THE Cowboys are planning a grand tour of north Queensland with the NRL premiership trophy.

A decision will be made today but it is likely the tour would include stops in Cairns, Mackay and Mount Isa within the next week to celebrate the club’s historic grand final win with fans across the region.

It is understood a large-scale regional tour is also planned over the next 12 months involving the Cowboys visiting communities across the north.

media_camera North Queensland Cowboys players dressed up at The Ville celebrating with the NRL trophy.

As Brisbane mayor Graham Quirk paid out on a bet with his Townsville counterpart Jenny Hill by flying the Cowboys flag over the capital’s Story Bridge, it was revealed the exposure garnered by North Queensland’s inaugural title is expected to significantly boost the club’s $66 million value to the region’s economy.

Townsville retailers have already reported a spending hit with their best weekend all year.

Business and tourism groups are now trying to turn the weekend’s exposure into a long-term benefit for the region, which has been suffering high unemployment following downturns in the resources and agriculture sectors.

Analysis by the North Queensland Cowboys shows their economic clout averaged about $66 million a year over the past decade, while the club itself supports 120 full-time jobs.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said that would only increase following the weekend’s win as more fans signed up.

But the financial benefit of the grand final weekend alone has already been felt.

Ms O’Callaghan said $120,000 was spent at the Cowboys leagues club on game day, while hotels throughout the city raked in 20 per cent more business than the same time last year.

Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston’s post-match call for a new stadium had generated $500,000 in free publicity for that campaign to get a new home ground, Ms Callaghan said.