The night we beat our ‘big brother’

FOR the first six years in his role as Cowboys media manager Tim Nugent always had to shake the hand of his counterpart at the Broncos after their on-field battles and admit they were just too good.

Which is why he will never forget the emotional night at 1300SMILES Stadium on September 18, 2004 when the Cowboys toppled their “big brother” for the first time in an epic 10-0 semi-final.

Nugent’s connection with the Cowboys goes all the way back to when the first soil was turned on the old trotting track in Kirwan which would become the NRL club’s home for the next 25 seasons.

He first worked as a member of the media with the local Channel 9 TV affiliate before taking on a full time role at the Cowboys as media officer in 1999 and he’s been with the club ever since.

Nugent — or ‘Scoop’ as he’s known around the club — said he felt privileged to have been part of so many special moments at their home ground, but the 2004 semi-final stood out above all the other games.

“The big thing for me at that game was for many, many years I’d been media manager of the club and I’d always had to go across to my opposite number at the Broncos,” Nugent recalled.

“I’d be bowing my head and saying ‘you were too good for us’ and that night he had to come across to me and shake my hand and say we were too good for them.

“That was special and also just to look at the crowd. There were people who didn’t know each other hugging. The city was as united as I think I have ever seen Townsville.

“There were people in Broncos jerseys hugging people in Cowboys jerseys even though their team didn’t win and the euphoria was just amazing. It was certainly a very special night.”

Nugent is now the head of production for the Cowboys and he’s a crucial part of game day entertainment at 1300SMILES Stadium as he ensures everything runs smoothly.

He admitted there would be a tinge of sadness as they farewell the ground which has been the club’s home for more than two decades, but Nugent was excited to send it off in style tonight.

“I’ve started thinking about when I’m walking around the stands and up to the production room, which is where I work on game nights, that we won’t be back here any more,” he said.

“I’ve done a lot of work in community right around our region and I believe the club is just such an integral part of North Queensland and this stadium has been the heart of that.

“Our offices have been here, we’ve played our games here, we haven’t done what other clubs have done and moved certain games away.

“All of our games have always been here because this has been the home of the Cowboys.

“I feel very privileged to be working here and in some small way I’ve been part of the history that has been Dairy Farmers, 1300SMILES, Malanda Dairy Farmers, and all the incarnations.

“Obviously there’s an air of excitement about the new stadium, but I think it’s pretty important that we do our best to send this one out before we get too involved over there.”