The draw from Rugby League Townsville & Districts (RLTD) has been released showing the Burdekin Roosters will have eight home games during the regular season, which gets under way for the Burdekin teams on Sunday April 7 when they travel to meet the Western Lions in Townsville.
The first home game will be a big one when they host powerhouse Brothers on Saturday April 20 at Rugby Park.
Other home games will be Sunday April 28 against Souths in A grade and Bowen, Saturday May 25 against Centrals, Saturday June 1 against Norths, Saturday June 15 against Lions, Saturday June 22 against Souths, Saturday July 20 against Ch Towers and Saturday Aug 17 against Herbert River.
It is shown that the Roosters will play Centrals, Brothers, Norths, Charters Towers and Herbert River twice during the season on a home and away basis.
The club will play both Western Lions and Souths three times each with twice away to the Lions and twice at home to Souths.
The reserves and under 20 are also to play Bowen in home and away games.
Grades to be played this season are A, Reserve, Under 20 and Ladies.
At this stage the club is struggling to form the under 20 team and may reluctantly have to withdraw from that competition.
All coaches are at present readying their squads to play trials with Mackay Magpies at Rugby Park on Saturday March 9.
It is expected that three grades will be played against the Mackay Club: A, Reserve and Under 20.
Magpies will not be bringing a ladies team but the club is hoping to arrange a match with a visiting Charters Towers ladies squad.
A grade coach Daniel Beazley will take a squad to Airlie Beach on Saturday March 16 to play a trial with Townsville Brothers.
Several players both male and female will take part in the Bowen Tens Carnival on Saturday March 2, won last year by a team called Fiji Time made up mainly of the Roosters Fijian players.
The club is also planning an Official Opening of the season at the Ayr Anzac Club on Friday March 22.
Work is expected to commence shortly on the million-dollar improvements to Rugby Park but they will pose no interruption to playing or training days.
Contributed by Brian Carnes
Caption: Burdekin Roosters have been training ahead of their season opener on Sunday, April 7. Photo supplied
