Williams’ salvo after Cairns’ NRL snub: ‘Someone dropped the ball’

Former Cowboys and Maroons flyer Ty Williams has lashed the city’s inability to secure an NRL fixture in 2021, declaring “someone has dropped the ball’ as the NRL prepares to host semi finals in regional Queensland.

FORMER Cowboys and Maroons flyer Ty Williams has lashed the city’s inability to secure an NRL fixture in 2021, declaring “someone has dropped the ball’ as the NRL prepares to host semi finals in regional Queensland.

Townsville will host a double header on Saturday, while minor premiers Storm face the Sea Eagles at their adopted home on the Sunshine Coast.

Sunday’s elimination final between Parramatta and Newcastle, which will feature a number of Far North rugby league products, will be held at Rockhampton’s Browne Park.

Ty Williams did not miss when asked about the NRL hosting a semi final at Rockhampton - and totally snubbing Cairns - as regional Queensland rescued the season. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Knights will include former juniors Jake Clifford (Tully) and Enari Tuala (Edmonton), with a coaching team led by former Cairns Brothers mentor Adam O’Brien.

Parramatta is coached by former Brothers premiership-winner Brad Arthur.

While Cairns fans would welcomed the NRL with open arms – and that fixture, in particular, would’ve been very well attended - the elimination final will instead be played at a venue with a reported capacity of 8000.

The Cowboys beat the Dragons 38-26 in front of 4,487 people at Browne Park less than a fortnight ago.

Kyle Feldt celebrates after scoring a try in the North Queensland Cowboys’ win against the Dragons at Browne Park, on August 28, 2021, in Rockhampton, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Barlow Park has a capacity of 15,000 and seating for 1700 in the grandstand, but will this Saturday be used for the Pride’s crucial clash with the Burleigh Bears.

Williams, who coaches the Pride, compared how the AFL brought premiership fixtures to Cairns in 2020 and 2021, to the NRL, which has seemingly overlooked a region regularly described as a rugby league heartland.

“It’s a touchy subject, it definitely is,” he said. “Someone’s dropped the ball, they definitely have.

“We’ve seen what the AFL did during the Covid bubble last year, they brought games here (and) it was a great spectacle. Rugby league’s the bread and butter up here, it’s the footprint, but someone has dropped the ball along the way because we haven’t even got a look in.

The Brisbane Lions were one of four AFL teams to play premiership games in Cairns in 2020. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“Townsville have two semi finals this weekend; imagine if Cairns had one? But first, you need to have the facilities.

“I’ve seen a document about Mackay getting a (multimillion-dollarlion dollar) upgrade to their facility. Good on them. Someone has the right boxes ticked there, but like I said, someone has dropped the ball here.”

Mackay’s BB Print Stadium has hosted several NRL games, and an upgrade worth an estimated $80 million has progressed through a consultancy stage and will return to council for consideration. Browne Park is also in line for a multimillion-dollar upgrade.

Cairns MP Michael Healy is desperate for events to return to Cairns, but said he was not approached.

“I understand the NRL went to councils and spoke directly to them,” he said.

Cairns mayor Bob Manning did not respond to a request for comment.

The NRL brought games to regional Queensland when it became clear a Covid outbreak would not allow the league to return to NSW.

The lack of a specialised, rectangular stadium, has long been a sticking point for fans of rugby league, union and football, but this snub may spur more action.

A reported 4487 people attended the NRL clash between North Queensland Cowboys and St George Dragons at Browne Park on Saturday, August 28, 2021.

Williams blames the lack of a suitable facility, and as seemingly never-ending stadium debate rages on for another election cycle, the Pride coach called for action.

Australia’s Rugby Sevens teams prepared for their Olympic campaign at West Barlow Park, while A-League glamour club Sydney FC has also used the field - which is generally used for the Pride’s training sessions.

“There’s only one thing, and we all know what it is,” he said.

“It's the elephant in the room and gets discussed every time an election comes around, and nobody’s done anything about it.

“We travel four hours to watch the Cowboys play; we’d love for them to come up here but they’re not going to come when there’s no facility.

“That’s the honest truth. We’re only going to get trial games until someone stands front and centre with it.

“It’s not just NRL, there's Rugby sevens, A-League, there’s so much to be had. It’s not just NRL and rugby league, it’s concerts, it’s everything.”

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Originally published as Williams’ salvo after Cairns’ NRL snub: ‘Someone dropped the ball’