Or did they? According to Shelia Staunton, a fanatical rugby league supporter of the early years of the Mount Isa Rugby League, Town Leagues Club has only won 26 premierships.

The premiership that was won in 1929 in the inaugural season of the Mount Isa Rugby League, was won by the Isa Mines Football Club, which her father, “Dilla” Pattison, captained.

Mrs Staunton claims Townies didn’t win their first premiership until 1937.

It was in 1932 that the Isa Mines team was renamed Town, to avoid confusion with the Mount Isa representative team.

“Towns first match was in 1932 and not in 1928 or 1929,” Mrs Staunton said bluntly.

“That means they aren’t the oldest club in Mount Isa – Black Stars are.”

It is mentioned in the league’s record books that there were matches played in 1928 between Town and Miners sides but Mrs.

Staunton says that has nothing to do with the actual Town Leagues Club.

“They can’t claim 1928 as the first Townies team because they weren’t established as a club yet. It was just a group of guys know as Townies because they were on the Townside of the river, and they played Mineside… it wasn’t the Town Leagues Club.”

While this is one part in the history of the league that Mrs Staunton is certain is not true, she questions the whole historical records of the league.

“It says that Carlton’s won the premiership in 1930 in the Mount Isa League but I have photos and a medallion showing that Isa Mines won that match,” Mrs Staunton said, as she showed the medallion with her father’s name engraved on the back with ‘Isa Mines 1930 premiers’.

“It’s annoying because we have been trying to point this out for years but no one seems to listen,” Mrs Staunton said.

“I won’t be here for too much longer but I just want people to know the truth.”

Town Leagues Club is celebrating its 80th year since establishment and will host an invitation only dinner this month to celebrate the milestone.