CQ NRL a good chance

JASON Hetherington says the Central Queensland bid for an NRL team is the real deal.

Or as he puts it -“we're fair dinkum.”

The former Baralaba lad who eked out a career as a tough hooker for the Bulldogs, Queensland and Australia is part of the bid team hoping to pull off something that was not even a pipe dream in Hetherington's days on his family's Dawson Valley farm.

“I never gave it a thought until someone approached me [from the bid team],” the league legend said.

“I had to pinch myself - is this real or what?”

At last Friday's launch of the bid, it became reality.

Hetherington said with the people on the bid team, a CQ NRL team was a good chance.

Prominent Rockhampton-based businessman and managing director of the family-controlled JM Kelly Group of Companies Geoff Murphy, is chairing the bid team, which consists of representatives from Mackay, Gladstone and the Central Highlands.

Hetherington said all the people behind it were very passionate about rugby league and the district.

“They are all successful people - I don't think they will accept failure,” the former test rake said.

“It's a really exciting time,” Hetherington said.

The former tough-as-nails Bulldog, who works at the Gladstone Ports Corporation, was also excited about what the bid would do for children playing rugby league in CQ.

“The future of juniors will be great for the next four years.

“It gives them an opportunity to play in the NRL right on their doorstep,” the father of three league-playing sons said.

A confident Mr Murphy was ready to take on the huge challenge.

“Is this bid highly ambitious?

“Yes.

“Is it financially challenging?

“Yes.

“Is it possible?

“Yes.

“You'd better believe we will make it happen,” the construction entrepreneur said.

“We have assembled a team of very talented and hard working people who are committed to delivering something that has the capacity to unite the people of Central Queensland like nothing else - a Central Queensland-based NRL team.

Mr Murphy confirmed that representatives of the bid team had already had discussions with NRL chief executive David Gallop and QRL managing director Ross Livermore.

“From our observations, the general feeling is that Central Queensland has the capacity to put together a very strong submission for inclusion in an expanded competition from 2013, the year the NRL has earmarked for possible expansion,” he said.

Mr Murphy said with the region's junior league registrations about 5000 strong, coupled with unbridled passion for the game, Central Queensland could sustain an NRL side.