Parkes is a regional town of nearly ten thousand people located near the middle of New South Wales, with its economy based on farming and mining.
The Spacemen were simply a struggling regional club before circumstances brought media attention.
The Spacemen advertised for players; at the same time, Fijian rugby league players sought to join a New South Wales club in preparation for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
These Fiji national rugby league team players included Alipate Noilea, Semisi Tora and Ilisoni Vonomateiratu.
[1][2] Local media closely followed the 2008 Rugby League World Cup progress of the Fijian National team and its Spacemen,[3][4] culminating in their defeat by Australia in the second semi-final.