May 2, 2025
Footy fever exploded in Kingaroy last Saturday when the Harvey Norman Maroons squad descended on T.J. O’Neill Oval for Footy Fest fan day.
The visit by the players, just ahead of their State of Origin clash on Thursday, proved beyond doubt the popularity of female rugby league.
The squad members were rushed by their young fans, eager to get their caps, jerseys and posters autographed … as well as take selfies.
The visit was the highlight of a big day of rugby league hosted by the Kingaroy Red Ants, with junior games being played across three fields, exhibition matches by South Burnett Eagles’ girls teams and two senior South Burnett Rugby League games.
The Maroons players later changed outfits for the formal launch of the State of Origin series, which was held at ‘Bethany’ on Saturday night (see below).
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A Grade
Two South Burnett A Grade games were played during the Queensland Maroons Footy Fest.
In the first, the Cherbourg Hornets ran away with a massive 70-16 win over the Wondai Wolves after leading 34-6 at half-time.
In took 32 minutes for Wondai to put their first points on the board, a scrambling try via Jack McDowell next to the posts.
The Hornets then kept the Wolves scoreless in the second half until Jeremy Hobbs and Michael Kenafacke scored back-to-back tries with less than 12 minutes to go, making the final scoreline more respectable. Torren Anderton kicked two conversions.
Cherbourg try scorers included Steven Walsh (3), Stafford Sandow (2), George Fisher (2), Lloyd Langton (2), Noel Walsh, Barry Tapau-Fewquandie and Jonathan Walsh.
George Fisher kicked nine conversions.
In the main game, between Kingaroy and the Murgon Mustangs, the Red Ants enjoyed a narrow win, 38-34, much to the delight of the home crowd,
Kingaroy try scorers were Lachlan Price (2), Adam Nightingale, Fautua Peti, Chris Bond, Iona Varomusu and Andre Woltmann. Chris Bond kicked five conversions.
Murgon tries were scored by Tarell Indich (2), Tre Stanley (2), Matt Wallace and Jameel Sullivan. Jayden Tewes-Smallwood kicked five conversions.
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Other Games
The Footy Fest day boasted plenty of other games for fans to enjoy, including a series of round-robin matches for Under 6s through to Under 12s played across three fields.
There were also exhibition girls’ games in Under 13s, Under 15s and Under 17s featuring the South Burnett Eagles against visiting sides.
A scratch match was also played in Under 14s between players from Kingaroy and Cherbourg after the Hornets were forced to forfeit their Round 3 game due to a shortage of players.
At Chinchilla, the Chinchilla Bulldogs defeated Murgon Mustangs 20-8 in their Under 14s game.
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Maroons Official Launch
The Queensland Women may have been licking their wounds after Thursday night’s 32-12 defeat to NSW at Suncorp Stadium, but the Maroons team was all smiles just a few days earlier.
The Maroons were the special guests at the Red Ants’ big Footy Fest Family Fan Day last Saturday before heading off to the Bjelke-Petersen family’s property ‘Bethany’ for the official series launch of the Women’s State of Origin.
Guests paid $100 a head for the opportunity to mingle with the players and enjoy a sit-down dinner in the Old Hangar at the property.
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This Week’s Games
At Blackbutt
Under 6s through to Under 12s from 8:00am
- 10:30am – Under 14s – Kingaroy v Murgon
- 11:30am – Under 14s – Chinchilla v Nanango
- 12:30pm – Under 19s – South Burnett Eagles v Gatton
All SBRL A Grade teams have a bye due to Magic Round in Brisbane
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