But O’Neill is not the only person involved on grand final day with strong ties to Vanuatu Rugby League.
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The two teams play in the NRL Grand Final on Sunday at ANZ Stadium.
Hotels and airlines are swamped with bookings with around 20,000 NRL fans descending from Queensland for the almost-sold-out match between the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday. The glamour club from the capital against the underdog from the regions.
When Bennett, who first got to know Blair when he was an assistant on the Kiwi coaching staff during the 2008 World Cup, found out the tough forward was looking for an out he started the contract wheels in motion that got the 29-year-old to Red Hill at what is now a “bargain basement” price.
Both sides secured their spots in the premiership decider with nearly identical victories in the preliminary finals, with the Broncos upstaging minor premiers the Roosters 31-12 and the Cowboys seeing off the Storm 32-12.
Many Cowboys members were yesterday holding their breath as the club tried to arrange a charter flight from Townsville, but it stressed tickets were not guaranteed.
“It was the calf that he had a little bit tight in the Melbourne game”.
The Broncos, on the other hand, have had a low-key entry to NSW, with only a handful of fans greeting them at Sydney Airport.
“I think it’s great for all Queenslanders, to be honest”, said Morris.
“There is no justification for this”, Mr Katter said. “What’s unique is his ability to embed a winning culture – it’s unbelievable how much the Broncos have been able to achieve this season after uniting behind a common goal and team values”, he said.
“The sooner North Queensland is a separate state, the sooner we can hit back at everyone from government to big corporations in order to get a fair go, rather than just being used as a milking cow”, he said. He was their number-one ticket holder until he left politics.
While the Cowboys are searching for their maiden premiership, the Broncos are no strangers to proudly holding aloft the J.J. Giltinan Shield. I’ve been supporting them since I was 12-years-old.
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Asked if he had not defended his charge and accepted a career-ending one-match ban, Hodges said: “It would have haunted me the rest of my life”.
