FOGS Regional Tour Delivers a Boost for Junior Rugby League in Rockhampton

The inaugural FOGS Regional Tour was a great success in Rockhampton and showcased how important country areas are to the prosperity of rugby league in Queensland. 

A glance at any Queensland Maroons side reflects the input of the regions. This year’s successful coach Billy Slater (Innisfail), player of the series Tom Dearden (Mackay) and captain Cameron Munster (Rockhampton) encapsulate that fact to a tee. 

One of the key objectives of the tour in September was to give back to grassroots junior rugby league, with four similar regional roadshows planned for 2026. 

FOGS have put country areas at the forefront of many programs and the inaugural regional tour was another case of putting into action the ethos of Dick “Tosser” Turner. "That is the legacy of our founding chairman,” FOGS executive chairman Gene Miles said. 

“The game is still as popular as ever in the country and that was proven when we had a sellout crowd of 350 for our Gala dinner at Rockhampton Leagues Club.”  

Miles, Wally Lewis and Matt Gillett were guests of Crescent Lagoon State School’s NAIDOC Day celebrations. The school is supported by the FOGS ARTIE Academy, named after the great Arthur Beetson. The academy program encourages students to finish their education and prepare for the workforce. 

"That was Arthur's legacy and we have to ensure it continues,” Miles said. 

“Every time we went on school visits with Arthur he was asking the Indigenous kids if they were finishing school and being respectful to teachers. Education was so important to him, because he had one."

A junior rugby league clinic at Kettle Park, supported by the NRL was extremely well received with Darius Boyd joining Miles, Lewis and Gillett. 

"The NRL supplied half a dozen development officers on the day, along with Gillo and Darius with 125 kids in attendance doing game-oriented drills, which was excellent," Miles said. 

The session went for several hours and included an opportunity for participants to get signatures. 

A wellbeing workshop, presented by Boyd at St Brendan’s College, was another highlight and a valuable insight for students at the powerhouse rugby league school Boyd struggled at times during a wonderful career with his own mental health and was helped by professionals to get his life back on track. 

"Hats off to Darius. He has got himself qualified to deliver programs to schools and workplaces,” Miles said. 

“When you sit in on one of his presentations the session has your attention because he talks about the raw realities of mental health, which wasn't spoken about back in our day.  

“Darius has had the best people in the industry mentor him through it. That was a very important part of our tour at St Brendan's, a great footy school.” 

Lewis and Miles were popular when they visited North Rockhampton Nursing Centre, along with Gillett and Boyd. 

"It was absolutely brilliant and a real highlight,” Miles said. “They haven't stopped thanking us. We had photos taken together. Most of them were Broncos supporters as well so we had a lot in common." 

It was an emotional time for Miles. Both of his parents died while living in retirements home recently, including his mother just this year.  

The gala dinner on the Friday evening, where Sam Thaiday was the MC and Maroons and Broncos legend Corey Oates was amongst FOGS also interviewed, was well attended and raised funds for a vital cause.  

The dinner and auction items raised funds which have been used to purchase much needed equipment for clubs in the Rockhampton region and surrounds.

A huge thank you to our Rockhampton Gala Dinner presenting partner Altus Traffic Australia and valued sponsors: CocoBrew Rockhampton, 5 Star Senepol, Triple M Central Queensland, Anaconda Stores, Gym and Fitness, XXXX, Ringers Western Rockhampton, Ian Weigh Toyota, Complete Business Travel & the Dolphins.