The cream of Queensland’s emerging rugby league and netball talent will be on show when Mackay hosts the 2022 CQUniversity Confraternity and QISSN Carnivals next month.
All roads will lead to the Mackay region when historic St Patrick’s College and Mercy College Mackay host the coveted schools sporting extravaganza - regarded as the biggest of its type in Queensland - from June 26 to July 1.
It will be the first time that St Patrick’s and Mercy Colleges will run both the prestigious QISSRL and QISSN events together.
More than 2000 secondary school athletes from Cairns in the Far North, Mount Isa in the west and Gold Coast in the south will showcase their skills in the rugby league and netball arena in quest of the Confraternity Shield and Netball Championship trophies.
QISSRL Convenor and Mercy College Assistant Principal Curriculum Scott McSherry said the city of Mackay was excited to be hosting CONFRO again for the first time since 1996.
“The CQUniversity Confraternity and QISSN Carnivals will bring a huge economic boost to the Mackay community,” Mr McSherry said.
“It is an important annual event on the Queensland sporting calendar and is set to inject some $5 million into the Mackay region.
“Sporting enthusiasts will get the opportunity to watch the State’s best young rugby league prospects and netballers in action throughout the week,” Mr McSherry added.
St Patrick’s College Mackay is steeped with tradition and success in the Confraternity rugby league competition.
Since the event’s conception in 1981, the College has lifted the trophy on eight occasions and unearthed future Kangaroos internationals in prop Martin Bella, wingers Brett Dallas and Wendell Sailor and half back Daly Cherry-Evans.
St Patrick’s brought home the Confraternity Shield in five successive years from 1988 to 1992 before adding another three titles in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
The College has also produced a wealth of talented NRL players in Ben Barba, Paul Tideman, Anthony Bella, Michael Corrie, Butch Fatnowna, Dennis Scott, Robert Bella, John Manning, Nathan Sologinkin, Michael Roberts, Shannon Hegarty, Chris Paterson, Luke Duffy, Mark Christensen, Ashley Alberts, Simon Phillips, Grant Rovelli, Brett Seymour, Danny Williams, Selasi Berdie and Mitchell Dunn over the years.
Fifty-eight QISSRL schools - including 48 boys and ten girls teams - are featured in the rugby league carnival while the Netball championship has attracted 72 QISSN schools comprising 64 girl teams plus eight boys teams.
The CQ University Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball was formed in 2000 with a modest 16 teams and has now grown to a membership of 64 colleges including teams from Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Independent schools from across Queensland.
The richness of CQ University QISSN’s history is evident in its success as an esteemed carnival for secondary school girls and this year was expanded to include eight boys’ teams - a unique step in the development of QISSN.
With over 700 girls and boys playing netball, along with the multitude of volunteers who coach and manage, umpire, co-ordinate, first aid and make up the Executive Staff, QISSN is one of the largest school-based sporting carnivals in Australia.
Contributed by Chris Karas
The QISSN Carnival will arrive at St Patrick’s College and Mercy College host the competition
The CQUniversity Confraternity is going to bring the goods as the school’s host the competition
