YOUNG STAT MAN WOWS AUSSIE LEGENDS

Hundreds of football fans flooded into the newly opened Whitsunday Sportspark Club House on Sunday to watch the Australian Rugby League Team’s training session.

And, while the Kangaroos showed their skills, so too did a young Whitsunday resident who proved his knowledge of football stats surpassed even some of the team’s own players.

For the past six days, the Australian Rugby League Team have been training at the Whitsundays Sportspark ahead of their big game against Samoa tomorrow night.

Spotted at many local venues, the team have been kind and accommodating to all their fans, obliging the crowd by signing countless shirts and footy balls.

One fan, however, got the five-star treatment when he amazed legendary coach Mal Meninga and Captain Daly Cherry-Evans with his aptitude for remembering every detail of each round played this season.

Quizzed by both footy idols, seven-year-old Rocco Gomez who attends St Catherine’s Catholic College, was able to answer every question asked.

“He did an amazing job - my mind was blown because I asked him what I thought were going to be some pretty tricky questions that I thought was going to stump him, but they just didn’t!” said Daly Cherry-Evans.

“He’s got an amazing gift and I’m sure he’s going to put it to good use one day and keep tricking people!”

Rocco’s dad, Andrew said his son’s amazing ability to remember footy stats extends to other important life moments.

“He’s a big stat man and he just lives and breathes it!” he said.

“He really enjoys sitting down and watching the games, the highlights, everything on YouTube, he takes it in, and it just stays there.

“And not only does he remember what happened in the rounds, he also remembers what happened that weekend in our lives, it’s amazing!”

Troy Thompson, Manager of the Kangaroos, said that it was great to meet Rocco and the broader Whitsunday community.

“The response from the community has been overwhelming and being able to take the team to a regional location really freshens them up,” he said.

“To be able to use the Whitsundays Sportspark has been phenomenal and the guys at the Airlie Beach Hotel have been very accommodating too.”

President of Whitsunday Sportspark, Justin Butler, said it was wonderful to see the newly opened facility attract such a high-profile sport already.

“That’s part of what the spending was all about, not just developing the community but also bringing that tourism type sport here - it’s huge for the town.

“Rugby League have just grabbed the facility and the quality playing field we have, and I’ve calculated that they’ve used about 250 room nights in town.

“We hope to attract many more higher-level sports and pre-season camps to the region and have already asked them to spread the word around.”

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7-year-old Rocco Gomez stunned the Australian Rugby League team with his incredible knowledge of the sport. Photo credit: Norina Jane

Rocco Gomez sat down with footy legend Mal Meninga who was amazed at the young boy’s ability to recall stats.

Kangaroos Captain, Daly Cherry-Evans, filmed a pop-quiz with Rocco for Whitsunday Life

The new Whitsunday Sportspark Club House was a fantastic location for crowds to gather and watch the training session

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