Fans to see JT’s Barlow bow-out
Cowboys keen to make it three on trot against Bunnies in Cairns
THE Cowboys hope to give Cairns-based fans the chance to see Johnathan Thurston play at Barlow Park for a final time next year.
The North Queensland club has every intention of playing an “away” game against South Sydney in Cairns for a third consecutive season in 2018.
“The Cowboys are lobbying heavily to return to Cairns next year – JT’s final year – to play Souths again,” Cowboys chief executive Greg Tonner told the Cairns Post.
“We hope to have the support of Souths, Tourism and Events Queensland, Cairns Regional Council and the NRL to duplicate what we’ve been doing for the past two years.”
Contractually obliged to play their home games in Townsville, the Cowboys were on Sunday “hosted” by the Rabbitohs at Barlow Park where they were 23-10 victors.
But the club’s superstar playmaker Johnathan Thurston missed the game through injury and has announced that the 2018 NRL season will be his last.
While a South Sydney home game, the vast majority of the 11,217 ticketholders on Sunday were supporting North Queensland.
“Any teams that come to Cairns should be playing against the Cowboys … we’re very keen to play up here and the current formula works,” Mr Tonner said.
“The ground (Barlow Park) is made by the passion and energy of people and we like being part of it.”
Mr Tonner said he expected the 2018 NRL draw to be released in October or November.
The Rabbitohs are set to bring another home game to Cairns next year but nothing has been locked in for 2019 and beyond.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the council would hold discussions with South Sydney when the time was right.
“I’d be happy if they signed another contract (to play in Cairns) – they are a foundation club and have good support around here,” he said.
A bumper crowd of nearly 15,000 watched on when Thurston last took the field at Barlow Park in 2016.
ANY TEAMS THAT COME TO CAIRNS SHOULD BE PLAYING AGAINST THE COWBOYS … WE’RE VERY KEEN TO PLAY UP HERE AND THE CURRENT FORMULA WORKS COWBOYS CHIEF EXECUTIVE GREG TONNER