https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/northern-rays-plan-to-become-pacific-region-netball-hub/news-story/3446677397cd698c799d63f1f4b0503e FORWARD thinking and resilience have been the key to the Northern Rays staying afloat since coronavirus wreaked havoc. With the Queensland Netball Sapphire Series rescheduled to launch on October 12 time is on the Townsville-based side to get its affairs in order and ready for an audacious title charge. It may not have seemed possible after 2019’s tumultuous campaign, but Rays chairman Michael Brennan said they had come a long way from the hard lessons of yesteryear. Local sponsors played a massive part in sustaining the Rays after last year’s financial instability. But while businesses have undergone drastic shifts and cost cuts due to COVID-19, the likes of Brothers Leagues Club have continued to support the North Queensland club. Further support has even come on board, with EMU Sportswear’s profits from Rays attire going to the team. “One thing we have learnt is how to make the most with not a lot of resources. It’s a North Queensland thing, we just get in and get stuff done,” Brennan said.
“Because of the fact we were able to close down a lot of our operations and expenses we haven’t been too heavily impacted in that space. “We’re in discussions still with new sponsors for the season and we’ve just reinvented that as people are starting to get a sense of what will happen post COVID. “Time will tell, but we’ve got a little bit of time up our sleeves but we’re trying to nail that down.” Prior to the pandemic the Rays had been seeking to establish a partnership with one of Townsville’s universities to attract a larger prospective playing group. The centralisation of the club in Townsville opened the door to this, and Brennan said they had promising discussions with James Cook University. The health crisis had forced those aspirations on the back burner but he said they would look to revisit the possibility with the situation now showing greater clarity. Furthermore, the opportunity to entice international students and players is a drawcard that appeals to Brennan and the Rays. And a powerful figure in these conversations could be coach Gail Parata. Scotland’s World Cup coach last year, the former Silver Fern had only just touched down in Townsville and put together an initial squad before the season was postponed. She returned to New Zealand to be with her family prior to border closures, but has remained in constant touch with the club in order to hit the ground running as they aim for an early July return to the court. The pulling power of an international standard coach and the geographical position of Townsville to the Pacific region could open up options for international students to call the city home and pursue sport and academic careers simultaneously. Samoan international Brooke Williams featured for the Rays last year, showcasing the ties that already exist in the community to make the bid a reality. “A huge part of our goal as a club is to provide future pathways for our athletes and that means career pathways, whatever that chooses to be as well as sporting pathways,” Brennan said. “Having that university partner is a vital part of that strategy. We want our athletes to be able to undertake their studies in Townsville so they don’t have to go down south for study and we lose them on that career path. “Townsville is really perfectly placed geographically to be a sporting hub for Micronesia and the broader pacific. “Even into Asia, with Townsville having the strategic ties into Singapore, we’ve raised this with Netball Queensland and Netball Australia – the Rays could start pulling players out of Singapore as well.”
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AuthorI covered a vast range of sports and issues in my time with the Bulletin. Archives
June 2020
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