Maroons players give back to footy fans in country Queensland

Local Murweh Shire council mayor Anne Liston took a leaf out of the late Bob Hawke’s book, declaring a local holiday for the superstar Maroons’ visit to Charleville.

Dane Gagai meets the Ebsworth-Briggs family. Image: Adam Head

• The devastating call that will see DCE dominate NSW
• Walters gags Maroons in bizarre mental strategy

It’s not every day the people of Charleville receive an impromptu public holiday.

But when the Queensland Origin team rolls into town, special exemptions are made.

The late Prime Minister Bob Hawke famously called a national holiday when Australia won the 1983 America’s Cup and the local Murweh Shire council mayor on Monday followed suit when the Maroons hit Charleville.

The tiny town, 680km west of Brisbane, was festooned in Maroon as around 500 locals flocked to Charleville Showground as part of the Queensland Origin’s team annual country-carnival fan visit.

Cameron Munster poses for a photo with young fan Jack Lawton. Image: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The town’s 3300 population may be small but Charleville has produced some Origin talent, including former Queensland utility Adrian Vowles and current Maroon Kurt Capewell, the 19th man for Game One next Wednesday night.

Broncos chief executive Paul White was born in Charleville, while Maroons trio Ben Hunt, Felise Kaufusi and Cameron Munster hail from the wider central Queensland region.

Dane Gagai meets the Ebsworth-Briggs family. Image: Adam Head

“It means everything,” Hunt said of Tuesday’s visit.

“It’s always pretty special to get back out to the bush. I love getting back to the bush, I’m from (central Queensland) and to see the smiles on the kids faces, they don’t get things like this very often.

“They usually do it pretty hard out here, so to get out and see them happy is great.

“I didn’t see a lot of NRL players growing up. I played my junior footy for Blackwater and I remember PJ Marsh came back one night and did our presentation nights, that was the most special thing we had.

“I know I loved that as a kid and these kids will too.”

Michael Morgan with kids from the Mitchell State School. Image: Adam Head

The Maroons held their first training session of the 2019 campaign at a local oval. Several top-liners were missing, with Daly Cherry-Evans (ankle), Moses Mbye (groin) and Jai Arrow (quad) staying in Brisbane to treat recent injuries.

A number of former Queensland Origin stars were on hand, including Gorden Tallis, Justin Hodges and Scott Prince. Brent Tate and Corey Parker arrived in a Maroon-coloured chopper.

If the Blues have suffered an Origin drought in recent years, the folk of Charleville and surrounding towns can relate to their hardship.

Malakai Thompson meets Maroons Matt Gillett and Ben Hunt. Image: Adam Head

Murweh Shire mayor Anne Liston said the Maroons’ arrival, after previous visits to Roma, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Longreach, had boosted spirits.

“We’ve declared a bank holiday,” Liston said.

“Our shire has always been supportive of rugby league and it means so much to see locals returning in Adrian Vowles and Kurt Capewell.

“We have gone through seven years of severe drought but on weekends our locals can turn to playing football together and forget about what’s happening on the land and in small business.

“Seeing the Maroons in town is a real honour … we can’t thank the Queensland Rugby League enough for choosing us.”

Five-year-old Amy Cassel doesn’t seem convinced by David Fifita. Image: Adam Head

Originally published as Maroons players give back to footy fans in country Queensland