creates a much stronger comp.

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“All the players are excited. We’re entering two teams into the men’s premiers because we’ve got so much depth of talent in the region.”

Captain of the Titans side in this year’s second NRL Touch Premiership campaign, Norman will also use the state cup to push his case for re-selection in the Queensland Origin side for 2020.

The Miami resident was skipper of the state outfit that fell 2-1 to NSW in last year’s biennial series, while his Gold Coast team surrendered its Metro Cup crown last month with a semi final loss to UQ Rebels.

“We won that Metro Cup last year so we feel like we’ve got a bit of a point to prove (this weekend). We’ve got some work to do between now and Sunday though,” he said.

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Fellow Gold Coaster Sammy-Jo Curtis was slated to play for home club Palm Beach this week but will now turn out Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association Rebels.

The state cup will also include a TFS All Abilities division, which provides opportunities for players with intellectual impairments to participate in a modified version of the game.