On a normal Wednesday night, the Cherbourg Sports Complex would be deserted after 8pm. The gym would be closed. The basketball court would be empty. The final boxing session for the week would have wrapped up an hour earlier.
Tonight, 8 June, is no normal Wednesday though. More than 1,100km to the south, one of Cherbourg’s favourite sons will stride on to rugby league’s biggest stage for the first time and the sports complex he knows so well will throw open its doors to an Indigenous community riding a wave of emotion inspired by Selwyn Cobbo’s incredible rise from Brisbane Broncos rookie to State of Origin sensation.
