LANE Brookes still can’t believe how big his “little” idea, the Maranoa Indigenous All-Stars Day, has become after just four years.

Reaching the end of his involvement from a playing perspective in the charity event because of his age, Brookes will look to end on a high when his under-20s Maranoa Murris face the under-20s Maranoa All-Stars for the fourth time.

Having seen the concept grow from just an idea for a match into a six-game charity day at Bassett Park watched by thousands of people, the proud Indigenous man said he was still pinching himself.

“We all see it as a rep game, because it started out as a rep game so it’s quality footy,” he said.

“It’s unreal [how fast it’s grown] – I was just a skinny Murri who had an idea a few years ago.

“I’d love to see [Bassett Park] packed out on February 6.”

Along with the main event, five other matches across a number of formats will feature as curtain-raisers, including a women’s rugby league match, a hybrid rugby game and junior representative football. All money raised will be going towards Mitchell man Bill Dodd.

To read the full story, see Friday’s Western Star.