Football fever hits city for Origin
IS THERE a bigger day of the year for Queenslanders? We doubt it.
Game I of this year's State of Origin saw the Gladstone region swing into party mode last night.
Maroon was splashed around the town's pubs and businesses as the series between Queensland and New South Wales began.
The feverish excitement gripped fans as soon as people got out of work.
Different fans enjoyed the game in different ways.
Some had parties or barbecues at home, inviting friends around to watch the spectacle on their own screens.
Others took to the pubs and clubs to soak up the big-crowd atmosphere.
Predictably, Dicey's Irish Pub was one of the hot spots, with a flood of maroon and a few brave souls in blue.
Plenty of fans packed the Rocky Glen Hotel long before the game started.
Over at the recently renovated Reef nightclub, fans made the most of the new room and big screen.
