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Sport Nation
Cowboy backs 20th team in Christchurch ahead of return
Joel Gould, AAP • June 18th, 2026 7:21 am
North Queensland prop Griffin Neame (l) can't wait to play the Warriors in Christchurch | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
North Queensland man mountain Griffin Neame once travelled over the Southern Alps of New Zealand to pursue his rugby league career, which is why the clash in Christchurch against the Warriors means so much to him.
The 25-year-old New Zealand international was born in Greymouth and played his junior for Suburbs RLC. As he got older he would make the 240km, four-hour trek with his father along the Great Alpine Highway to play and train in Christchurch.
On Sunday afternoon the towering 193cm and 106kg prop will play at Christchurch's new state-of-the-art stadium, Te Kaha, where he insists the proposed 20th NRL side should be based.
The stadium is fully roofed and a posse of Neame's family and friends will be in the 25,000-strong crowd at the sold-out match.
Christchurch's new stadium has earned rave reviews since opening in April | Photo: John Davidson/AAP
"I can't wait. When they told us we were playing there at the start of the year it was the first thing I looked at so I have been excited for this game for quite a while," Neame said.
"Everyone from my home town is going to the game. I've got a lot of people to catch up with."
The prospect of playing at the stadium, now the base of heavyweight Super Rugby Pacific side the Crusaders, also has Neame enthused.
"I have seen it a few times in person as they were building it and have watched a few rugby games on TV. It is a wonderful stadium," he said.
"All my friends and family have gone to the games and said it is unreal. It has got a roof over it so everyone excited."
Kiwi international Griffin Neame (c) is backing a 20th NRL team in Christchurch | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/AAP
The stadium would be the home ground of a proposed 20th NRL team based in Christchurch.
The Southern Orcas and South Island Kea are two consortiums battling with an Ipswich-based side west of Brisbane to win the 20th NRL licence.
"I think New Zealand deserves another team over there and Christchurch is the best place for it," Neame said.
"I think a Christchurch team would be pretty cool. They have got the stadium. League is growing and growing in New Zealand and I feel it has gotten bigger than rugby over there. That is quite an accomplishment."
The Cowboys, in ninth, are coming off a bye after losing their previous two matches.
The Cowboys, in ninth, are coming off a bye after losing their previous two matches.
Neame said the week off came at the right time and the squad were refreshed for the trip to play the second-placed Warriors who have also lost two on the trot.
The Cowboys have been boosted by the return of Queensland second-rower Jeremiah Nanai who has played just two games this year due to injury.
"He is an exciting player and definitely someone we look to in attack," Neame said.
"He is an exciting player and definitely someone we look to in attack," Neame said.
"The way he runs his lines and with his kick-chase I think he is going to add a lot of strike to us. He will get the ball quite a lot."
