Cowboys’ Lancini to move on

NEXT year was already going to be a big one for the North Queensland Cowboys.

The club will begin playing out of its new stadium in the CBD and that will coincide with its 25-year milestone as part of the national competition.

Now it has been confirmed that 2020 will also see the departure of long-time board chairman Laurence Lancini.

During the club’s 25 years, Mr Lancini has been one of its few constants.

His involvement started when he was asked to help construct the club’s ground at the site of the old Willows harness racing track.

The input of the well-respected Townsville businessman is credited with meeting a tight deadline and getting the facility up and running before the club’s first game in the 1995 season.

He has since become a major face of the club, joining the board in 2000 and becoming chairman a year later.

He has ridden out the many tough times but also savoured the club’s highs, making three grand finals, winning the 2015 premiership and securing construction of the new stadium.

Without Mr Lancini’s input the Cowboys may not exist today.

He played a major role in securing the investment of News Limited in 2001 when the club was on the brink of financial ruin.

He led a delegation to Sydney that resulted in News Limited (now known as News Corp and publisher of the

Townsville Bulletin) taking control of the club and keeping it afloat.

Despite his success in the business community and long association with the Cowboys, Mr Lancini is extremely humble and not keen to stand in the limelight.

So much so that he would not give a deadline for his departure, saying he would step down from his role as chairman some time next year.

When he does decide to quietly slip away, Mr Lancini can do so with a feeling of immense pride, having steered the club to a position of strength after 25 years and with the promise that its best years are still to come.