# Murri Rugby League Carnival

The Qld Murri Carnival (QAIHC Arthur Beetson Foundation Murri Rugby League Carnival) is an annual four-day rugby league carnival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Queensland rugby league teams. Queensland Rugby League (QRL) has awarded the Arthur Beetson Foundation with the tender for the next few years to host the Qld State Championships as part of the Carnival. The Foundation has employed MRL Qld Pty Ltd to event manage the Murri Rugby League carnival.

## About

The carnival has certain basic rules. An adult person cannot play in the carnival unless they:
* undergo a health check; and
* enrol to vote or, if enrolled, make sure that their enrolment details are current.
An under 15 player cannot play in the carnival unless they:
* undergo a health check; and
* have a 90% school attendance record from 1 July to the date of the Carnival.
The Queensland Aboriginal & Islander Health Council have established a partnership with the Arthur Beetson Foundation, to support the organisation and running of the Qld Murri Carnival so that it is as an alcohol, smoke, drug and sugar-free event to help better health outcomes for the community.

## Murri Carnival Winners

| Year | Mens Murri Carnival Winners |
| Year | Team |
| 2011 | Southern Dingoes |
| 2012 | Argun Warriors |
| 2013 | Southern Dingoes |
| 2014 | Badu Kulpiyam |
| 2015 | Southern Dingoes |
| 2016 | Cherboug Hornets |
| 2017 | Dhadhin Geai Warriors |

### QLD Murri vs. NSW Koori Interstate Challenge

The QLD Murri vs. NSW Koori Interstate Challenge is an annual rugby league game played between the winners of the NSW Koori Knockout and Murri Rugby League Carnival. It is played each year (except in a World Cup year) in Queensland as part of the Indigenous All Stars event and is delivered by the Arthur Beetson Foundation like the Qld Murri Carnival as an alcohol, smoke, drug and sugar-free event to help better health outcomes for the community.
| Year | Murri vs. Koori Interstate Challenge | Murri vs. Koori Interstate Challenge | Murri vs. Koori Interstate Challenge |
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
| 2012 | Mindaribba Warriors | 40–18 | Southern Dingoes |
| 2013 | Argun Warriors | 28–24 | Newcastle Yowies |
| 2014 | Newcastle Yowies | 18–12 | Southern Dingoes |
| 2015 | Badu Kulpiyam | 30–22 | Walgett Aboriginal Connection |
| 2016 | Southern Dingoes | 26–12 | Redfern All Blacks |
| 2017 | Redfern All Blacks | 34–12 | Cherbourg Hornets |
| 2018 | Newcastle Yowies | 38–26 | Dhadhin Geai Warriors |

## Representative Sides
### Festival of Indigenous Rugby League

The NRL launched a Festival of Indigenous Rugby League program to take the place of the prestigious pre-season Rugby League All Stars game following every World Cup year. The 2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League featured a trial match between the Newcastle Knights and an Indigenous team, drawn from the NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout and Murri Carnivals in Queensland, as well as the NRL Indigenous Player Cultural Camp, Murri vs Koori women's and Under 16s representative games, a Murri v Koori match, a jobs expo and community visits.
* 8 February 2014, 7pm (AEDT)
| Newcastle Knights | 52–12 | First Nation Goannas |
| Tries Jake Mamo 3 Joseph Tapine 2 Alex McKinnon 1 Korbin Sims 1 Sione Mata'utia 1 Josh Mantellato 1 Matt Minto 1 Goals Josh Mantellato 6/10 | | Tries 1 Davin Crampton 1 Rod Jensen Goals 2/2 Adrian Davis |
* Hunter Stadium Attendance: 6,826 Referee: Gavin Badger, Chris James, Jeff Younis, Dave Ryan

### 2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League

2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League created a strong connection between the Maori and First Nation teams. With a strong showcase of cultural celebration from both teams. The 2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League was held at Redfern Oval featuring a Double header between the First Nation Goannas v NZ Maori and First Nation Gems v NZ Maori Ferns, And a curtain raiser game for the Koori vs Murri Interstate challenge Between Newcastle Yowies and Dhadin Geai Warriors .
* 10 February 2018
| First Nation Goannas | 22–16 | New Zealand Maori |
| Tries Ryan Walker 1 Michael Purcell 1 Dan Tanner 1 Kieran Vale 1 Goals 3/4 Adrian Davis | | Tries 1 Ozzy Tuwhangai 1 Carne Doyle-Manga 1 Jayden Horo Goals 2/3 Manaia Rudolph |
* Redfern Oval
* 10 February 2018
| First Nation Gems | 18–0 | New Zealand Maori Ferns |
| Tries Samartha Leisha 1 Taleena Simon 2 Goals Sarah field 3/3 | | |
* Redfern Oval

### 2014 Representative squad
## Indigenous NRL players to play in Murri Carnival

* Ben Barba
* Nathan Blacklock
* Dane Gagai
* Yileen Gordon
* Rod Jensen
* Brenko Lee
* Edrick Lee
* Robert Lui
* David Peachey
* Steve Renouf
* Chris Sandow
* Sam Thaiday
* Travis Waddell
* Kierran Moseley