RISE 2025 CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES WITH RECORD NUMBERS AND STRONG COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Monday, May 12, 2025
The Townsville Mendi Blackhawks are proud to announce the successful launch of the 2025 RISE Development Program, which officially kicked off on Sunday, May 11th at Jack Manski Oval.
This year’s campaign has already seen a record number of registrations, particularly in our female teams, a significant milestone for both the program and the broader rugby league community in Townsville. In response to the recent floods and extreme weather experienced across the region, the Blackhawks extended the registration window to allow families more time to get involved. This decision proved vital, resulting in an additional 30 new registrations in the week leading up to the first session.
Session One delivered a high-energy and informative start to the program. A total of 180 young athletes were inducted into the 2025 RISE campaign. More than 200 parents attended on the day, joining in to learn more about the structure, expectations, and long-term vision of the program. The session was supported by 32 dedicated staff and volunteers from across Townsville, who generously gave their time to assist in a variety of roles including coaching, team management, Life Fit support, and strength and conditioning.
The day featured a combination of performance testing, attacking and defensive drills, and an introduction to “Prepare to Play” techniques. These methods, drawn from the high-performance framework of the Queensland Maroons, provided players with professional-level insights and tools they can also take back to their local clubs.
The opening session of RISE 2025 perfectly captured the spirit of the program, community, development, opportunity, and excellence. We are incredibly grateful to the families, players, and volunteers who contributed to such a successful launch, and we look forward to an exciting season ahead.
Stay tuned for more updates throughout the year, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for the RISE carnival this September.
