New mates enjoy friendly rivalry
A NEW friendship has already faced its first test as two women backed opposing teams at the Cowboys v Rabbitohs match.
Meredith Clark, of Mareeba, said she’s loved the Bunnies “forever”. “They’ve always been my team … for at least 25 years,” she said.
She met Dawn Chick, who is travelling in the region from Port Macquarie in NSW, about two weeks ago through another friend, and the pair became fast friends.
“I didn’t know there was a game here until two days ago … so we came,” Ms Chick said.
“Rabbitohs are her team, Cowboys are mine.” FAR North footy fans could be forced to fly south next season with no NRL premiership match locked in for Cairns and negotiations yet to have started with key stakeholders.
But Mayor Bob Manning said he hopes to see top-flight rugby league return to the Far North despite having yet to speak to Tourism and Events Queensland or Cairns and District Rugby League about South Sydney Rabbitohs returning in 2019.
Souths are still undecided on whether to host a home game in Cairns next season, despite strong crowds attending the Barlow Park clash over the last six years. Based on previous estimates, the Bunnies home game is believed to pump more than $2 million into the Queensland economy.
“These sort of events, like Elton John, or an AFL game, the people of Cairns want these kind of activities,” Cr Manning said. “We’ve always placed a high importance on this Rabbitohs game but we don’t have any guarantee there will be an extension.
“I’ll certainly be putting it to South Sydney that we’d love to have them back and I’ll be talking to (their CEO) Blake Solly over the next little while.”
Advance Cairns CEO Nick Trompf said losing the Rabbitohs match would be a setback for tourism and hospitality businesses, who enjoy a spike in business each year.
“Obviously, key events are really important for the growth of the city,” Trompf said.
“If the contracts aren’t renewed it’s a shame for the city’s brand but there would also be considerable loss of income to take into account.”
Social media lit up over the weekend with posts of Rabbitohs players having breakfast and coffees at Cairns eateries.
Cafe Paradiso co-owner Andy Graham said since his post about the team’s visit on Saturday, South Sydney fans had been streaming in.
“The last couple of weeks have been pretty amazing for us. The season has started with a bang,” he said.
Cr Manning praised Souths’ commitment to the Far North, running sporting clinics and programs in the region, adding the club had invested significantly in the community.
“I really can’t say enough about a team like South Sydney coming up for so many years,” he said. “They’ve helped grow the game as a result. One of the reasons we haven’t had any preliminary conversations with Souths is because we don’t want to put any pressure on them.”
Rabbitohs football operation manager Brock Schaefer said he looked forward to the club’s annual pilgrimage.
“I love being on the sidelines at Barlow Park,” Schaefer said. “Whether it’s Cowboys fans or Rabbitohs fans doesn’t matter. Either way is great.”
Bunnies halfback Adam Reynolds said the Cairns trip had other perks too.
“A few of us are keen golfers and the courses are pretty good up that way,” he said. “The weather is always great too.”