READY FOR YOU, IZZY!
GAIL Manning is match fit and ready for Israel Folau. The Southport Tigers club treasurer, canteen and bar purchaser is well prepared to feed the hordes of fans tipped to witness Folau make his longawaited Rugby League Gold Coast debut on Saturday. “I’ve been around for 41 years and this would have to be one of the biggest days in that time,’’ she said.
SOUTHPORT Tigers are bracing for a potential recordbreaking crowd on Saturday evening when Israel Folau makes his long-awaited Rugby League Gold Coast debut.
The highest-profile recruit in Gold Coast history, including professional teams the Suns and Titans, will don orange and black for the first time in a battle with reigning premiers Runaway Bay at Owen Park.
The game plans and battle lines have been drawn by both camps, including those off the field at Southport.
Club treasurer, canteen and bar purchaser Gail Manning, 70, will feed and hydrate a hungry horde of spectators keen to catch a glimpse of Australia’s most controversial athlete in full flight.
In 41 years with the club Manning said she had never seen anything like it.
“The canteen was pretty full but we’ve doubled everything we had,” Manning said.
“That would be about 120 pies, 20 boxes of chips, lots of extra soft drinks, 150 hamburger buns.
“Some of the professional players, T-Rex (Tony Williams) and Jake Trindall, have been helping unload the alcohol since 7am on Friday.
“That’s about 60 cartons of Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s and all the beer.
“We ordered in another
seven kegs so we have about 15 kegs of beer.
“Apparently the crowd will be very big, we’re expecting at least a couple of thousand.
“I’ve been around for 41 years and this would have to
be one of the biggest days in that time.
“It’s always been so lowkey and now all of a sudden we’re in the middle of everything.”
Southport president Tim
Mahoney said Covid-19 would not spoil the party at Owen Park.
“We have a Covid-safe plan which we’ve had since the start of restrictions,” Mahoney said.
“We’re able to have about 150 people in the Leagues Club (one person per four square metres) and deck and externally we have no real limit (one per two sq m).
“Everyone will have to
wear masks at all times if they can’t socially distance and if eating or drinking people will have to be seated.”
Mahoney said security would be on-site to ensure precautions were followed.