Nicola and Joel’s passion for footy part of their love story

FOR North Queensland Toyota Cowboys members Nicola and Joel McNamara, the team is at the heart of their story.

A shared love of the Cowboys saw them set up a backyard big- screen experience for friends and family for their engagement party to watch the Cowboys versus Storm preliminary final in 2015.

“Everyone was going to cancel on us, but we got a big screen and put it in the yard so everyone could watch it,” Nicola, 27, said.

Adding his recollections of the night, Joel, 30, said: “We timed it so people wouldn’t miss out on watching the game, so cake- cutting was around halftime, and then when the Cowboys won it was even more of a celebration.

“We’ve always watched rugby league, so we didn’t want to miss it just as much as the people coming to the party.”

The 2019 season will be Joel and Nicola’s fifth year of attending home games at 1300SMILES Stadium as full season members together.

“We look forward to the games and it’s good to have something to do on the weekend that we’re excited and passionate about,” Nicola said.

Like many North Queenslanders, Nicola grew up following the Cowboys and has been going to home games with her family since she can remember.

“We used to watch the game from up in the Northern stand and then eventually Mum and Dad moved into the Eastern stand and we’ve been members there for about 11 years,” Nicola said.

Joel, who grew up playing rugby league, loves watching the games live and remembers seeing the Cowboys’ inaugural home ground being built.

“It will be a change to move from the current stadium to the new one, but we’re excited about the new facilities and it’ll be great to have a citycentric stadium.”

Members who renew or sign up for 2019 full- season membership can enjoy the benefits of their 12- game membership at 1300SMILES Stadium, but will also have priority access to their “best- equivalent” seats in the new North Queensland Stadium in 2020.