Federal Opposition leader, Bill Shorten, has gone part of the way to delivering on Johnathan Thurston's grand final cry to "build us a stadium." The Labor leader has pledged $100m towards a $250m new stadium in Townsville for Thurston's NRL team, the Cowboys, who won the 2015 NRL premiership.

Shorten has undertakings of support from the Queensland government to contribute $100m, as well a $25m pledge each from the Townsville Council and the NRL.

Should Labor be elected federally, its $100m contribution is also contingent on the Queensland government, local council and NRL all joining the project to build the stadium.

Shorten's active involvement in securing the funding promises are part of a strategy to demonstrate support for rugby league after the ALP has shown a preference for AFL over the past decade.