Country visits key to Origin success
The town’s entire population of approximately 4000, and hundreds more from surrounding communities, are expected to turn out for what will be the biggest day in years.
The drought-ravaged region is so dry and barren, emus invaded the city centre for the first time in memory late last year searching for food.
“They have gone through enormous hardships,” Meninga said.
“It will be good to get out there and put some smiles of people’s faces and promote the game of rugby league which has struggled in that area for some time.
Meninga (pictured), lining up for a ninth straight Origin series win, said while country people got a big lift from the visits, the spin-off for his players was immeasurable.
“The team gets 10-fold out of what the people get,” he said. RUGBY LEAGUE: Historymaking coach Mal Meninga let the cat out of the bag this week, revealing the real secret to Queensland’s record-breaking State of Origin streak.
It hasn’t been Greg Inglis’s record try-scoring haul, Johnathan Thurston’s record run of 27 straight Origins since 2006, or Meninga’s own Midas touch.
It’s been the team’s fan day visits to rural centres hard-hit by adversity which have inspired the players to give those supporters something to feel good about.
This year the players will head to the central west, visiting Longreach on June 10.