Indigenous talent to shine at new-look Dolphins stadium
Published 21 September 2016
Some of Australia’s best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes will vie for rugby league glory this September when they take to the new-look Redcliffe Dolphins Stadium for the 2016 Arthur Beetson Murri Rugby League Carnival.
More than 1,000 players and 20,000 spectators from across Queensland are expected to descend on the Moreton Bay Region and traditional home of rugby league immortal Arthur Beetson for the annual, four-day showcase.
With Moreton Bay Regional Council supporting the event, the carnival will for the first time feature a junior rugby league and netball competition alongside the highly-anticipated men and women’s rugby league competitions.
Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland recently met with some of the junior participants ahead of the junior carnival start on September 19 and took them on a tour of the upgraded Dolphins Stadium, which council contributed $3 million towards its construction.
“This is the first time the carnival will field teams on the new-look Dolphins Stadium, and with all eyes our state’s best Indigenous footy players, it’ll be a great opportunity to showcase the venue’s ability to host major sporting events,” Mayor Sutherland said.
“The Arthur Beetson Murri Rugby League Carnival shines the spotlight on some of Queensland’s best football talent, and with a new youth element, I’m proud council has been able to continue show its support for the event.
Council will this year contribute $30,000 towards the event together with additional grandstands and other in-kind support.
As part of the Murri Rugby League Carnival, scouts will be looking for players to participate in an upcoming junior tour of New Zealand, 2017 All Stars Carnival team as well as the 2017 NRL Women’s All Stars Development squad.
“With players like Ben Barba, Chris Sandow and Andrew Walker all coming through the Murri Rugby League Carnival system, I have no doubt the event will be a hit with rugby league fans as well as players who want to catch the eye of selectors.
Mayor Sutherland said together with the upgraded Dolphins Stadium, the 2016 Murri Rugby League Carnival would provide a boost for economic development in the Moreton Bay Region.
“Major sporting events such as the Murri Rugby League Carnival go beyond the sporting field and promote local businesses, experiences and accommodation providers.
“They also encourage healthy lifestyles and it’s why council has committed more than $32.5 million in 2016/17 towards sports, parks and recreational facilities.”
The Murri Rugby League carnival aims to raise the representation of Indigenous players in the NRL and provide structure in a drug and alcohol free environment for players to develop and progress to representative football.
CEO of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Adrian Carson said the carnival was an innovative way to encourage Indigenous community members to take responsibility for their health, with every single player in each of the carnival’s 47 teams having health check before taking to the field or court.
“Encouraging regular health checks is a key part of our strategy of increasing access of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to engage with primary health care services on a regular basis,” Mr Carson said.
“Many of the carnival’s 20,000 attendees will also complete health checks prior to the carnival in order to gain free entry.
“Junior players must also have achieved a 90% school attendance rate to be eligible to play.”
The 2016 Deadly Choices Arthur Beetson Murri Rugby League Carnival will be held from September 21 to 24 at Dolphins Stadium, Redcliffe. The Junior Carnival runs from September 19 to 20.
Information on the carnival can be found on the Murri League website