Origin relay concept likely to expand after golden results for Maroons

THE push is on to add a State of Origin relay to the Coolangatta Gold permanently after the success of the inaugural relay.

THE push is on to add a State of Origin relay to the Coolangatta Gold permanently after the success of the inaugural relay.

Queensland claimed honours in the unique event which doubled as a fundraiser for former ironwoman Jess Collins, who was left a paraplegic after a surfing accident at Snapper Rocks earlier this year.

The event was decided on cumulative time from Saturday’s shortcourse race and Sunday’s 41.8km long course.

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Coolangatta Gold short-course relay winners NSW beat Queensland in the first leg of their State of Origin battle. From left: Kendrick Louis, Mackenzie Hynard, Matt Poole and Hayden White. Photo: Harvpix

The Queensland side of Corey Hill, Shannon Eckstein, Luke Cuff and Caine Eckstein trailed by 3min 9sec after Saturday’s race.

But the Maroons made almost the entire deficit up in the opening ski leg, with Hill beating NSW paddler Mackenzie Hynard.

Blues captain Kendrick Louis was one second faster than Shannon Eckstein in the swim and while Matt Poole dragged another minute back for the Blues in the board leg, they still trailed heading into the final run and Caine Eckstein was able to seal the win for Queensland.

Athletes were forced to complete different legs of the relay in each race.

Hill said the concept was a great one for the Gold carnival and the athletes.

“There’s a lot of people wanting to race and coming down and watching,” he said.

“Why not make it bigger and call out some of the other states and imagine what we could do for charity then when we widen the horizons,” he said.

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Matt Poole (left) will represent NSW and Caine Eckstein (right) Queensland in the Coolangatta Gold State of Origin relay to raise funds for former ironwoman Jess Collins who was injured in a surfing accident. Photo: Harvpix

“I’d love to see it grow, it’s such a great concept put together by Shaw and Partners.”

The financial services firm sponsored both teams, matching their fundraising efforts dollar-for-dollar, with more than $20,000 raised for the Collins family through the Sunflowers for Jess GoFundMe page.