'The Falcon' flies in
DURING the past 100 years, rugby league has earned the nickname "the greatest game of all" and few regions have contributed more to helping the sport live up to its grand moniker than the Far North.
Rugby league is celebrating its centenary season in 2008 and yesterday it was Cairns’ turn to look back at where it all began.
An exhibition of Far Northern rugby league memorabilia has opened at Harvey Norman as part of Festival Cairns, which started yesterday.
Pictures of champions past and cherished football guernseys make up much of the display, while in one glass case, the NRL premiership trophy and Centenary World Cup stand side-by-side to remind fans of the sport’s pinnacle.
In Cairns to open the exhibition on behalf of the ARL, former South Sydney hardman Mario "The Falcon" Fenech said the contribution regional centres have made to rugby league could not be underestimated.
"Rugby league is the greatest game of all but, maybe, it wouldn’t be the greatest game if it wasn’t for places like Nowra on the south coast, Dubbo, Wagga and, obviously, Cairns," he said.
Cairns District Rugby League secretary and guardian of much of the memorabilia on show Pat Bailey said rugby league was tied to the history of the Far North.
"In the old days it was a very important part of everybody’s lives and still is today," she said. "Rugby league has always been a working class man’s game and has a strong bond with the city."
The exhibition culminates on September 6 with the arrival of rugby league immortals Reg Gasnier, John Raper and Graeme Langlands for the Cairns and District Junior Rugby League grand final day at Jones Park.
For more information on Festival Cairns, visit cairns.com.au/festivalcairns
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Surrounded by memories: Mario Fenech among rugby league memorabilia on display at Harvey Norman.
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