That was the scene which greeted lifelong Batley fan Jim McVeigh when he went to visit his daughter, Helen Mitchell, in Queensland. He included a day watching Tomlinson's Calbooture Snakes against their nearest rivals Noosa Pirates. Jim explained: "It was like the Batley-Dewsbury derby, except that they are about 150 miles apart."
Jim had a good chat with Tommo who admitted to him: 'My heart is still in Batley'.
Jim noticed a couple of things about the former Batley player now that he is a coach.
"Tommo is quiet during the game, a lot quieter than he was when he played, he was very pensive on the touchline.
"But it must be doing them some good as his side are the top of their league, which is probably like our second division," said Jim
He added that the difference between rugby down under and at home is the pace.
"Even at the lower levels they play the game at 100mph and even though it's their winter it was still like our summer."
He was also able to witness the venom that surrounds the State of Origin games.
Jim observed that one or two of Tommo's 'Snakes' would do well for Batley.
Jim gave Tommo one of Craig Lingard's Testimonial shirts and wished him all the best for the year ahead. In exchange Jim has brought back a signed England cricket shirt and one of Glen's Bulldogs number seven shirts to be auctioned or raffled for Craig's Testimonial year .
While he was in Australia, Jim was also able to volunteer alongside his daughter, who works as a manager for the Australian Red Cross and the blood transfusion service.
After giving blood Australians in several towns along the Sunshine Coast were greeted by Jim with a cup of tea and were thoroughly charmed by his dulcet Batley tones.