Well that was, to put it mildly, getting it done the hard way. Or, as the Duke of Wellington once put it "That was a damn close run thing".
On reflection, last night - and indeed through the finals series - the train could have derailed at any number of points:
- Mariner's eventual putdown after that "hello boys" schtick with the dead ball line (I recall something like this actually happening in an Aus-England Test at Lang Park back in the early 70's when the English winger (Atkinson I think) did this sort of footsie with the in-goal touchline and smeared a certain try)
- at 6-0 up, Brisbane get a bit expansive in their own half but Storm (Warbrick?) rush up, force the issue, get a turnover and momentum change that led to their next three tries with ominous efficency
- after the second Walsh try, Storm again respond, this time through Hughes stepping inside not one, not two, but three defenders who all went to their left with no-one thinking to cover the inside: an infuriatingly embarrassing foul-up in defence
- and the Kamikamica near-score just after halftime, just a little finger width in it that could easily have helped Melbourne back into their groove
Still though, just as in those lead-up finals, the mindset and application to shake off things like that and focus on the most important play (the next one) was five-star stuff, something that's been sorely lacking from this outfit for far too long. For that reason this title has a place distinct from the previous six (although for mine the '98 outfit it still the most complete top-to-bottom unit the Broncs have put on the field).
Now we get to see how they'll follow up next year (e.g. if Walsh can keep his head screwed on properly).
