Mackay Brothers claim 2019 Laurie Spina Shield

Mackay Brothers have been crowned the 2019 Laurie Spina Shield champions after a 16-8 win over Centrals Townsville at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday night.

The final was the culmination of two huge days of junior rugby league, thanks to Local Search.

“It is a really great way to cap it off,” said Mackay Brothers coach Paul McSherry.

“The boys put a lot of hard effort in. They have been training right from the start of January in the stinking hot weather and the pouring down rain.

“I have been telling the boys all day to just be happy, be relaxed and enjoy the experience and I think they did that.”

Despite the loss, Centrals coach Mitch Baker said the weekend was a great experience for his team.

“We have had a great weekend,” said Baker.

“We have built some friendships with the other clubs. It has been an amazing experience. I am very proud of the team”.

The 2019 Laurie Spina Shield marks the eighth consecutive year the competition has featured a capacity field.

More than 1,100 players from 70 teams took part in an enormous 279 games of under-11 rugby league across two days.

Aside from a large number of North Queensland teams, players came from as far as South East Queensland, Central Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Torres Strait Islands.