New era has fans fired up
FOR years Brendon Keevers took his son Joshua to the hill at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
But the diehard Cowboys fans have moved into a new era, ecstatic for what Queensland Country Bank Stadium will bring to their beloved club.
As he prepared to pass through the gates for the first time, with friend and Brisbane Broncos fan Tony Hoare in tow, Mr Keevers reminisced fondly about those moments on the Kirwan turf.
But this, this was a whole different beast.
“It’s our home ground, it’s the place where we’re going to set the whole world on fire this year – well, if the year keeps going on,” Mr Keevers said.
“We’ve been looking forward to it being built and I can’t wait to go in and see it.
“I just think it’s relocated to a better part of Townsville, the vibe is fantastic, the stadium looks fantastic.
“It’s years in the making … it was a great atmosphere (in Kirwan) but this will be fantastic, and a proper purpose built stadium will be remarkable.”
Inside the stadium, favourite son Johnathan Thurston was granted the honour kicking the first goal.
Albeit it in front of the posts, the successful conversion was met with thunderous applause and fireworks to boot. Alongside him was former co-captain Matt Scott, who helped open the stadium with his premiership-winning partner in crime.
Renowned for his no-nonsense style leading the Cowboys pack, a stroke played a crucial part in ending Scott’s career before getting the chance to take to the new terrain.
Nothing could keep the likes of Belinda Bernabei from making the trip to the showcase.
News on her trip from Cairns about coronavirus cancellations made her nervous for a moment, but football clearly took precedence.
Amanda Rattin flew up from Brisbane, decked in Cowboys gear from head to foot.
Never a fan of Suncorp Stadium, she said the new Townsville facility promised to be a fortress for her team.
“It (Suncorp) is too impersonal, and I just don’t like Broncos fans,” she laughed.
“It’s just good for Townsville City itself, lots of jobs and I think it’s good for the community.” of