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Mr Hockridge made the announcement in Rockhampton today after meeting with the Chair of the CQ NRL Bid team, Mr Geoff Murphy and CEO Mr Denis Keeffe.

"Geoff, Denis and the team are doing a great job rallying support for this bid and the new QR National will be on board to help wherever we can," Mr Hockridge said.

"The team will potentially represent one of the biggest geographic areas in any sporting competition in Australia, stretching from Bundaberg in the south, north to Mackay and west to the border.

"This area is rugby league heartland and it is also QR National heartland.

"More than 4000 of our 9000 employees nationwide work in this catchment in our coal, freight and network services businesses.

"From train drivers to track workers we play an active role in all of these regional communities. We are not fly-in, fly-out - our employees live, work and play in these
towns."

Mr Hockridge said when the float of QR National proceeded as expected later this year negotiations on potential principal sponsorship arrangements for a future CQ NRL team would commence.

Mr Keeffe welcomed the backing of QR National.

"Our bid is proudly supported by business, community and sporting leaders from throughout the region. The Bid team is working as one with a common vision, proudly representing major provincial cities, regional towns and rural communities with one goal - a Central Queensland-based NRL team.

"Backing is forthcoming from the top echelons of CQ industry and commerce, the rugby league community of CQ and fans of the game at all levels.

"With QR National on board it is another significant step in the right direction for our own team in the NRL."

QR National is Australia's largest rail freight company with services operating across five states. In 2009/10, QR National transported more than 260 million tonnes of freight, including coal, iron ore, other minerals, agricultural products and general freight. It also operates and manages the 2300 kilometre Central Queensland coal network that links mines to coal ports at Bowen, Mackay and Gladstone. QR National is expected to list on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) later this year. When it is listed, QR National is expected to be one of the top 50 largest companies on the ASX.