League’s Beef v Reef: ‘It’s taken off with great gusto’

Coaches share thoughts on exciting initiative for men’s and women’s players.

Jessica Mooney, Akayla McGuire and Amarah Shillingsworth will line up with the Reef women in Saturday night's clash with the Beef side.

Anticipation is building around Rockhampton Rugby League’s Beef versus Reef spectacle to be played at Yeppoon’s Webb Park on Saturday night.

The games will effectively pit the leading men’s and women’s players of Rockhampton against those of the Capricorn Coast.

Clubs aligned with Beef are Rockhampton Brothers, Norths Chargers and Fitzroy/Gracemere, and for Reef they are Emu Park, Yeppoon and Biloela.

The coaches for Beef are Damien Seibold (men) and Dwayne Iles (women), while for Reef it’s John Buttigieg (men) and Jason Field and Krista Vatubua (women).

Field was the driving force behind the concept, which has been keenly embraced by RRL, the clubs and the players.

RRL president Mick Johns said it would become a permanent fixture on the local calendar, with the games alternating between Yeppoon and Rockhampton each year.

He said the teams would wear special jerseys, designed by Amanda Ohl, which incorporated colours from each of the clubs.

“It’s taken off with great gusto and we can’t wait to see the players out there,” Johns said.

Sarah Field, pictured on the attack with Emu Park, will play for the Reef team on Saturday night.

Field described it as “something like a regional State of Origin” and was sure the games would be played with plenty of spirit.

He said the format would give players the chance to experience rugby league at a higher level and provide another representative pathway.

He believes he has the personnel to take out the women’s clash.

The line-up includes his daughter Sarah, who was a member of the North Queensland Gold Stars who made it to the semi-finals of the 2021 BHP Premiership.

Other key players would be hooker Remi Wilton and Indigenous All Stars Samartha Leisha and Akayla McGuire in the forward pack.

“It will be a high-quality game. We have some very skillful individuals playing and it’s sure to be a good spectacle,” Field said.

“I’m confident in the girls I’ve got, and they’ve trained very well together in the two sessions that we’ve had.

“I think if we focus on our defence and be aggressive in that area that will hold us in good stead.”

Connor Rothery’s attacking flair will be on show with the Beef team.

Seibold said the Beef men’s players were excited to be involved.

He said his captain and halfback Jack White would have a big influence on the game, as would fullback Connor Rothery, whose speed would be a big attacking asset.

He has also recruited several local legends in Brothers’ Andrew Dale and former NRL star Jamie Simpson.

Seibold said he was impressed with what he’d seen from his team in their initial training session.

“The effort and energy they showed on Wednesday was second to none, and they executed everything pretty much perfectly,” he said.

“I walked away thinking we’ve got a really good team here so hopefully they can put it together on Saturday.

“I’m confident as you can be after one training session, but one thing I am confident about is that they’re going to give it a really good crack.”

The women’s game starts at 5pm Saturday, the men’s game at 6.30pm.

Originally published as League’s Beef v Reef: ‘It’s taken off with great gusto’