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Central Queensland’s NRL Bid Team has turned to the Central Highlands for the first in a series of Regional Launches – aimed at widening community support for a CQ-based NRL team. In front of civic leaders and some well-known representatives of local industry, commerce and rugby league, the Central Highlands Regional Launch was held late Thursday afternoon at the offices of the Central Highlands Regional Council in Emerald.

“We’re delighted to have been chosen as the first community in Central Queensland to host to a Regional Launch for the CQ NRL Bid,” said Central Highlands Regional Council mayor Cr Peter Maguire.

“There is no doubt people in the Central Highlands love their rugby league and a CQ-based NRL side would generate massive interest within our local community. In fact, people here are already excited at the mere prospect of a team and we’re following developments with avid interest, to say the least.”

CQ NRL Bid chairman Geoff Murphy said support from the Central Highlands would be critical to the bid.

“Today, I call upon the people of the Central Highlands, from Dingo to Dysart, Moranbah to Middlemount and Clermont to Comet, to get right behind us to help deliver this very exciting project for Central Queensland,” said Mr Murphy, who was joined by several other members of the CQ NRL Bid Team.

They included board member and deputy mayor of Central Highlands Regional Council, Cr Paul Bell, whose son Steven is among the best known modern day league stars to emerge from the CQ coalfields.

“Just imagine if Steven had the opportunity to play in the NRL right here in his own backyard. Of course, we could say the same about many homegrown players like Alan McIndoe, Matt Sing, Travis Norton, Josh Hannay and PJ Marsh, just to name a few,” said Cr Bell, a former Emerald Tigers club president.

Cr Bell also noted that Steven, a former State of Origin representative, had sent his best wishes from the south of France, where he is now playing for the Catalans Dragons in the English Super League.

“Basically, his message was ‘follow the dream with passion and make it happen’. That says it all,” he said.