Former Cowboy and premiership-winning Bronco legend Brent Tate has picked his grand final winner and is sticking solid. Tate still lives in North Queensland and would love to see the Cowboys claim their first ever premiership against big brother Brisbane on Sunday.

“I’m still working and living up there and I just know how much [the grand final] means,” Tate told nrl.com.

“To be honest, if North Queensland get up and win the grand final it’s probably a bit bigger than just a footy grand final.

“Our area is really struggling and doing it tough at the moment so it’s probably a bit bigger than just a footy game.

“I don’t mean to say that to put pressure on the boys but I just know what it would mean to that area and the people, it would give them hope.

“There are some towns up there that are really doing it tough and footy is a wonderful thing that gives people hope and I definitely know that the Cowboys being in the grand final has a flow-on effect through our communities.

“The boys have got the chance to do some real good, something really special.”

Tate added that a title win would mean more for the people up north than down in Queensland’s capital.

“I went with our CEO through a few of these communities this year and they are really excited when they talk about the Cowboys and when you meet them you see the smile on their faces.

“But when you get down to talk to these people there are some people doing it really tough.

“It’s not all doom and gloom but I just get the sense that it’s a lot more than footy for the north.”