There’s one subject people will be talking about today, State of Origin – how much will Queensland beat the Blues by tonight? While I aspire for fast trains between Rockhampton and Gladstone, wave pool in Yeppoon, an international airport near Raglan; my aspirations for Central Queensland don’t include a State of Origin being played at Brown Park, one must be realistic. However if a State of Origin game won’t come to Central Queensland could Central Queensland go to a State of Origin game. The Queensland State of Origin team is one of the highest profile teams in the country. Pubs and Clubs throughout Australia will tonight have crowds flocked around the big screen screaming at the forward pass that leads to the first try. Imagine instead of the normal sponsor’s logos on their maroon jersey, the words ‘Carried by CQLD’ were emblazoned across the players chests. What a publicity coup this would be. The sponsorship alone would be at least an interstate story. The number of eyeballs seeing the words would be in the tens of millions and include international ones. The profile of the region that carries the state and with parts of Western Australia, the country would rise immensely and if done correctly so would our political clout. Stories about Central Queensland’s sponsorship of the Maroon’s would include how much wealth is generated out of the region, the State of Origin stars it has produced, why it deserves its own NRL team, the liveability, the diversity, the visitability plus much more. Team training could be held at the new Great Keppel Island resort generating huge exposure for it. The boys iron intake could be boosted on CQ bred beef. The jerseys themselves could be made using CQ grown cotton. Enormous spin-off opportunities could be generated. But the cost and who would pay for it? The answer is CQ industry. For industry to be willing Local Governments in Central Queensland need as one to create a branding campaign for CQ, like “Bred in CQ’ or ‘Carried by CQLD’. Without this there will continue to be more take than give for CQ. Where is the unified protest to BMA FIFO only workforce for Caval Ridge? It’s time CQ had a voice and started using the clout a unified CQ yields.
Stage of Origin
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