Mini Maroons: Big-hearted Liam makes mark from sideline

This under 13 player was only able to strap the boots on for a handful of games this year, but Charters Towers' Liam Bartschat was one of side's most dedicated of 2023.

Liam (pictured above) broke his ankle in Round 3 of the season, but while sidelined still turned up to training every week (bar two for medical appointments) - and every game - to be part of the team in any way he could, including as a valuable member of the coaching staff.

His coach Luke Purcell said Liam, who got around in a cast and on crutches, added valuable input and advice to his coaches and management team throughout the season and gave plenty of support and encouragement to teammates during games.

Liam's morale boosting was just what the side needed after the side suffered a couple of big scores against them early in the season.

Purcell said he was a remarkable young man with a big heart, to go with being a talented player, and struck him as someone who might make a good coach if he chose to go down that path.

"He's definitely got that nature about him that he wants to improve the team regardless of his own benefit," he said of Liam.

"He was always out on the field on his crutches, helping me coach and talking to the boys and was just one of those kids who never missed a home game, helped out in the canteen and you didn't have to ask him, he just wanted to be amongst it, wanted to be around it."

Nine-year-old singer gets crowd going at Townsville grand finals

Crowds at Townsville's junior and senior grand finals were up and about before a ball was kicked thanks to Brooke Ransom's inspiring renditions of Advance Australia Fair.

The nine-year-old is a massive Queensland Maroons and North Queensland Cowboys fan and doesn't miss a game involving her brother Dane, who plays in the under 16s at Western Lions.

But the grand finals were her time to shine on the footy field and did she what, blowing the crowd away with her performance.

Her dad Paul Ransom said he and mum Sharon, who are involved in Townsville's theatre scene, were incredibly proud of Brooke, who had a few nerves ahead of the big occasion outside her usual theatre and school environment.

"It was a very proud moment," he said.

"Everybody hushed and listened... and the roar of the crowd at the end of it gave her a smile I'll never forget."

Ty chips in to Three Rivers finals

It was a momentous day in Cooktown over the weekend with the finals of the 2023 Three Rivers competition.

Teams from Hopevale, Pormpuraaw, Coen and Kowanyama played in semi-finals and finals, with Hopevale walking away the victor.

It couldn't happen without volunteers including 14-year-old Ty Morgan, who played a vital role assisting on game day by doing the video recording for all three games before being invited to hand out the grand finalists' medals.

It was just a part of a huge weekend of grand finals in the QRL North region, including for juniors and seniors in Townsville and Cairns.

None of them were possible without a bevy of ball kids running back and forth each day.

A special shout out Jackson Bronca and Jaxson Jarvis who gave it their all and kept the game ticking with their fantastic service during the FNQRL A grade grand final.