A city goes wild to celebrate title win

THE Cowboys clinched their maiden NRL grand final victory at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on October 4, 2015, but the real party started when they arrived back on their home turf in Townsville the next day.

More than 15,000 jubilant fans packed out 1300SMILES Stadium to give the Cowboys a rock star reception on the same field where their premiership journey began two decades earlier.

As Townsville born and bred five-eighth Michael Morgan described it: “I have never felt better in my career than that moment. Hands down – it was one of the best moments of my life.”

It was pandemonium from the moment the victorious Cowboys stepped off the plane at Townsville Airport with the Provan-summons Trophy finally in their possession.

About 3000 people packed the arrivals hall with Cowboys flags waving, ready to welcome their footy idols home after their stunning 17-16 golden point grand final win over the Brisbane Broncos.

The roar was deafening as the players walked through the airport doors, but star halfback Johnathan Thurston recalled the scenes awaiting the newly crowned premiers at the stadium were something else entirely.

“That was off its head, it was ridiculous. We knew how much it meant to the people of North Queensland,” Thurston told the Townsville Bulletin.

“When we were trying to get out of the airport it was insane. There were thousands of people there – we get on the bus and there is another 16,000 at the ground waiting for us.

“We were rock stars on that stage.

“When you play for the Cowboys you get an understanding of what the club means to North Queensland. You know what you are playing for and who you are playing for.”

Morgan’s flick pass for winger Kyle Feldt to score in the corner in the final seconds and send the decider into extra time will go down as one of the most iconic moments in grand final history.

The former Ignatius Park College students had combined to deliver a premiership to their loyal fans and Morgan said the civic reception was when the gravity of their achievement really sank in.

“It is by far my favourite time on that field, purely because we were still feeling the vibe from the night before,” Morgan said.

“We knew we were going out for a presentation at the ground but no one in the team had any idea how big it would be.

“There was a lot of people at the airport so we thought there wouldn’t be many at the stadium, but there was literally cars lined up on the streets the whole way from the airport to the stadium.

“There was 15,000 people there on a Monday afternoon. It was really special. We felt like rock stars up on the stage. Listening to everyone screaming and how happy it was

“Everyone who rides the wave each week – that grand final glory was as much for them as it was for us as players.”

Cowboys forward John Asiata admitted he teared up as they realised just how much their breakthrough premiership victory had meant to the people of North Queensland.

“It was unreal. It is a feeling that is hard to describe, there was just a lot of happy emotions,” Asiata said.

“I got a bit teary. The amount of support we have from the fans here in Townsville, there is no question they are one of the best groups of supporters in the NRL.

“No matter what is happening on the field, they turn up every week and cheer loud for the boys.

“To come here after that 2015 win was just a lot of emotions. Sharing it with loved ones and sharing it with the boys that pull on the jersey every week.

“Everywhere we went there was just that many people.

“If they couldn’t get in the stadium they were standing on the side of the road waving their flags.”