Young Central Queensland rugby League fans will have even more chances to be in awe of the NRL's Provan-Summons Grand Final trophy after today's Browne Park Paramatta v Newcastle elimination final.
Member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke said the trophy would spend three-days in the Beef Capital and Yeppoon as part of the Palaszczuk Government's Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
"We know Central Queensland is a nursery for NRL talent," Mr O'Rourke said
"There will be plenty of aspiring premiership players eager to get a glimpse of the trophy at the elimination final.
"In more good news for rugby league fans, the Provan-Summons Grand Final trophy is staying in the Rockhampton area until Tuesday for a tour of the city including local schools.
"I want to thank the NRL for getting more young Central Queenslanders involved in the game's finals series by visiting schools to captivate students with the Grand Final's ultimate prize."
Mr O'Rourke said the Provan-Summons trophy would tour the following Yeppoon and Rockhampton schools:
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School - Yeppoon
- Taranganba SS - Yeppoon
- St Benedict's Catholic Primary School - Yeppoon
- Allenstown SS - Rockhampton
- Rockhampton SS – Rockhampton
- Frenchville SS - Rockhampton
Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said the pandemic had presented an historic year for rugby league in regional Queensland.
"This is the month premiership rugby league recognises its regional Queensland heartland like no other," Ms Lauga said.
"It will be terrific to see the trophy also visiting local rugby league clubs, clinics and community locations.
"Central Queenslanders love rugby league and the elimination final, and the trophy's regional tour are great boost for our Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan in CQ.
"This is a celebration of finals football in Central Queensland like we've never seen before.
"If it gets more Central Queenslanders involved in the game, and active and healthy, then that's another big win for our community."
Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the NRL finals and premiership trophy tour were contributing millions of dollars to regional Queensland economies.
"Wherever finals football goes it generates plenty of publicity about the places it visits," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"Queenslanders' enthusiasm for the game is seeing rugby league fans traveling across the State to watch regional games and that's great news for tourism operators hit hard by the pandemic.
"The Palaszczuk Government's unprecedented deal with the NRL means two premiership games each year will be played in regional Queensland for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
"We've demonstrated time and time again; Queensland is the place to be when it comes to hosting major sporting events and regional Queensland is an integral part of that capacity."
NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said the trophy tour is a rare opportunity for fans.
"This finals series is more than a Grand Final in Brisbane, it's a four-week festival celebrating our fans right across Queensland," he said.
The NRL's Provan-Summons trophy tour has already taken in the Sunshine Coast and Townsville.
After Rockhampton, the trophy moves to Mackay (15-18 Sept), Redcliffe (20 Sept), Gold Coast (23 Sept) and Brisbane from 24 September.
The Provan-Summons trophy stays in Brisbane for Grand Final week celebrations culminating in the decider at Suncorp Stadium on 3 October.
