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By Laine Clark, Daily Telegraph - For the second straight year, the big wet has forced North Queensland to pull a pre-season trial from a rain sodden Mackay.
But it has cost the city a lot more than a rugby league game. Mackay and District Rugby League (MDRL) chairman Stephen Hawkins said pulling the February 14 Cowboys-Cronulla game was a "big blow'' to local charities who were set to use the clash as their major fundraiser.

"It's very frustrating. It is one of those things that you just can't describe,'' he said. "It's a big blow economically for the region - we were expecting up to 5,000 people.''

Last year the Cowboys were forced to relocate a trial against Canberra from Mackay to Townsville at enormous expense due to flooding. Hawkins hoped the Cowboys would keep considering Mackay for pre-season trials despite their horror run.

"I don't think it (the Cowboys playing in Mackay again) is in doubt,'' he said.

The February 14 clash is the Cowboys' first hit-out for 2009, and is expected to boast new signings including Mackay local boy Shannon Hegarty as well as Antonio Kaufusi, Manase Manuokafoa and Willie Tonga.

Cowboys boss Peter Parr said they were yet to finalise a Plan B for the aborted Mackay trial. "What happens next we are not too sure. We will make a decision on it either tomorrow or Monday,'' he said.

Mackay officials were hopeful of relocating the NRL trial and a curtain-raiser between their Queensland Cup team the Cutters and the Cowboys under-20 team to either Rockhampton or Brisbane.

But options are running out due to the nightmare weather. Sixty per cent of the state is disaster declared and heavy rain is expected to fall between Townsville and Mackay as a low near Cardwell moves south.

And floods have cut the Bruce Highway off at Ayr, isolating Townsville.

"We are ringing around trying to find grounds that aren't flooded and accommodation - but time is running out,'' Hawkins said.

Cutters chief executive Jamie McDonald summed up the recent weather best. "It hasn't stopped raining for about two and a half weeks,'' he said. "Every ground (in Mackay) is soaked. We can't even get on the training paddock.

"We're utilising any sort of hall or school facility. The guys are even playing squash.''