Great pitch for new NRL deal

THERE was little more that Cairns could have done today to pitch its case for a continued place on the National Rugby League calendar.

It was picture-perfect conditions, which looked far more enjoyable for players than the -8 degrees the North Queensland Cowboys faced in Canberra a few weeks ago.

The ground looked a treat and was literally glowing on TV screens across the country, and the crowd appeared packed, a message that support for the game remains strong.

This was the second of a threeyear deal South Sydney have with Cairns and speculation about what happens next year, then after that, remains rife.

There is no guarantee the Cowboys will be confirmed as their opponents next year, but given the huge support for the local side, to not get them back would be a travesty.

Of course having a game up here is a treat for Cairns, but it cannot be expected to succeed if it does not involve teams who don’t have a strong supporter base in the area.

Souths have genuinely endeared themselves to the region, putting in hours of developmental work at local schools along with playing the game itself and for that they should be applauded. But NRL officials need to bear in mind this is not just Queensland, but a part of Queensland where passion for the state and the local area runs deep.

We feel as connected to the Cowboys as most of Townsville does and it is their players that junior footy players run around trying to emulate.

The Cowboys may be reluctant to tear themselves away from their shiny new stadium to host a game themselves, but we must find a way to keep them playing in Cairns for years to come. Grace Mason grace.mason@news.com.au