Westfund sees Gold Stars in Cowboys partnership

The growth of womens’ elite rugby league in Northern Australia was the focus of a major partnership signed this week between Westfund and the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys, with the North Queensland Toyota Gold Stars taking centre stage.

For the first time, the Gold Stars will receive a fully branded kit including a team jersey, on which the Westfund logo will feature on the top back panel.

The one-year deal will also see the not-for-profit health fund continue as the club’s exclusive health insurance provider for the 2022 season.

Cowboys Chief Executive Officer Jeff Reibel said the Gold Stars, the Cowboys’ Queensland Rugby League Womens (QRLW) side, were already set for a strong season, made stronger by the backing of Westfund’s investment.

“Westfund has maintained an unbroken relationship with the Cowboys since joining us in 2016 as a Cowboys Community Partner, building on this collaboration to become a major partner of the Cowboys and investing in our QRLW Gold Stars in 2022,” he said.

“This partnership was a natural fit between our brands given our shared ethos to deliver healthy career and lifestyle opportunities for remote and regional Queenslanders,” he said.

“We’re thrilled to see this partnership evolve to include support for womens’ rugby league, which will create elite sporting career pathways for young local talent.”

Brent Tate, Westfund’s National Manager and former Cowboy, said the partnership would build on the member-owned fund’s work to support young people to pursue healthy and rewarding lives.

“The reach and impact of the established Cowboys brand is unparalleled in northern Australia, with the club’s fans some of the most passionate in the code - and growing just as passionate about the Gold Stars,” Mr Tate said.

“Westfund is more than a health fund, with a proven history of supporting Queenslanders to achieve quality health outcomes since 1953, so we’re proud to partner with the Cowboys to continue forging these strong ties throughout 2022 with the Gold Stars as a focus,” he said.

The inaugural collection of Gold Stars merchandise including men’s and women’s jerseys, polos and training t-shirts is now available from the Cowboys Team Shop.