Over 200 players competed in the annual Under 14's Tassell Trophy Challenge played in Cairns on the weekend.
The carnival has been held annually since 2001 with teams from throughout Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory having participated in the end of season event.
The carnival is also used as a Referees Development Camp for match officials from throughout North Queensland with an average age of 16 officiating at the carnival.
This year a female competition was introduced, acknowledging the growing interest and participation in the game by females.
Cairns Kangaroos and Townsville competed, with the Townsville Girls rewarded for their dominant performance throughout the carnival, taking out the inaugural Sandy Tassell Trophy.
At the end of the pool round games in the male competition, Edmonton (Cairns), Helensvale Hornets (Gold Coast), Western Lions & Burdekin Roosters (Townsville) progressed to the semi finals.
In the semi finals, the Helensvale Hornets defeated Burdekin Roosters 28-12 and the Western Lions defeated Edmonton 16-4, the winners progressing to the grand final.
In the end; the Helensvale Hornets took out the 2018 title defeating Western Lions 40-6, with tries to Kobie Macky-Taylor, Te Haeata Takamore, Brock Roberts, Arama Hau, Haze Tai-Takana, Zachaery Johnson and Blake Mozer, while Joshua Lynn slotted four goals and Zachaery Johnson and Jared Johnson took one each.
