Eight new faces for Round 1
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Round one of Intrust Super Cup 2016 will see eight débutantes take to the field for the Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks including youngsters Kyle Laybutt, Kieran Quabba and David Munro as well as experienced prospects Delouise Hoeter who comes to Townsville after a stint in the NRL and freight train Willie Minoga who is coming off a great year with the PNG Hunters.
On Saturday 5th March 2016 the Mendi Blackahwks will kick of the new season at home at Jack Manski Oval against the Redcliffe Dolphins. The Dolphins will feature a similarly new line up in game one having recruited a new stock of players during the off season.
Coach Kristian Woolf is feeling positive heading into the 2016 season, “Redcliffe will present a tough challenge for us and we have a lot of new young players in our team this week.”
“I’ve seen these boys train and I know they will be up for the game and will relish this opportunity to not only make their debut for the Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks but to make the most of this opportunity and play some really good football.”
“We have done the hard work in the pre-season and now it’s time to get out there and finally play footy. The players are looking forward to it and I’m sure the fans will be as well.” He said.
Round 1 will be dedicated to Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation and will see all players wearing Rainbow shoelaces in order to promote organ and tissue donation awareness. The initiative is part of the charity partnership between the QRL, Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation and the James Ackerman Family Trust Fund.
Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner – aged seven years and 22 days – died suddenly in 2004 from a burst blood vessel in her brain called a cerebral aneurysm. Zaidee’s parents, Kim and Allan, founded Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation not long after.
At the time of Zaidee’s death, the Turner family had been registered organ and tissue donors for five years. As a result, Zaidee donated her organs and tissues at the Royal Children’s Hospital, as were her wishes at the time.
From this gift, the lives of seven people were improved and, in some cases, saved. The shoelaces will be on sale for $2.00 per pair during the day at Jack Manski Oval.
The day will begin with the Townsville Blackhawks Cyril Connell sqaud taking on the Northern Pride at 12:30pm, followed by the Townsville Blackhawks vs Northern Pride in the Mal Meninga Cup at 2pm. The Intrust Super Cup will kick off at 4pm.
In 2016 the Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks have also introduced a Community Corner at home games to allow charitable organisations, community groups and non-profit organisaitons to have a presence on game day in order to raise awareness for a cause, event or organisation.
In Round 1 we are pleased to welcome the Picnic Bay Surf Lifesaving Club as our inaugural Community Corner participant. Please visit the volunteers from Picnic Bay SLSC in the corner near the garden bar throughout the day to say hello or donate a few dollars to a worthy cause.
Gates open at 11:30am with the first of three matches to kick off at 12:30pm. Tickets available at the gate or via the Townsville Blackhawks website.
