Sport
9 July, 2025
Region well represented at Laurie Spina Shield
Teams from Mount Isa, Cloncurry and the Mid West played in the Townsville carnival.
North West Queensland teams have flown the flag for the region at the annual Laurie Spina Shield carnival in Townsville.
Named in honour of the inaugural Cowboys captain, the shield brings 78 teams from across North Queensland for two days of action-packed footy.
Players from Richmond and Julia Creek filled a Mid West combined side, while the Cloncurry Eagles also sent a team.
Mount Isa was represented by the Wanderers in the under-11 carnival.
Devils coach Darryl Avery said it was an awesome experience for the Mount Isa boys, who went through the carnival undefeated.
“We played seven games in two days and managed to walk away with six wins and a draw,” said the long-time Mount Isa Rugby League stalwart.
“When we rolled up, there were some big kids and I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but we started with a 40-0 win against a Mackay side.”
The Wanderers drew matches against the Blackall Magpies, Norths Devils Mackay Red, Capricorn Coast Brothers, Sarina Crocodiles Red, Southern Suburbs, Strait Stars, Upper Ross Rams, Western Lions Roar and Tannum/Boyne Seagulls.
“There are no finals, so the winners are decided on points and for/against,” Avery said.
“We missed out by eight points on the for/against. We scored 43 tries and conceded 10 over the two days.
“They were 20-minute games played on touch-sized fields.”
Avery praised all of the young stars, including Miller Parkes, who scored 13 tries across the Laurie Spina Shield. Avery’s son Billy was named best forward after his relentless tackling.
The coach said the highlight of the week for many was meeting Mount Isa product and North Queensland Cowboys champion Coen Hess.
“It was such a great week for the kids,” he said.
“Barry Buchanan, a life member of the Cowboys, came up to our tent after hearing about our behaviour and team spirit.
“He presented a Coen Hess-signed jersey to the team and we gifted that to our team manager Josie Clee.
“All of her hard work and volunteering behind the scenes goes unnoticed but without her we wouldn’t have a team.”
All players finished the carnival by going to the Cowboys v Storm match on Saturday night.
“Some of our kids had never been to an NRL game before,” Avery said.