Players ride spirit of so many believers

IT WAS there. I saw it. Maybe it was just me, but there was this glow behind JT as he kicked the final blow to the Broncos.

Did you see it? When they had their photo taken with the trophy, too. I could see the smiles, imagine the whispers to Johnathan and his mates, whispers of support, the will of hearts of those past, they were there, all of them. It was not only JT’s hands on the ball, it was the hands of so many, who without them, we simply would not have the wondrous feelings we have now.

The welcome home would not have happened, the accolades of the sporting world would not exist, that’s a fact. In that glow behind JT, moments before the final kick, there were some who have left us, a small man with extraordinary energy.

I could see his wide smile, our first chairman Ronny McLean, on the other side, a big man with a big heart and loud laugh, Mussy from the Burdekin, Kev Schreiber was right behind the ball as it sealed the Broncos’ fate, and as it went through the uprights, standing underneath cheering, was Graham Murray.

Joining all of North Queensland were others, standing behind the Cowboys in that photo: Kerry Boustead, Joe Goicoechea, Mike Collins and Norm Linthwaite, Rabieh Krayem was there, Phill Clark with a calculator in his hand, Barry Taylor, Max Short, Grant Bell our coach, Doug Kingston with this great newspaper gave immense support, and running out with Mat and JT, I’m sure I saw Laurie Spina.

Many of these blokes and their wives put their own money and time into the Cowboys dream. Along with many others they made what we have now happen. They have passed the baton, and now it’s the turn of other great men like Laurence Lancini, and CEO Greg Tonner and the wonderful staff, to keep the dream alive, and they’re certainly doing that. There were simply so many standing behind the players in that team photo, I wish we could mention and thank them all.

I can say it, because I was there those first six years. It wasn’t a job, it was a privilege. And of course, as the ball left JT’s boot the hopes and dreams of thousands upon thousands went with it, and the pride of a group of sporting pioneers 21 years ago.

I want to say well done to the club, I’m a little bit sentimental, OK a lot, I watched the game at the heart of the Cowboys, the Cowboys Leagues Club, it was so very, very special.

And to be at the airport and civic reception, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, the fans were wonderful. There’s a saying, carpe diem, meaning, seize the day, they seized the last few seconds!

Happy days.