In the lead-up to the NRL's Anzac Day round, Lavarack Barracks hosted the North Queensland Cowboys to launch their 2025 Defence jersey, featuring an image of soldiers of the 3rd Brigade conducting an amphibious assault, paying homage to those who stormed the shores of Gallipoli.
The relationship between Townsville's 3rd Brigade and the Cowboys runs deep within the garrison city, and Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel said the club wanted to create a striking design to give the Defence community the recognition it deserves.
"Our club has enormous gratitude and admiration for the respect and courage of all who currently serve and have served before," Mr Reibel said.
"Every time we have called on our Defence connections to work with us we have always emerged as a better club for it, and it is an honour for us to have been able to collaborate with 3rd Brigade again for our Defence jersey this year."
3rd Brigade photographer Corporal Riley Blennerhassett took the image featured on the 2025 jersey during Exercise Alon in the Philippines, using his experience as an infantry soldier to capture the moment, which he said was a privilege.
"I've personally served with the soldiers in the image during my time with 1RAR [1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment] and they're all brilliant at their job," Corporal Blennerhassett said.
"I felt privileged to be able to capture what these soldiers do best and I think it's important to be able to show their families and the wider community what capabilities the infantry can provide when working in a combined arms environment."
'Townsville is Australia's premier garrison city. The connection between our people, veterans and the community is unmatched and is reflected in the shared values of teamwork, resilience and courage.'
This is the second year Corporal Blennerhassett's image has been selected to feature on the NRL Cowboys Defence jersey, an honour that is not lost on the avid Cowboys supporter.
"Having my images on the North Queensland Cowboys jersey the last couple years is a surreal moment that I think a kid version of myself would never have believed," he said.
"From watching the 2015 Grand Final win with tears in my eyes to this is unbelievable and I'm incredibly proud of what I've achieved during my service in both the infantry and as a photographer."
Commander 3rd Brigade, Brigadier Ben McLennan, said the Army's strong ties with the Cowboys was reflective of the shared values between the club, brigade and Townsville community.
"Townsville is Australia's premier garrison city. The connection between our people, veterans and the community is unmatched and is reflected in the shared values of teamwork, resilience and courage," Brigadier McLennan said.
"Whether it's during natural disasters, when the Cowboys run onto the footy field, or in war, this community unites.
"We couldn't be more proud of our enduring partnership with the North Queensland Cowboys as part of the Townsville community."
