MY FAVOURITE MARTIN
COWBOYS player Te Maire Martin with fans Lyndon Allen, 10, and Pearce Mammino, 11, at 1300SMILES Stadium yesterday where the team held an open training day. The Cowboys fly to Sydney today for a series of engagements and final preparations for Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Melbourne Storm.
MORE than 1000 diehard Cowboys supporters flocked to 1300SMILES Stadium yesterday to see the team train before they head off in search of premiership glory.
It was the last chance for many locals to get up close and personal with their sporting heroes and wish them luck ahead of their NRL grand final clash with the Melbourne Storm on Sunday.
The open training session also gave the players a taste of the Cowboys fever sweeping North Queensland, with fans lining up well before it began.
Keisha Peachey said it was a great opportunity to see the Cowboys in Townsville before Sunday’s grand final.
She said it was also educational to see the players being put through their paces.
“My nephew is in a football team so we’re taking pointers. We hope to get him on the field one day,” she said.
Aimee Campbell, 12, travelled from Canberra to Townsville for a glimpse of the Cowboys and a chance to snag autographs. She will travel from her hometown to Sydney to watch the game on Sunday. “I used to live in Townsville and I’m a Cowboys supporter for life,” she said.
Alyson Julien, 15, said the Cowboys enjoyed so much community support because they were a “nice team”.
“They’re really good players too” she said.
Kasey Julien, 12, was confident the Cowboys would defeat the Storm on Sunday.
“They can beat anyone, especially the Storm,” he said.
Kiana Weaich, 15, said she was “so excited” to meet Michael Morgan. “Yeah he’s definitely one of my favourite players,” she said.
Cowboys chief executive officer Greg Tonner said the open training day meant a lot to the club. “It means we can be connected to the people that love us and that we love,” he said. “This is what we’re about – to see people who truly care with a team who truly cares, it makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Mr Tonner said the players enjoyed being among the fans.
“They love being North Queenslanders and they love being part of the community,” he said. “What you see is genuine and that’s what the values of our club are.”
Fans today will have one last chance to see their heroes in Townsville before Sunday’s grand final, with the Cowboys farewelled in a special parade starting from the Tobruk Pool on The Strand from noon.
The Cowboys bus will travel along The Strand and on to Townsville Airport by about 12.20pm, before the team flies out to Sydney. See full details of the parade route below. Southern journo’s view on Cowboys’ hopes: page 20