The North Queensland Cowboys are facing an unexpected hurdle ahead of their sudden-death final against the Cronulla Sharks at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Due to the overwhelming support of their fans, who snapped up all available flights from Townsville to Sydney, the Cowboys have been forced to request assistance from the NRL in securing travel arrangements.
Coach Todd Payten and his team are scheduled to face Cronulla on Friday night in what promises to be a high-stakes elimination final. However, the sold-out flights have left the Cowboys scrambling for a solution. Michael Luck, the head of football for North Queensland, confirmed the situation, stating that they were working closely with the NRL to sort out travel logistics.
“We’re still working with the NRL through it,” Luck told News Corp. “Hopefully we can get it sorted today. We need to know how we are getting down there and getting back.”
Two direct commercial flights from Townsville to Sydney have sold out due to the high demand from Cowboys supporters, with some seats costing as much as $1,500. While the club hopes that Virgin or Jetstar will come to their rescue by scheduling an additional commercial flight, they remain in discussions with the NRL to explore charter flight options.
The NRL has previously stepped in to help teams with travel arrangements, most recently assisting the Newcastle Knights with their journey to Townsville for last Saturday’s clash with the Cowboys. For North Queensland, maintaining their usual travel routine is crucial. The team aims to arrive in Sydney a day before the match, settling into their hotel by 2 pm. A non-direct flight with a stopover in Brisbane would add an extra two to three hours to their travel time, which Luck described as “not ideal.”
Luck also shed light on the challenges teams face with travel, especially for their larger players. Airlines often accommodate players by placing them in exit rows for extra comfort, but they are rarely afforded the luxury of business class seats.
Despite the travel complications, the Cowboys are focused on the task ahead. If they overcome the Sharks on Friday, they will move on to face the Penrith Panthers in the preliminary final.
One of the team’s standout players, prop Rueben Cotter, emphasized the importance of a mental shift that has contributed to their late-season success. Cotter revealed that an “honesty session” among players before their recent matches helped reinforce a hard-nosed mentality crucial for finals football.
Their ability to rally and sharpen their defensive mindset was evident in their 44-6 demolition of Canterbury in Sydney and their 28-16 comeback win over Newcastle in the elimination final. Cotter pointed to the moment before their match against the Bulldogs as a turning point.
“We rallied the troops early in the week, and we had a pretty big defensive session around our attitude,” Cotter said. “That was the turning point because it fixed our mentality.”
As the Cowboys prepare for their showdown with Cronulla, they’ll be hoping that both their travel arrangements and their on-field performance align for another finals victory.
