When Gold Full Season member Dion answered his phone at work last week, he nearly hung up.
“I honestly thought it was a scam,” he laughed.
“My phone always drops out at the hospital. I didn’t hear who it was, I just saw that it was an unknown number and was about to hang up.”
On the other end was Cowboys halfback Jaxon Purdue, calling to deliver news Dion never expected.
“He said, ‘Are you sitting down?’ and I thought, well, the Cowboys wouldn’t be ringing me with bad news, so I got a little excited.”
As the call continued, CK and Kate from Triple M chimed in to confirm that he’d be needing a passport come February.
“That’s when it hit me that it wasn’t a prank,” Dion said.
Dion was randomly selected as the winner of our Trip of Lifetime competition, winning a trip for two to Las Vegas including flights, accommodation and match tickets to see the Cowboys play at Allegiant Stadium in February.
The major incentive for fans and members who joined or renewed their membership for the 2026 season by 31 October.
The competition was open to all members, including corporate members who had renewed, giving every supporter an equal chance.
By renewing early, Dion secured the entry that changed everything.
He called his wife immediately.
“I rang her and said, ‘I think we just won a trip to Vegas.’ She didn’t believe me,” he said still in disbelief.
“It wasn’t until we spoke to the membership team and heard it on the radio that it felt real.”
For Dion, wife Jen, son Archer and daughter Scarlett renewing was an easy decision.
“We’ve been Gold Full Season members since we moved back to North Queensland in 2020,” he said.
“Archer loves watching the footy. Scarlett loves getting hot chips. Every couple of weeks, we know we’re going to the Cowboys. It’s just what we do.”
“Being a Cowboys member feels like backing your home,” he said.
“I’ve been a fan since 1995. Through good seasons, tough seasons. You stick with your team.”
The young dad reflected on the last trip he did to see the Cowboys play in 2015.
“The Cowboys won the semi in Melbourne, and I thought that’s it; I’m going.”
“Jen had to work, so I flew to Sydney for the Grand Final on my own and sat with a bunch of Broncos supporters I’d never met, which was weird, but well worth it obviously.”
Dion will travel even further to create a new memory in 2026, but this time with his wife by his side.
“I’ve been to Vegas once before, back in 2010 as a young single bloke,” he said.
“This time I’ll get to go with my wife, so it will be different, but we’ve be married 10 years this year, so it feels meant to be.”
“It’s once in a lifetime. To watch our club, represent where we’re from in a huge American stadium.
“I can’t believe we get to be part of that.”
Memberships are now on sale for 2026.
For more information about benefits and package inclusions visit cowboys.com.au/membership
