Proserpine happy to play host for a day

QUEENSLAND’S State of Origin team will march through the streets of Proserpine this morning to bring some Origin cheer to the North.

The team, including the Cowboys contingent, will visit the North Queensland town for their annual Maroons fans day.

The Queensland Rugby League started the initiative in recent years ahead of the annual Brisbane clash and it is the side’s only public appearance before the game at Suncorp Stadium next week. The Maroons have visited Longreach, Bundaberg, Roma and Emerald in recent years and Proserpine was selected due to the struggles associated with the downturn in mining and sugar industries.

The Queensland team will walk in a street parade from Herbert St to Chapman St and will mingle with fans through to Mill St to sign autographs.

The Maroons will feature at a fan day luncheon before hosting a Junior Maroon Development Clinic at Proserpine’s Les Stagg Oval, which will be free for all kids.

Proserpine Whitsundays Junior Rugby League president Kevin Young was expecting the Maroons’ visit would draw thousands of people.

“To have just one QLD State of Origin player to come to town would be fantastic, but we’re extraordinarily privileged to have the QLD Maroon team coming to visit us,” he said.

The street parade starts at 10.45am while the junior clinics commence at 1.35pm.