Cooktown’s under-8 junior rugby league contingent pose for a photo with their hosts and opponents in Atherton on 25 May. Photograph: Supplied.
The weather did not get the memo, but a convoy of Crocs from Cooktown to Atherton on 25 May has been heralded a success by the club.
A group of 81 Cooktown District Junior Rugby League Club (CDJRLC) players, family members, and coaching and support staff made the 300-kilometre trek to the Tablelands to be met with cold rain and “horizontal wind” as they were hosted by the Eacham Junior Rugby League Club.
The home club comprises players from Atherton, Ravenshoe, Malanda and Herberton, and CDJRLC secretary Jacynta Hunt said the event had been an incredibly inclusive event, with the hosts fielding a number of one-off teams in order to give the visitors a game.
“We’re the only competition with [under-16] League Tag, and it’s so awesome they put together that group yesterday so our kids had a team to play,” she explained.
“It was just so inclusive and great of them to go out of their way.”
The Crocs flexed their muscle in the testing conditions to claim a 40-32 win against their U16 rivals, while the club’s U7 players made the most of the mud as they participated in a TackleReady training session with representatives from the NRL.
Ms Hunt praised the Cooktown contingent and said there were some impressive performances on the paddock, despite the unique playing conditions.
“Our Cooktown guys were freezing,” she laughed.
“We’re maybe accustomed to rain, but we definitely aren’t accustomed to cold rain and horizontal wind.
“Everyone played really well and showed great sportsmanship.”
The Crocs will be hoping for a change in the weather when they travel to Malanda for the next round of competition on 8 June.
