Cowboys pink jerseys raise almost $19,000

by NRL

Almost $19,000 has been raised for Stillbirth Foundation Australia in the North Queensland Cowboys Women in League online auction.

Cowboys members and supporters inundated the auction site with bids on the eye-catching pink jerseys the Cowboys wore for the first time in the 40-18 defeat of Canberra at Dairy Farmers Stadium late last month.

The pink strip was part of the Cowboys' celebration of Harvey Norman Women in League Round which has become an integral part of the NRL calendar.

All up, the auction of the match-worn jerseys, as well as Johnathan Thurston's pink boots, raised $18,890 for Stillbirth Foundation Australia, a charity supported not only by the Cowboys but also by forward Glenn Hall who recently took part in the Dancing With The Townsville Stars competition to increase awareness of the Foundation's work.

Each North Queensland team member, including Thurston and the club's games record holder Matthew Bowen, signed the jersey they wore in the seven tries to three victory.

When bidding closed at noon on Sunday, Thurston's number six jersey had reached the highest price, with a fan from Townsville lodging the successful $2700 bid.

Bowen ($2350) was next in line followed by another 200-game player for North Queensland, hooker Aaron Payne ($1300).

Each of the 17 jerseys reached their reserve price while Thurston's boots were claimed for $1800.

Hall, who scored two tries in the win against Canberra, said the auction results were beyond his expectations.

"I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see such a large amount of money raised for the Stillbirth Foundation," Hall said.

"The work they do is exceptional and I'm sure the money we have raised through this and Dancing With The Townsville Stars will help them enormously.

"On behalf of the Foundation and the Cowboys, I'd like to thank everyone who made a bid and especially those who have ended up with a jersey or Johnno's boots."

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