Fans set to saddle up for Cowboys season opener
MORE than 8000 fans are expected to cram into Barlow Park on Sunday for an early taste of NRL as the Cowboys take on the Dolphins in the pre-season challenge.
Amid the excitement around that match the North Queensland NRL stars took time out to meet and greet students across 10 FNQ schools on Friday.
On Friday afternoon around 150 people turned out to run through their paces at a Cowboys Skills and Drills Clinic.
Despite a light shower and humid conditions on the Newman College field, the kids were buzzing about rubbing shoulders with and learning from their favourite players.
Darcy Hobbs, 11, was keen in his Cowboys’ jersey and joined in the drills run by his favourite team’s players.
Already playing for Ivanhoes U12s, Reuben Cotter is Darcy’s favourite player.
“I like his haircut,” Darcy said.
“Rugby league is a contact sport and I love to play it with my friends. ”
Sixteen-year-old Keira Allan is playing on the wing for the Cairns Kangaroos this year, and she’s already a veteran with five or six seasons under her belt.
“It’s a good place to take your anger out and express your feelings,” she said.
“I like the rush and the adrenaline. The feeling you get after you score a try … it
makes you feel good.”
Cowboys players visited nine other schools in the morning — training with youngsters at White Rock State School, Woree State School, Cairns West State School, Balaclava State School, St Gerard Majella, Bentley Park College, Caravonica State School and Yorkeys Knob State School.
Far North Queensland Rugby League chairman Rob
White said it was important for the students to meet their stars “in the flesh”.
“The Far North has an abundance of talent that will make it to that level, I’ve always believed that,” he said.
“It’s important for not only the children but for the players to get to the grassroots levels and help the people that will appreciate it the most.”
Division 9 Councillor Brett Olds said having the game in
Cairns as well as Dami Im playing at Summer Sounds on Saturday was a big coup for the region.
“We’ve been lucky to have a trial game and fixture game most years, which is great for exposure to the sport and it gives residents something to be excited about,” he said.
“We’re expecting 80009000 people to show up on Sunday, usually we find that Cairns loves to buy a ticket at
the last minute.”
Cr Olds said the council works hard to keep events flowing throughout the year.
“Council tends to have over 1000 events in the year, with at least one big one every month,” he said.
“It puts a smile on people’s faces — and that in itself is the most important to us when making sure these events happen.”
FNQRL chairman Mr
White said he was keen for the game be played in Cairns.
“It not only puts us on the map, but invites newcomers along and gives us the first chance to watch the Dolphins play for the first time,” he said.
“There is a great demand for the game up here and we’re so fortunate the Dolphins have gifted us this game.”