North Queensland urge Sydney fans to support them in Sunday’s NRL grand final clash with Melbourne

SYDNEY, you rode the Cowboys home in 2015 and now North Queensland have declared “we need you again” ahead of Sunday’s NRL grand final.

SYDNEY, you rode the Cowboys home in 2015 and now North Queensland have declared “we need you again”.

Despite breaking the hearts of Sydneysiders with victories over Cronulla, Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters in the past three weeks, rampaging forward Jason Taumalolo has led the charge, imploring the Harbour City to get behind another North Queensland fairytale when they square off against the all-conquering Melbourne Storm in Sunday’s NRL grand final.

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While Sydney fans have been left without their own teams to follow, North Queensland have again emerged as sentimental favourites, as they were when they ended their premiership drought two years ago, despite their Sydney-wrecking ways.

Taumalolo said their dramatic extra-time victory against the Broncos in 2015 was aided by the Cowboys’ ability to draw in the support of neutral fans.

North Queensland were the people’s favourites in the 2015 grand final.

“It felt like a home game,” Taumalolo said. “They (the fans) were a big reason why the boys got home the last grand final. Lets hope they do it again.

“Every supporter is passionate about their team. We don’t expect other teams to go for us but we’re riding a wave at the moment. Whoever gets the chance to support us it will be a huge help.”

Sydney fans have been left with nothing to cheer about, largely thanks to North Queensland.

The Cowboys may have dashed the premiership hopes of Sydney teams by eliminating Sydney Roosters, Parramatta and Cronulla in recent weeks but that has not stopped them from wanting Sydney on their side.

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Despite Cooper Cronk playing his final game for the Storm and Cameron Smith set to win his second Dally M Medal, Melbourne aren’t feeling much grand final love.

Cowboys back Kane Linnett said any extra support helps.

“I felt like we hadn’t won a grand final so quite a bit of Sydney were behind our backs,” Linnett said of 2015. “I felt like we had plenty of support. It helps. When you’re in the battle and you’re going backwards and forwards and you can hear the crowd in the background, it gives you a little bit of extra motivation.

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“Hopefully Sydney can go on the back of us again. No one has given us a shot during the whole finals. We’ve come out and we’ve shown what we can do as we play as a team.

“At the end of the day it’s 17 blokes on the field that will do their job. Hopefully the fans can get on the back of that and can help us through.”

Cowboys faithful have snapped up 6000 tickets alread for Sunday’s grand final. Cowboys boss Greg Tonner said his side represented Australia’s working class.

“I’m making a call to arms for people to come out and see what these boys are capable of because they play for each other,” Tonner said.

“I am hoping people who believe in the country spirit of Australia turn up. We love coming to Sydney.”

Originally published as North Queensland urge Sydney fans to support them in Sunday’s NRL grand final clash with Melbourne