The trial games featuring the Townsville Blackhawks, Northern Pride and Mackay Cutters set down for this weekend (February 9) have been called off.

Due to the extreme weather conditions in the area, all of the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup, Hastings Deering Colts and Intrust Super Cup games will not be played at Jack Manski Oval.

The northern Semi Pro Day which was also slated to take place that day has also unfortunately been cancelled as well.

Affected clubs will instead receive visits from QRL and NRL Wellbeing and Education staff prior to the season in order to take part in the essential program.

Major Competitions Manager Dave Maiden said the priority of the QRL was player and participant safety given the ongoing weather situation in the region.

“We are thinking safety first,” Maiden said.

“They have far more important things to think about at the moment and with more rain coming; it was in no one’s best interests to try and press ahead with these games.

“Unfortunately; this means we have had to cancel the northern Semi Pro Day as well.

“Clubs will instead be visited individually by the Wellbeing staff at appropriate times during the season.”

The community spirt in the Townsville region has been strong, with members of the rugby league family also active in helping those in need.

Many Townsville players have been tirelessly assisting others, with Kalifa Faifai-Loa, Krys Freeman, Daniel Beasley and others using their boats to help ferry people and have offered their assistance to evacuation centres.

More on the North Queensland floods:

Queensland Flooding - safety first

Cowboys players to the rescue as floods swamp Townsville

Centrals players pitch in for Townsville community