Charleville’s cheering on Burleigh

ALL of Queensland will be cheering on the Burleigh Bears when they take on NSW Cup champions Illawarra Cutters in their interstate challenge tomorrow.

But a small section of the crowd at ANZ Stadium will be cheering louder than most.

When the Bears headed to the western Queensland town of Charleville for the Queensland Rugby League’s country round, the club gained a new legion of fans.

Many of those have travelled the 1300km to Sydney to watch tomorrow’s NRL grand final and will be cheering the Bears on in the curtain-raiser.

Lyn Capewell had hoped to be cheering on son Kurt as he ran out for the Sharks tomorrow. As 18th man for Cronulla, Capewell is unlikely to take part in the game. Instead, Lyn and husband Darryl and the Charleville faithful will turn their attention to Burleigh and cheer for the Bears.

“It was a boost for our town, that’s for sure and Burleigh were great,” Lyn said of the visit by Burleigh and Ipswich in country round.

“(The Charleville people at the grand final) will certainly be cheering for Burleigh, don’t you worry about that.’’

It’s not just at the stadium the Bears will have the support, with fans set to don their Burleigh jerseys in Charleville and watch the interstate decider.

League fan Marcus Jones contacted the Bears after their trip in July thanking them for their visit and the way they had embraced the town.

“My son wanted to buy a football (from the Burleigh merchandise van) and as a result was given free a jersey as well as two more for my other son and daughter,’’ Jones said.

“You now have three Burleigh Bears fans and my fiveyear-old son is sleeping in this jersey tonight.’’