In its second year, the exciting concept will pit the best 56 players in the competition against each other in what is essentially a North Queensland selection trial.
The bulk of the NQ side is expected to come from the Cairns competition and the chance to see some of the fresh talent in town play at another level has excited Cairns All Stars coach Daniel Lock.
A player-coach at South Cairns, he will relish the chance to keep the boots in the cupboard and focus on the clipboard.
“The game is a stepping stone (to NQ) but we aren’t going in to play boring footy; you want them to put on a show for the fans and I’m certainly not going to put a leash on anyone,” he said.
“I’m excited; when you think you’ll have (reigning Crathern Medallist) Zac Ewer, (Saints captain) Jesse Dixon and (Port Douglas recruit) Mitch McKee playing together it should be good to watch.”
Lock’s Indigenous/South Pacific counterpart Rick Hanlon says his men are raring to go after almost pulling off an upset in the inaugural clash at Port Douglas last year.
“They are committed to it, have embraced the concept again and have trained really well,” he said. ‘‘We may not have the size to stop them, but they may not have the pace to match us.”
Hanlon has named Jermaine Wardle to share the captaincy duties with Damien Roe.
“They are great supporters of the local comp and it’s a reward for that support,” he said.
Injuries have affected both squads and with plenty of new faces set to feature there is no real form guide.
Lock is tipping another close contest, though.
“It’ll be very even, we’ve got an injury list as long as my arm and it’s the same for them,” he said.
“But with spots on the line to go to Brisbane with North Queensland it’s not going to be a Wednesday night kick and giggle.”
Article Courtesy Murray Wenzel The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 13/05/2015 10:05