Mal Meninga and NRL stars Ashley Harrison, Corey Parker and Antonio Kaufusi with the Queensland kids

Meninga, who will this year attempt to guide the Maroons to an unprecedented fifth Origin Series victory, is thrilled to be involved in the campaign – titled Great Game. Great Mates. Great Fun. For Life!

“Rugby league is a fantastic sport and I urge young boys and girls to get down to their local club and sign on,” Meninga said.

“Parents can also get involved. It’s a rewarding experience to help out at your club or to referee or run the water in a game that means so much to the kids.”

In an exciting initiative, every registered player receives a special ‘My Season’ book.

The 40-page book features great pictures and is filled with excellent coaching tips, colour posters, competitions and essential information for participants and parents.

“My Season is an outstanding publication,” Meninga said.

“I’d encourage all parents and boys and girls to read the book and work through the activities and monthly competitions.”

The official QRL Sign-On for junior players begins on the weekend of February 6-7.

To find a local club near you, visit www.qrl.com.au or contact the QRL Head Office on 07 3367 6000.

Livermore yesterday reiterated the body's pre-meeting stance that the QRL, ARL and NSWRL be entitled to nominate four members to the proposed eight-member independent commission board. It is a stance that is proving a stumbling block to the creation of the commission.

The QRL board met on Tuesday with the commission high on its agenda, and has subsequently called for an urgent meeting of ARL powerbrokers. But Livermore insisted the meeting was not in reaction to the clubs' demand that the commission be operational by March 12, and said the QRL would not change its position on the selection process for members of the commission.

''Reports that the CRL [Country Rugby League], NSWRL and ARL have fallen into line with the clubs this week is rubbish,'' Livermore said. ''The CRL haven't changed their view, NSW haven't changed their view and we haven't changed out view, which means the ARL hasn't changed its view since our meeting.

''We all had a meeting on December 8, and I know the ARL is still waiting to hear back from News Ltd from the stuff we put forward then. So nothing's changed. And the QRL has had no contact with [Titans CEO and independent commission architect] Michael Searle since the clubs' meeting on Monday.''

Livermore rejected claims the QRL was standing in the road of rugby league history, saying: ''People keep saying we're the hurdle but the way I see it we're the horse jumping over it. We haven't been sitting on our hands. The QRL had a board meeting Tuesday, and we've asked for a meeting to be held as soon as possible with the ARL because we want to keep this thing progressing.

''We haven't deviated from the start. Monday's meeting of the clubs didn't bring anything new to the table, it was just a meeting for all clubs to understand where the whole thing's at.

''We've put some things forward to the ARL and are waiting to find out when our meeting will be. As Geoff Carr has consistently said, we all want it to be done but it has to be done right. That's where we're sitting.''

Livermore said the QRL had suggested on December 8 to the ARL and 16 NRL clubs that the commission should be free of any possible conflict of interest between board members, state leagues and the clubs.

''This is exactly what we said: 'The [QRL] directors generally do not support the appointment to an independent body of any person who has held a position with the partnership - NRL, ARL, state leagues or NRL clubs.' That was noted in the minutes,'' Livermore said.

''That's our view at the QRL, and if someone can convince us otherwise, we'll have a look at it. What we're saying is if someone's got 50 per cent of the game and the other mob's got 50, you've got to have equality. Fair is fair. We're only looking for equality.

''Under the agreement the NRL clubs have with News Ltd in writing, the clubs will get 50 per cent of the game if News Ltd exited. Currently, the ARL has 50 per cent ownership, well they're not going to hand that to the clubs. So you've got the ARL with a 50 per cent share and the 16 NRL clubs with a 50 per cent share.

''What we want is to be in a position to nominate an equal number of board members as the clubs have got … That's the QRL view. It's transparent.''

Luke Crumblin and Luke Guinane prepare for the 2010 Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cups. ALLAN REINIKKA AR

But for now Luke Guinane and Luke Crumblin prepare to storm up the under-16 Cyril Connell and the under-18 Mal Meninga Cups, with the draws released this week.

For Guinane 2010 will be his first year playing for Rockhampton’s prided team and even though he is only 15 he said playing professional football was all he wanted to do and he was proud to be selected for the under-16 Comets.

The young footballer, who originally played for Rockhampton Brothers, said the training sessions so far had been intense with his first five day training camp coming up this month.

However Crumblin, 18, made himself known in last year’s under-16 Comets and eased his way in for the under-18 team this year.

Scott Minto, chief executive officer of the Central Comets, said although the juniors were still young it was serious business and this was where their careers began.

“It is basically a junior Queensland Cup,” Minto said yesterday.

“This is the way we are trying to nurture our players in our system, we want them to stay with us the whole way through – you don’t always get a shot down south and they are better off staying here and develop their talent,” Minto said.

“The under-18 side are now pushing to get into our full time training squad, at the moment we have Luke Crumblin and Sam Madden.”

And although the boys are in for a tough year of footy, Minto said the teams were up for the challenge with strong players in the under-16 team.

The under-16 and under-18 competitions this year are again split into southern and northern conferences with the Central Comets to face the Northern Pride in their first game.

“The Norths knocked us out of the semi finals last year and have good players up that way,” Minto said.

“Townsville Stingers are very strong and are in the Northern conference and the kids who play with that team sign with the Cowboys so they are good,” he said.

Ryan Stig at the NRL Toyota Cup Induction Camp a couple years ago (Photo : ourfootymedia)

The former Newcastle Knights Toyota Cup playmaker spent seven weeks in pre-season training with the Pride's NRL affiliate the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville before Christmas, but yesterday rated playing in Cairns a hotter prospect.

"Probably the biggest thing is the heat," he said.

"I was in Townsville before Christmas but I reckon it's hotter here. And a lot more humid."

Stig is hopeful his form will be just as hot when he replaces Parramatta signing Tom Humble as pivot for the Pride.

The 20-year-old aims to win Cowboys selection and is excited at the prospect of playing alongside Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston.

But he is also eager to play alongside skipper Chris Sheppard in the halves for the Pride.

"He's got a lot of experience," he said of Sheppard. "I'm looking forward to forming a good combo with him.

"I played a bit of (five-eighth and halfback) in the juniors, but mostly five-eighth and I prefer it.

"So it's going to work out well with Shep being a natural halfback."

Stig will also have plenty of opportunity to pick the mind of former Cowboy and Dragon Sheppard, spending his first week in Cairns at his skipper's home.

Stig will see action for the Cowboys during the pre-season trials but believed he would start the season proper at the Pride.

Having already completed one training session with the Pride, Stig said he was happy to venture north despite missing more session time with the Cowboys.

"I'm playing in a trail for the Cowboys, but this gives me a chance to come up here and to get to know the boys and get some combinations," he said.

"I'll start here at the start of the season and hopefully I can play well and force my way (into the Cowboys team)."

Sheppard said Stig's signing was a good one for last year's Queensland Cup runners-up.

"He's got a lot of potential, a lot of up-side, and we're looking forward to having him here and playing him at five-eighth," he said.

"He's a good kicker, can take the line on - he's pretty quick, and he's got a good passing game, so he's got a fair bit there."

Sheppard was confident of forming a strong scrumbase partnership with the young recruit.