All fired up

Megan Lewis | 18th July 2009

WHEN Rockhampton's finest clash with the city's bravest on the footy field, professional niceties will be left in the dressing sheds.

GRUDGE MATCH: Senior Constable Ryan Hanlon and Firefighter Adrian Massingham will line up against each other at Browne Park next Saturday.

Picture by Chris Ison

THEY might look chummy now, but when Rockhampton's finest clash with the city's bravest on the footy field, professional niceties will be left in the dressing sheds.

In what could be one of the biggest grudge matches ever played at Rockhampton's Browne Park, firefighters and police will go head-to-head in a rugby league game where the winner takes all bragging rights.

The teams, led by firefighter Adrian Massingham and Senior Constable Ryan Hanlon, have been preparing for battle for a few weeks already.

“We see ourselves as the underdog at the moment as we've had limited preparations compared to the police team, so we are looking for community support,” Massingham said.

“We are expecting a tough game - they've got people coming out of the woodwork wanting to play against us.”

Massingham said he was expecting big things from former Rockhampton Brothers A-grade player Sam McInnerney and Australian touch football representative Gavin Shuker.

He said veteran players Marty Stephensen and Garth Spencer would be among those taking the field alongside young guns Michael Hendry, Ben Carrigg, Sam Carrigg, Kent Barron, JP Logan, Nat Dolgner and Ian Shuker.

The game is believed to be the first time the two emergency services have lined up against each other.

“The firies played a match against the Queensland Ambulance Service about eight years ago, but I don't think we've played the police before,” Massingham said.

Hanlon said his squad of 24 players were confident of a win against the firies as they'd had plenty of practice.

“We don't plan on losing,” he said.

“We have a team that goes away every year as part of a police league carnival, so I guess we are using this game as a bit of preparation for next year.”

Hanlon said regular training sessions were held every Sunday with players from Rockhampton, North Rockhampton, Lakes Creek, Gladstone, Agnes Water and Moura police stations.

“I think we will outdo them in the fitness stakes alone,” he said.

The police team will be without Comets star and Police Liason Officer Nat Bowman, but Hanlon said he was confident his team would still perform well without him.

The game is on July 25 as the curtain-raiser for the Central Comets' home game against Easts Tigers. Kick-off is 5.15pm.

THE TEAMS

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Team

1. Marty STEPHENSEN

2. John-Paul LOGAN

3. Mick HENDRY

4. Ben CARRIGG

5. Ian SHUKER

6. Steve ROSER

7. Gavin SHUKER

8. Craig SPENCER

9. Sam McINNERNEY