The South East Queensland Division has confirmed that the Rugby League Brisbane Poinsettias representative training squad will be announced after Round 8 on Tuesday, May 15.
The Poinsettias 19-man team will participate in the QRL's State Carnival Championships over the weekend of June 1-3 at Southport's Owen Park on the Gold Coast.
Coach Mark Gliddon and Rugby League Brisbane Manager Shane McNally have been regularly comparing notes over the early rounds of this year's premiership competition, as the preparations for the Poinsettias gathers momentum.
Gliddon has confirmed his intention to name an initial squad of approximately 30 players, before reducing this group to the 19 players allowed for the QRL State Championships.
In preparation for the carnival weekend, the team will train Monday May 28, Wednesday, May 30 and Friday, June 1 before transferring to the Gold Coast later that day.
Matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday against Northern and Central Division representative teams before the two SEQ teams meet in the last game of the carnival on Sunday afternoon.
The group will be seeking some redemption following last year's carnival which saw the SEQ team defeat the more fancied Poinsettias outfit 24-18 in a thrilling clash.
This carnival has a rich history of unearthing some future stars in our game. Most notable would be Jack Reed, who went on to an NRL career with the Brisbane Broncos and also international matches for England after representing the Poinsettias.
Other examples of players who have achieved higher honours following the Carnival weekend are – Ryan Ghietti (Northern Pride), Daniel Joyce (Canberra Raiders), Liam McDonald (Sunshine Coast), Dane Phillips (Ipswich Jets), and Billy Walters (Melbourne Storm).
>> Keep an eye on QRL.com.au for more details about the upcoming QRL State A Grade Carnival.
