Rockhampton will host Confraternity Carnival for the fifth time this year when The Cathedral College hosts the gathering of Catholic and Independent schools from across Queensland. This will be the first time that a girls’ competition has been played in Rockhampton.
Here’s a summary of the previous Carnivals in Rockhampton:
1994
Host: The Cathedral College
Competing teams: 20
Shield winners: St Mary’s College, Toowoomba
Trophy winners: Clairvaux MacKillop College, Upper Mount Gravatt
Player of the carnival: Robert Bella (St Augustine’s College, Cairns)
St Mary’s College scored late in the final against St Patrick’s College, Mackay to send the Confraternity Shield back to southern Queensland for the first time since 1986. St Patrick’s led 22-10 at halftime before the Toowoomba team began a famous comeback that ended with a late try to Justin Murphy followed by a winning conversion by Ben Cullen. Clairvaux MacKillop College defeated Chanel College, Gladstone 26-16 in the Trophy final in a division that included seconds teams from St Mary’s College, St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon and Ignatius Park College, Townsville. Future NRL players from this carnival included Shane Walker (St Mary’s College), Shane Marteene (St Brendan’s College), Robert Bella (St Augustine’s College) and Michael Corrie (St Patrick’s College, Mackay).
1999
Host: Emmaus College
Competing teams: 30
Shield winners: St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie
Trophy winners: Mount Maria College, Mitchelton
Plate winners: St Mary’s College, Toowoomba Seconds
Bowl winners: Good Counsel College, Innisfail
Player of the carnival: Matt Bowen (St Teresa’s College)
Cousins Matt and Brenton Bowen ignited a memorable Confraternity Shield final against St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon that is fondly remembered by those who attended the 1999 carnival. Matt converted the winning try late in the match to seal St Teresa’s only Shield victory. The cousins had combined for the first 12 points of the final. Mount Maria College, Mitchelton defeated St Brendan’s College Seconds to claim their second Trophy final following their success in 1991. Future NRL players included Matt Bowen and Brenton Bowen (St Teresa’s College), David Shillington (Padua College) and Nick Kenny (Emmaus College, Rockhampton).
2008
Host: The Cathedral College
Competing teams: 40
Shield winners: Ignatius Park College, Townsville
Trophy winners: Padua College, Kedron
Plate winners: St Columban’s College, Caboolture
Bowl winners: St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe
Cup winners: Southern Cross Catholic College, Redcliffe
Player of the carnival: Jay Lobwein (Ignatius Park College)
Townsville’s Ignatius Park College, with future State of Origin players Michael Morgan and Kyle Feldt, claimed its first Shield final victory in a memorable 2008 carnival. St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon had won the Shield in the two previous years and again made the decider in 2008. They led 10-0 before Ignatius Park began a comeback that ended in a 34-14 victory. St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe followed its Plate victory in 2007 with a win in the Bowl final. Future NRL players included Michael Morgan and Kyle Feldt (Ignatius Park College), Sam Hoare (Emmaus College, Rockhampton), Ethan Lowe (St Mary’s College, Toowoomba), Jamie Dowling (Marymount College, Burleigh Waters).
2016
Host: The Cathedral College
Competing teams: 48
Shield winners: Ignatius Park College, Townsville (pictured)
Trophy winners: St Patrick’s College, Mackay
Plate winners: Marist College, Ashgrove
Bowl winners: St Joseph’s School, Stanthorpe / Assumption College, Warwick
Cup winners: St Mary’s College, Maryborough
Challenge winners: Chanel College, Gladstone
Player of the carnival: Lachlan Sheldon (Aquinas College)
The Shield final was a repeat of the last time the Carnival was played in Rockhampton – Ignatius Park College defeated St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon in the decider. This Ignatius Park team would not have the future Origin stars like the 2008 team but they contributed seven players to the 17-player Merit team for the best performers of the week. Marist College, Ashgrove claimed the Plate final in its first year as Brisbane’s established schools continued to join the carnival. The carnival produced future NRL player Cory Paix (St Mary’s College, Toowoomba) while a host of future Queensland Cup players featured including Blake Paskins (St Patrick’s College, Mackay) and McKenzie Baker (Ignatius Park College).
