The ANZAC Day Challenge Trophy, awarded to the winning entity of the annual ANZAC Day Challenge, stands as a symbol of respect, remembrance, and connection between service and community.

Crafted from locally sourced Australian Red Ironbark, the foundation of the trophy reflects strength, resilience, and enduring character — qualities shared by both the Australian Defence Force and the sporting community it stands alongside. The timber’s local origin grounds the piece in Townsville itself, representing the shared home of both the Saints and the North Queensland Crocs.

At the centre of the trophy stands a lone soldier, positioned on reversed arms — a traditional sign of respect for the fallen. This figure represents all those who have served, and those who did not return, reminding all who view the trophy of the deeper meaning behind ANZAC Day.

Set before the soldier is authentic sand from ANZAC Cove — a direct and physical connection to the shores where the ANZAC legacy was forged. This element ensures the spirit of Gallipoli is not symbolic alone, but physically present.

Rising around the soldier are four pillars, representing unity and support. Encased within each pillar are 5.56mm rounds, symbolising service, sacrifice, and the realities of military duty. At their base lies a combination of soils — one from Townsville’s Defence training area, and one from the Saints’ home ground at Queens Park. Together, these elements unite military and civilian worlds, reflecting the purpose of the ANZAC Day Challenge itself: bringing both sides together in mutual respect through sport.

Crowning the structure is an obelisk-style cap, a form long associated with remembrance. Embedded within it is the Rising Sun — a symbol of the Australian Army — alongside red poppies, internationally recognised as a mark of remembrance for those lost in war.

This trophy is further distinguished by those who created it. Designed and built by two Australian veterans, father and son, with a combined 49 years of service and eight operational deployments — both of whom once represented the North Queensland Crocs — the piece carries not only symbolic meaning, but lived experience.

The ANZAC Day Challenge Trophy represents more than a game. It represents service, sacrifice, mateship, and the enduring bond between those who serve and the community they protect.

It is not just awarded — it is honoured.

The ANZAC Day Challenge Trophy was proudly created by Steven and Lucas Boyé from Resinate Wood Co, in collaboration with Dale Cordwell from Delbasid Timbers.