12:00a.m. 19th July 2008

| By Nathan Woulfe

Sunshine Coast and Gympie Rugby League president Ashley Robinson was left dumbfounded by Premier Anna Bligh's statement on the Rugby League World Cup visit.

Premier Anna Bligh may be blamed for unpopular decisions regarding dams, water and development, but she has jumped into the good books of Sunshine Coast rugby league fans.

Ms Bligh announced this week that the Coast will now be included on the Rugby League World Cup’s Queensland tour, while the region will also host the French team and the Police World Cup.

However, while league fans may have been pleased with the news, our local league boss said he was left dumbfounded by the apparent headline-grab.

“I nearly fell off my chair when I read the press release – it looked to me like the Premier was taking all the credit, as if her government organised it,” Sunshine Coast and Gympie Rugby League president Ashley Robinson said.

“I’m not knocking it at all, we are happy to have it, but there was no mention of (SCGRL CEO) Billy Moore or (Maroochydore Rugby League Club president) Glen Peatling’s names anywhere – the two guys that had a hell of a lot to do with getting the French side and the Police World Cup here.

“Maybe I’m missing something. Maybe the Labor government is going to send us some funding as well.”

The French team’s stay had been a strong likelihood since last October, after Mr Moore spent five weeks in France working with the national team as a strength and conditioning coach, forging a strong bond with the players and coach John Monie, himself an ex-Coast resident.

Surprisingly, the World Cup’s original itinerary bypassed the Coast, taking the trophy from the Gold Coast directly to north Queensland and heading south through Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

Those plans still stand, albeit with a Sunshine Coast stop added for Saturday, November 8, before it arrives on the Gold Coast on the following Wednesday.

Although the Coast misses out on hosting any matches – due to the lack of a suitable venue – the decision at least allows the region some involvement, and hence international exposure, in the multi-million-dollar tournament.

As part of the cup visit, Ms Bligh said the Coast would host “local celebrations” – something that came as news to Robinson and the SCGRL.

“Can someone let me know where the function is, and will I be carrying the drinks tray?” Mr Robinson said.