Wally Lewis in Townsville for book signing at QBD Books at Stockland

Townsville rolled out the red carpet for royalty on Saturday, as a rugby league immortal held court for his legion of adoring North Queensland fans.

TOWNSVILLE rolled out the red carpet for royalty on Saturday, as a rugby league Immortal held court for his legion of adoring North Queensland fans.

King Wally Lewis made an appearance at QBD Books at Stockland to sign copies of his new autobiography My Life.

Wally

Among the crowd was Christian Hasenkamp, who adores one of Queensland’s greatest ever athletes.

“He was my childhood hero big time. When he retired from Origin in the 90s I cried myself to sleep,” Mr Hasenkamp said. “When I saw him I nearly froze. My wife said it was the most starstruck that she’d ever seen me.

“He was such a dominant Queenslander and probably the world’s best player at the time.”

Mr Hasenkamp has passed on his fond memories of Lewis to his own two sons, Chaz and Jedd, who are just as footy mad as their old man.

“What he said to my boys and the time he gave them was incredible. What he wrote for them about following their dreams was great. I was blown away to meet someone like that and he had time for me and my boys.”

Wally

Originally published as Wally Lewis in Townsville for book signing at QBD Books at Stockland