Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today congratulated former Normanton Stingers and Cairns Pride player Davin Crampton on being signed with NRL club the Gold Coast Titans for next year’s season.

Speaking to media in Cairns with 25 year old Crampton and his family, from Normanton in the electorate of Kennedy, Mr Katter praised the young play maker’s future.

“I think for both Paul Stephens, who was Davin’s Stinger’s coach in Normanton, and I, one of the greatest kicks in life, after winning premierships, is to see our boys move on into the big league.

“We have the biggest competition in the world – when Doomadgee plays Hughenden they travel over 1800km to play footy,” Mr Katter, a life time Rugby League player and official said.

“From humble beginnings as a Normanton Stinger’s player, in a remote community of 1,500 people, to his achievements with the Northern Pride including being player of the year in 2013 and winning a premiership in 2014; and now this – signing with NRL club - the Gold Coast Titans,” Mr Katter said.

Crampton is looking forward to the opportunities playing with the Titans in the NRL will allow.

“The opportunity to play with the best of the world and being in a full time footy environment”, Mr Crampton said.

Mr Katter’s Chief of Staff Anne Pleash, also from Normanton, joined the chorus of well wishes for Crampton.

“Once a Normanton local – always a Normanton local. Normanton punches well above its weight and this is just another example.

“Davin and his family travel down south with a wave of community support from Normanton and the Gulf Country behind them. He is a role model for the younger Normanton kids who will now start to think – if Davin can do, maybe I can do it,” Ms Pleash said.

Prior to working in politics Ms Pleash coordinated the National Award winning project – ‘Domestic Violence – it’s not our game’. A project which sponsored the Normanton Stingers Rugby League Club, at a time when Crampton was a player, in return for players being role models and not engaging in Domestic Violence - with the penalty for violence being suspension and ultimately exclusion from the team.

Advertisements for the ‘Domestic violence – it’s not our game’ project featuring Stinger’s players, including Crampton, were aired in prime time slots – including State of Origin.

The project had dramatic results decreasing the Domestic Violence rates in Normanton and winning multiple National Awards. The players featured in a double page spread in Marie Claire magazine, caught the attention of the Prime Minister in Canberra, were on the panel of the NRL Footy Show and were the subject of a National 7:30 Report story on ABC.

Crampton and his family will leave North Queensland on Sunday to commence pre-season training with the Titans ahead of the 2015 season.

PHOTO: Mr Katter, Mr Davin Crampton and Mr Katter’s Chief of Staff, Anne Pleash.