FORMER NRL wrecking ball Mark Tookey has been named assistant coach of the Queensland Universities team as player applications for the State team get set to close.
Applications for the Queensland Universities team are open to university and tertiary students, with under 48 hours left until the application closing date of this Friday, March 20.
Applications for the team can be made here:
The Queensland Universities team, that has alumni members of the calibre of Lote Tuqiri, will play the NSW Tertiary team in Sydney on May 2.
That is the annual representative weekend, with the Intrust Super Cup and associated competitions on a bye week for the annual interstate Residents game.
From that match an Australian Universities team to tour overseas in October, most likely to New Zealand, will be chosen.
A veteran of 125 NRL games, Tookey has been appointed the assistant to head coach and former Redcliffe Queensland Cup coach Gary O’Brien.
Tookey has a long association with university rugby league, having toured with the Australian Universities side that won the 1996 Student World Cup in England.
He has been assistant coach to the state team before, and last year coached the Queensland Universities Residents team to a victory over NSW in Coffs Harbour.
Universities Rugby League Queensland chairman Martin Unicomb said Tookey provided a unique link to the team.
“Mark is an experienced but still young coach who has had a solid grounding through the Canberra Raiders system,” said Unicomb.
“To have him on board with this group of young men as a former Queensland Universities and NRL player gives our program real kudos, and is a thrill for the players.”
To be eligible for the Queensland side, players must be completing full-time tertiary education within any Queensland University, TAFE or recognised College or Tertiary institution.
All applicants must be completing a diploma level course or higher or working towards a University Degree.
Included in your commitment to this team will be a camp that will be based in Brisbane and run from the morning of Tuesday, April 28, until Friday May 1 prior to travelling to Sydney May 1-3.
The camp will be highly subsidised by the URLQ but a levy of between $1000-1200 per player will be payable.
This will include all meals, accommodation, flights and team apparel for the camp.
For queries or further information on either team, contact URLQ chairman Martin Unicomb at m.unicomb@griffith.edu.au.
