This was published 8 years ago
State of Origin 2015: Thousands mob Maroons as they head to Proserpine camp
By Beth Newman
Proserpine's Main St was lined with a population greater than that of the entire town on Tuesday, as the Queensland Maroons blew into town.
PROSERPINE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Sam Thaiday holds a baby crocodile as Jacob Lillyman gives it a kiss during the Queensland Maroons State of Origin fan day on June 30, 2015 in Proserpine, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)Credit: Bradley Kanaris
Making their way down the town's Main St, preceded by a brahman, mounted jet skis and a jazz class, they were mobbed by fans every stop of the 500-metre strip.
Maroons superstar Johnathan Thurston spends time with the fans in Proserpine before headingto the Gold Coast for Queensland's pre-Origin camp.Credit: Beth Newman
At a smorgasbord lunch in the local convention centre, Queensland Rugby League chairman Peter Betros picked out the southerners in the room and implored them to look at the greener grass on the Queensland side of life as Mal Meninga bantered with on-stager interviewer Peter Psaltis.
Local sport has not been immune from the downturn, Betros said.
PROSERPINE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Greg Inglis signs autographs for fans during the Queensland Maroons State of Origin fan day on June 30, 2015 in Proserpine, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)Credit: Bradley Kanaris
"All the registrations in the sugar towns are down because families have moved away because parents moved away looking for work," he said.
"They're still operating and still playing but obviously got less numbers to work on."
A skills session at Les Stagg Oval turned into an indoor signing jaunt with the wet weather but hordes of families lined up to meet players with handmade posters and vintage Maroons jerseys..
The Maroons have made the regional visit an annual feature of their home State of Origin camp after coach Mal Meninga first pushed the concept, which has seen the team go to Roma, Longreach and Bundaberg.
Betros welled up with tears speaking about the benefits of the fan days and the fans to whom he feels they have a great responsibility.
"I think we're doing the right thing," he said.
"You get really emotional when you come to places like this because rugby league is in the DNA of people and to see how much it means to actually bring these Origin players out.
"I think it does an enormous amount of good in these places but I think it also does the players a world of good.
"They live in a very privileged environment, they're well-paid and they're professional sportspeople and I think it's good to come and engage with the fans at close contact like this.
Dianne Di Nardo has lived in Proserpine all her life and said the team's visit meant a lot to the community.
"Everything's so slow at the moment and we're getting dried up, so it's going to be a real boost," she said.
"They're all really good, the Queensland ones."
Diana and Liam Lalor, who have been in the town 20 years, described this as the biggest thing that has happened in the town in their memories.
"It's a really good boost to the economy," Liam said.
The Lalors' son plays for the local side, the Brahmans, and it was a rare chance to meet his idol Sam Thaiday.
Stay in touch with Queensland's best news via our Facebook page.