NORTH Queensland Cowboys will receive the key to the City of Mount Isa when they party at Buchanan Park on Sunday.
Cowboys fans as far as Darwin are known to be driving to Mount Isa to celebrate with their sports heroes including co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott.
Other players to show off their prized NRL premiership trophy include Kyle Feldt, Ben Hannant and Jason Taumalolo.
Cowboys mascot Bluey and cheerleaders from the NQ Spirit will also be part of the touring party.
Buchanan Park gates open noon with the sporting heroes expected to arrive 12.40pm, after which Mayor Tony McGrady will give the key.
Cowboys chief executive Greg Tonner said it would be a real watershed moment connecting with communities in Cowboys country.
“The players and coaching staff have delivered the Cowboys a maiden NRL premiership and the club now wants to share this great achievement with our valued members, sponsors and supporters living in these three fantastic cities,” Tonner said.
Mount Isa City Council will contribute $7500 for the cost of the Cowboys’ jet.
City councillors decided on Wednesday to contribute the money through the community benefit funding.
Chair of Sport Kim Coghlan dreaded how the Mount Isa community would react if the council did not fund the Cowboys’ visit.
“If this did not go through I would probably leave town because we would be lynched,” Cr Coghlan said.
Chair of Finance Cr Joyce McCulloch said: “I felt we had to find the funds for this.”
