On the eve of the first State of Origin match in Brisbane , a weird kind of parallel universe has been discovered a short distance from the main entrance of the Cowboys Rugby League Club in Flinders Street , Townsville.
Patrons who depart the club on foot pass the above operating newsagency , advertising Murdoch publications , take a few more steps ... and do a double take - there is the same newsagency , below , but it is locked , empty!!! .
How can this be ? It is enough to make you want to sign the pledge, take to drinking water, but the city is on strict water restrictions , the supply siphoned off by aliens from another planet .
Still , club members are used to odd things happening of late . Just recently the club announced it is going to " expand its gaming footprint . " Many took this to mean you will no longer be able to enter the premises barefooted , wearing only a JT autographed athletic support . This led to a spike in the sale of thongs , recycled snowshoes and gumboots. Actually, it means the club is adding 86 more poker machines to its existing 212 , to make it "more competitive " with other large venues .
