Why Johnathan Thurston is backing a major investment in women’s sport for Cairns

The King of the North has ushered in a new era in Queensland rugby league with NRL legend Johnathan Thurston joining calls for Sport Minister Tim Mander to match a $15m federal commitment to build a state-of-the-art centre of excellence in Cairns.

Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston and Cairns Mayor Amy Eden at West Barlow on Tuesday. Photo by Brian Cassey

The King of the North has ushered in a new era in Queensland rugby league with NRL legend Johnathan Thurston joining calls for Sport Minister Tim Mander to match a $15m federal commitment to build a state-of-the-art centre of excellence in Cairns.

By royal decree, the Origin legend joined ALP candidate for Leichhardt Matt Smith, declaring that he would “throw full support” behind building a $40m high performance centre for the Cowboys NRLW team at Barlow Park by 2027.

Mr Thurston, whose advocacy was critical to securing funds to build the $318m North Queensland Stadium following the Cowboys unforgettable 2015 premiership, said the entire community stood to benefit from the project.

Indigenous All Stars representatives Kirra Dibb and Tallisha Harden ahead of the 2024 NRL All Stars match in Townsville. Picture: NRL Media

“This is a great opportunity for the Far North Queensland community to have a high performance centre for the NRLW team but also for the 2032 Olympics,” Mr Thurston said.

“All those teenagers now that are aspiring to become athletes, they’ll have a home-built high performance centre to bring out the best in your sport.”

Retired NQ Cowboys champion Johnathon Thurston, Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, ALP Candidate for Leichhardt, Matt Smith and Federal Minster for Sport Anika Wells. Photo by Brian Cassey

Cowboys chief executive Jeff Reibel said delivering a training facility comparable in standard to the Cowboys men’s $40m high performance centre in Townsville was the next step with the NRL powerhouse having already committed $10m to the project.

“It’s absolutely critical and that was always our vision from the start,” Mr Reibel said.

“It’s about giving our NRLW team the same high performance (facilities), the same care and embraced the same way we do with our men’s team.”

Bipartisan support at a federal level meant negotiations with the state government for an additional $15m could now resume.

“This gives us an opportunity to circle back to the state government, circle back to our 100-day review application and look at next steps with them,” Mr Reibel said.

Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston, Labor Candidate for Leichhardt Matt Smith and Cairns Mayor Amy Eden at West Barlow Park. Photo by Brian Cassey

Mr Smith said the funding would help “level the playing field” for women’s sport in the Far North.

“Women’s sport has been the poor cousin of men’s sport for too long,” the former Cairns Taipans centre said.

“It’s come along so far in the last 30 years. With my own experience in basketball … there are arguments that the women’s game is more skilful than the men’s game because they’re not relying on athleticism and size.

“I’m really looking forward to something like that happening up here in the Far North.”

Mr Reibel said reports the Cowboys might pull out of a Cairns relocation bid in favour of Mackay ultimately never materialised.

“What we wanted to ensure was that we did look under every rock to ensure that we could give our NRLW team (the best possible facility),” he said.

“It’d be wrong of us not to have a look. But we kept on coming back to this being our best option.”

Mr Mander declined to comment when contacted by the Cairns Post.

Originally published as Why Johnathan Thurston is backing a major investment in women’s sport for Cairns