Exciting competition to build code’s profile

As sports return to contact training, rugby teams in the Pilbara are looking forward to starting the inaugural season of the North West Cup.

The competition will see rugby league return to the North West, with clubs from Broome, South Hedland, Karratha, Wickham and Tom Price.

The league will be the first formal rugby league competition in the region since the Pilbara Rugby League folded in 2017.

Karratha Roosters president David Wailu said all the teams were keen to play and commit to the season.

“We’ll be playing five rounds, seven including the finals, and will play everyone once,” he said.

Wailu said coronavirus had caused concerns over player availability.

“With pre-season, it was pretty good; we had numbers, but when coronavirus happened, some of the boys we lost were FIFO and didn’t have work anymore,” he said.

“So just getting those numbers back up to have a side this season.”

Wailu said NRL WA had been a big help in getting the league up and running in the Pilbara.

“With them on board, we’ve got more avenue to better our clubs and make it stronger for our juniors,” he said. “That’s the main goal; get more kids involved in rugby league and better rugby league in the Pilbara.”

NRL WA North West chairperson Ashlea Thompson said rugby league in the North West was going from strength to strength.

“An enormous amount of effort goes into facilitating a senior competition that spans across the North West, so we are thrilled to proceed with NRL WA’s 2020 North West Cup,” she said.

Thompson said the competition would start on July 4.

“As it’s been a tough start to the season, and we care about our community wellbeing, we have included a State of Mind doubleheader, to be hosted by South Hedland Cougars on August 14,” she said.

“We can’t wait to get all our North West clubs together for an exhilarating weekend of rugby league, and to celebrate the sport that binds us.”