THE North Queensland Razorbacks' star contingent of Cairns players has ruled out linking with the FNQ Bulls in next year's Queensland State League soccer premiership.

Former Stratford trio Paul Sapelli, David Mayes and Luke Rowell, and Leichhardt product Sean Burke, have pledged their loyalty to the Townsville outfit for a second season despite the Mareeba-based Bulls’ entry into next year’s premiership.

Sapelli said he would have leapt at the chance to play for an FNQ-based team if it had existed last season but was now committed to helping the Razorbacks, who finished third in their inaugural season, remain a force in the QSL premiership.

He said his position was shared by his fellow Cairns products.

"With everything we’ve done this year, it would be nice to capitalise on that and go further next season," he said.

"It would be a bit hard to leave now and start all over again after having done a fair bit of work.

"It would have been great if (the Bulls) had’ve been there 12 months ago and then I wouldn’t have had to move."

He hoped reports that Razorbacks players would train with the new North Queensland FC A-League franchise, also based in Townsville, would come to fruition.

Sapelli, the Razorbacks’ players’ player of the year, said the FNQ Bulls’ inclusion in the 2009 QSL premiership was a huge boost for the code in the region.

"Having the new team is great for the Cairns and Tablelands players because it gives them a chance to play in a higher league," he said. "There’s a lot of good players up there who would be itching to have a go at it."

The advent of the FNQ Bulls team was exciting news for the FNQ region’s teenage talent who have the chance to participate in Bulls development programs and draw the attention of North Queensland FC.

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