ON Saturday, May 10, Queensland and NSW Legends of League went head-to-head at Toowoomba’s Gold Park after a long seven years.
The game was a part of the four-day visit to the Darling Downs visiting and supporting schools and hospitals as well as a bowls day and dinner.
One of the Queensland Legends of League players, Craig Teevan, originally an Oakey Bears player then to make it to the big league in 1988 until 1990 for the Broncos, then to Cronulla for 12 months and Manly for another 12 months; before heading back to Broncos for 1993 and 1994. He was then at the South Queensland Crushers from 1995 to 1997 and finished with Gold Coast Chargers in 1998.
In 1995, he was part of the Queensland State of Origin team, and for obvious reasons, he is well respected in the rugby league community. He has also been involved in Legends of League for several years.
The main event organiser Troy Byers is an old friend of Teevan’s and approached him in 2012 to get involved again with this charity event, hence his 100% dedication in the last and games.
Teevan said he hoped the Legends of League event was an experience for fans of the game.
“It gives many people in regional areas to mix socially with past legends of the game and also to see how they still have many of their past skills on display in the game itself,” he said.
He also said he hoped charities in each area received great support and donations by spectators.
The Legends of League game was supported by several locally known sponsors in the Darling Downs junior and senior rugby league. Before the game, there was the Army v Police game and the women’s game, which really was a cultural and social experience for supporters, sponsors and players.
The Darling Downs was not only buoyed by league stars like Teevan, Petero Civoniceva and Nathan Blacklock, playing the game; but also by the support from parents were phenomenal. The Legends game inspired the junior players and put dreams in the minds of many in the Toowoomba Junior Rugby League.
Teevan offered some advice to young football players aspiring to have a career in rugby league, telling them to believe in themselves.
“You will always have dreams and along the way you will get setbacks and people telling you that you won’t make it,” he said.
“But if you believe in your own ability and be persistent and have a great work ethic and attitude to training; then you will give yourself your best chance to succeed … have no regrets.”
