Ultimate Allblacks comp dream

BY ALF WILSON

Champion Torres Strait Islander teams Erub United, Goemu Bau Raiders and Malu Kiwai have dominated Allblacks rugby league carnivals over the past year.

A series after the season between the three to determine who is the “undisputed king of the Torres Strait” would whet the appetite of the many rugby league fans in the region.

That was a great effort, especially meritorious, considering Goemu Bau Raiders finished sixth after the qualifying rounds.

Erub United took out the 2022 Arthur Beetson Foundation Queensland Murri carnival late last year at Redcliffe beating teams from around the State.

They narrowly lost the Murri versus Koori Interstate Challenge blockbuster to Newcastle Allblacks (NSW Koori Knockout winners) in January this year.

islands for display.

Malu Kiwai even had a big family day at Cairns where the trophy was on show and hundreds turned up.

Both Erub United and Malu Kiwai have nominated for the first time for north Queensland’s biggest Allblacks carnival, the Bindal Sharks event in Townsville during October.

Logan Thunder and it was a good hit out for both teams.

Rollers men won, 90-88, and the women lost to strong Thunder team, 75-66.

Southern District Spartans played against the Thunder and lost both games –women (57-70) and men (78-87).

The loss for the men’s team pushed them out of the Top 8 and allowed the Darwin Salties to re-enter at 7th spot.

Spartans guard, Jessica McDowell-White, scored 15 points and seven assists.

Last week, it was announced by defending champions, Townsville Fire, McDowell-White would join their roster for the 2023/24 season of the Women’s National Basketball League.

The Ken Brown Oval on Waiben would be an ideal venue and would be sure to be packed out with locals, visitors from the islands, NPA, Cape York and even Cairns.

To ensure there was no bye in such a contest, an ideal fourth side would be Kulpiyam from Badu who have also performed well at carnivals as far away as Mackay.

Torres News takes a look at the wonderful credentials of those quality teams.

Mabuiag side Goemu Bau Raiders took out the recent nine team Island of Origin series on Badu defeating Roxin Eagles 4012 in the grand final before a crowd of 700.

The star studded Erub United was missing key players who were unavailable because they could not gain permission from their Queensland Cup clubs.

Erub United also won the Gordonvale Indigenous carnival to add to its impressive trophy cabinet, and took out the Zenadth Kes carnival when last held in 2021 on Waiben.

Boigu side Malu Kiwai easily won the final of the prestigious Dan Ropeyarn Memorial NPA Cup late last year at Bamaga.

Players and officials from Erub United and Malu Kiwai have taken the winning trophies from their carnival victories to their home

There is a strong possibility these teams may meet during the 24 men’s team carnival at Townsville Sports Reserve.

Kulpiyam for many years has been a powerhouse team which has won a recent Dan Ropeyarn Memorial Cup and also performed strongly at Mackay Indigenous carnivals.

The suggested match would take plenty of organising, however the benefits to communities would undoubtedly outweigh the costs.

It would have to be held at the end of the club seasons and after the completion of the established carnivals.

Players from these sides are proud Torres Strait Islanders who love lining up for their home teams – what a ripper of a contest it would be.