NRL’s Cowboys High Performance Facility secures first partnership agreement with Football Queensland

With the NRL’s North Queensland Cowboys $40 million High Performance Facility nearing completion, the Centre has already secured its first user partnership agreement for 2021 with Football Queensland who will utilise the state-of-the-art training facilities for their junior talent identification program.

Under the user agreement, Football Queensland North will share facilities with the North Queensland Cowboys NRL team and Gold Stars women’s rugby league team on a rotating roster over a twelve-month calendar.

Inspecting the site today as the construction of the facility nears completion, QLD Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Queensland Government invested $5 million in the project and noted  “this three-storey facility, located next to Queensland Country Bank stadium, will include high performance training facilities, office space for staff and allied health professionals, the James Cook University Sport and Exercise Science unit, plus a full length training field.

“Having access to world-class facilities like these will not only benefit high-performance athletes based in Townsville, but those travelling intra-state, nationally and from around the globe, post COVID.

“The centre creates opportunities for those chasing a career in high performance away from the field, with plans for specialist under-graduate learning and future research collaborations with JCU.”

For North Queensland Cowboys Chief Executive Jeff Reibel, the new agreement with Football QLD marks the beginning of the Centre’s future as a high performance hub for sporting codes and he adds “we’re excited to be opening our new home to Football Queensland North's Talent Identification Program and the region’s junior players in what is a milestone for our club and new Centre.

“It reinforces our vision for a multi-purpose facility that attracts a range of sporting codes and sets us up for new opportunities as we build awareness and interest in our fantastic new venue.

“As a region, we have a real opportunity to boost our local sporting talent under similar co-sharing arrangements and look forward to showcasing our facilities when we open early next year.”

Reibel said the support of the Queensland Government was vital to ensure the success of this project adding “It goes without saying that we are grateful for the financial contribution of the state government to the development of this facility and their commitment to this project.”

“The real hard work begins once doors open and we’re ready to start delivering on outcomes for our players, the community and stakeholders alike.”

Football Queensland Chief Executive Robert Cavallucci said the agreement will create a regional ‘home base’ for the Football Australia/Football Queensland Talent Identification Partnership.

Cavallucci advised “our talent identification partnership is a program for Under 9-16 players in North Queensland, providing opportunities for 9,000 registered participants from Burdekin to Weipa.

“We’ll host junior training and clinics at the new Cowboys Centre, incorporating the indoor training zone and team facilities into our program."

Football Queensland North General Manager Declan Carnes enthused “we’re also excited to be incorporating the venue in our upcoming bid for Townsville to become a training hub for the FIFA Women’s World Cup teams in June 2023.

“These amazing new facilities have the potential to create many opportunities for our sport and others, and for our region.”

The Cowboys Community, Training and High Performance Centre combines community areas, multi-sport high-performance training spaces, sports medicine and sports science laboratories on a 5,000metre2 parcel of land.

Funding was secured through the Federal Government ($15 million grant), Queensland Government ($5 million grant) and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility ($20 million loan).

The Cowboys will share the space with partner James Cook University and have a long-term development lease with Townsville City Council for use of the land, which includes a user agreement for the adjacent 12,000metre2 community training field.

Image top: Football Queensland North General Manager Declan Carnes with Cowboys Chief Executive Jeff Reibels; and image above of the high performance centre. Courtesy of The Cowboys