Cowboys take trial to Mount Isa

The Toyota Cowboys will play all three of their pre-season NRL trials for 2013 in North Queensland after today announcing Mt Isa as the venue for the all-Queensland clash against the Brisbane Broncos.

The match at Alec Inch Oval on Saturday, 9 February will be the first of three hit-outs for the Cowboys prior to the start of the new season.

North Queensland had already confirmed pre-season trials against St George Illawarra at Barlow Park in Cairns on Saturday night, 16 February and against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday night, 23 February at Virgin Australia Stadium in Mackay.

Cowboys general manager – Football Peter Parr and player development Dean Payne visited Mt Isa yesterday and met with Mayor Tony McGrady and Councillor Kim Coghlan, representatives of the Mt Isa Rugby League as well as a number of local businesses.

“It’s very exciting for the Cowboys that we will be able to bring our team to Mt Isa and give all of our members and supporters in the region a chance to see top-level rugby league,” Parr said.

“We’ve already had great support from the council, local league and businesses so it should be an event to remember for the town.”

Mayor Tony McGrady said the benefits to the city of hosting the two Queensland teams who made the 2012 finals series would be enormous.

"In our 90th birthday year to have a game here will be fantastic.

It will be well supported and get people from right around the district coming into our town," he said.

As part of the Cowboys’ commitment to the game, the club’s development team will be in Mt Isa for the week to promote rugby league while five NRL squad members will take part in community and school visits from Thursday as part of the NRL’s Community Carnival.

An open training session is expected to be held at Alec Inch Oval on Friday afternoon.

Ticket details and kick-off times will be confirmed in coming weeks.