The Longreach Rugby League 7s made a comeback after a couple of years and proved to be a very popular event.
The fields were in great condition, the weather was great - there was even an outback breeze to keep the temperatures down. There was good prize money on offer as well as a Calcutta run at the Birdcage Hotel on the Friday night.
Most teams treated it as their end of season trip away and I am sure if you ask anyone who played, they certainly enjoyed the atmosphere and the hospitality over the weekend.
Players came from Rockhampton, Brisbane, Charleville, Kowanyama, Cooktown, Mt Isa, Cleremont and many places in between. There was also a couple of local teams.
The event also saw the return of the Alpha Brumbies, who have not played since 2003 and are making a comeback in the Central West in 2020.
The girls final was played first in the evening with the Kapow Sisters taking on Charlie's Angels in the final after Charlie's Angels finished on top of the ladder after the preliminary games.
Both teams were made up from local girls and Central Highlands players.
The Kapow Sisters came out strong winners.
After the two pools in the men’s competition played during the day, the final was between The Replacements, a bunch of players who went to school together in Rockhampton and get together occasionally - this time it was for the Longreach Rugby League 7s.
They came up against the Town All Stars from Mt Isa, who have just come off back to back premierships in Mt Isa.
It promised to be an entertaining final and it did not let anyone down.
The Replacements got away to a fast start but as hard as the Town All Stars tried, they could not get in front with The Replacements running out comfortable winners.
The day was the culmination of an almighty effort by both the Longreach junior and senior rugby league clubs; they worked together to get the day up and running again, with the promise of it being back as a permanent fixture in the future.
