Counting down to a mighty league clash
ONE month remains until the Cowboys and Broncos make history in Cairns.
Queensland’s premier NRL teams will do battle in Far North Queensland for the first time on February 22, when they face off in a preseason trial game at Barlow Park.
With a council election around the corner – not to mention the start of footy season in an Olympic year, it shapes as a perfect opportunity for residents from Cairns and the surrounding region to vote with their feet and support a new stadium.
The idea of a new stadium in Cairns is one that’s been long held, but it could gain considerable momentum if fans flock to Barlow Park and leave it bursting at the seams.
The Cowboys have previously voiced their support for the stadium, provided feeder club Northern Pride call it home, while the new venue could provide FNQ more opportunities for elite teams and competitions to visit the region.
Billed as the Kenfrost Homes Challenge, it will be the Cowboys’ first game in Cairns for two years, while the Broncos will return to FNQ for the first time since they were walloped by a Cairns representative rugby league team in 1991.
On that night, the Cairns Connection, a team featuring some of the best names from the local competition, beat the Broncos 6-4 in front of thousands of fans.
It could also be the first time high-profile recruit Valentine Holmes pulls on a Cowboys jersey since his return from a stint at the NFL’s New York Jets.