The NRL and the rugby league hierarchy in general deserve to be applauded for the initiatives that will ensure the game’s 100th year is highly memorable.

The Test, where the Australians played in the blue and maroon jerseys worn in the inaugural Test in 1908, was a nice touch.

Even better is the introduction of the Toyota Cup, a knockout competition played by Queensland and New South Wales regions to determine the best regional side in the country.

The national final will be played as a curtain raiser to the third State of Origin match at Sydney.

Our Sunshine Coast Falcons won their opening match against Bundaberg at Nambour, before beating Toowoomba in the second round at Caboolture on Saturday.

At this stage, the competition is a one-off exercise to commemorate the centenary, but why not hold it every season?

The local players at least have been falling over themselves to be a part of it.

Our FOGS Cup team the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles even shifted a home match against Wynnum Manly and played in Brisbane instead on the weekend, just so their players could take part.

And why wouldn’t they be keen, when the carrot of possibly playing in front of a massive crowd of 80,000 is dangled in front of them?

The opportunity to play against different teams and different players must also be a refreshing novelty for everyone involved.

The Toyota Cup has even helped improve relations and build a few bridges between the Sea Eagles and the local Maroochy RSL Cup competition.

But now they’ve stumbled upon an initiative that is obviously working, why knock it on the head at the end of the year?

Gympie Devils player-coach Darren Burns, who starred in the Falcons’ win over Toowoomba, agrees the concept should be given time to establish a toe-hold on the annual league calendar.

"It’s a great concept. It needs a lot of support obviously from the people in the right positions, so I hope the right people push it and it keeps moving forward,” he said.

Sea Eagles CEO Brett Winkler agrees that the competition should become an annual tradition.

“I think they should have it every year,” he said.

“It’s a similar-type competition to NSW Country, where they have the divisional championships that are a knockout comp.

“I hope it starts a legacy. I think it’s a really good concept and I hope it stays.

“It will give rugby league something over the other sports.”

That may be the case, but perhaps the likes of football, rugby union, AFL, basketball etc could look at forming a similar competition of their own?

Sure, some other sports don’t have as much money to throw around as league does, but it gives players a higher level to shoot for.

Impressive performances could even put Coast products up in lights with clubs competing in national competitions like football’s A-League and basketball’s NBL.

And the best players across the Coast putting club rivalries aside and uniting for a common cause can only be a positive.