Big Pete
International Captain
- Mar 12, 2008
- 32,097
- 25,714
As Sydney & Manly fans gear up for the final in 8 days time, I can't help but sit back and reminisce about our own grand finals and all the build up and anticipation that went with it. Grand Final memories threads folks! I especially want to hear from those who have been supporting from the very beginning.
2000 - I was extremely fortunate, not a lot of fans get to witness their team win the premiership when they first start watching the sport but thankfully I was one of them. I never appreciated the fact we were rebuilding after life without Langer or anything like that - I just thought we were this utterly powerful and professional unit that was a good step above everyone else.
Being 10, I didn't really get too swept up in the build up. The extent of it was that I was happy to see the Roosters beat the Knights in the manner they did, but had to alter my perception pretty much 24 hours later when Brisbane confirmed their place. The actual build up to me is really blurry these days, I just remember hearing snippits on the radio about how the Roosters were confident which caused me to laugh and feel sorry for them at the same time as well as a Broncos GF team poster in the CM.
Gameday I had to listen to the bloody thing on the radio! First grand final and I got dragged to my mum's softball grand final. So I listened to the game in the car and would race all the way over to ma whenever we scored which thankfully wasn't too often! We won, came home and rubbed it in my dad's face and then had some Red Rooster while I watched the replay on telly.
2006 - This was a completely different story. This was the first year I became a season ticket holder so I experienced every high and low of the season. It was a real rollercoaster of a season, perfectly summed up in that Bulldogs game. That's where the build up really begins for me. See, I was on my way to Sydney just as the game was kicking off and only caught snippits of the first half as we were making our way through the terminal. It was so frustrating because it seemed like every time I had access to a television, the Bulldogs score had increased and it appeared that our fairytale season was over.
Fortunately the plane I was on had ABC radio so I got to listen to their half-time show. In true ABC fashion, they already had the Dogs penciled into the GF and were putting the boot into Brisbane. At that point, I just wanted the boys to give me something to smile about - a nice long field try would be enough for me...and boy oh boy did they deliver. Still remember the moment on the plane, Sherwin's great clearing kick and Hodges' even better return. That plane ride would still have to be the best, everytime the Broncos scored the majority of the room would let out a little cheer and I couldn't wait until I got to watch the replay. I still remember eventually getting to the hotel, watching the sports highlights and logging onto here and LU and reading all the celebrations - it was fantastic.
It was the perfect build up in a sense because I got to experience reactions from both Rugby League heartlands. It was interesting to be in Sydney when they didn't have a team to support because it just felt more like a celebration of the sport than the contest itself - meanwhile in Brissie it seemed like plenty of places were coloured with maroon and there were plenty of Broncos emblems about. Personally, I don't think I'd been more excited for the match. I was quietly confident we could win the match because it seemed like after the Bulldogs game we could beat everybody. Also the loss of Michael Crocker on the eve of the contest seemed to serve as a good omen - at that point Melbourne had never been beaten with him in the side and that run would continue well into 2008 I believe. Anyways, this didn't stop me writing all sorts of reports (written and player comparisons), playing through a number of GF games on Rugby League 2, buying every newspaper/magazine and watching through all the festivities (GF breakfast, Footy Show, GF replays and the full gameday coverage).
Thankfully this time I was home to watch this game and had just about every television in the house tuned in so I could pace nervously around the house. Game was well and truly in the balance right up until Tate scored. I couldn't believe that try when it happened, and honestly still can't. Berro got rewarded for terrible play but the way our senior players responded was amazing, particularly McGuire who threw an awesome hail merry pass which bounced up perfectly for us. At that point, it was our premiership to lose and every play from that point became crucial. It wasn't until Gus came up with his typical famous mocker that I believe we could win it. Ha, that still brings me a smile to my face. "Broncos are out of it...you could throw a handkerchief over them" next minute 60m set and not long after that boom, Lockyer field goal and that was that.
Winning the game felt like an ending to a Rocky movie. I even had the victory song blasting in my head as we won and must admit I was disappointed when Webcke didn't give us a 'Yo Allison' but that's just me.
I bought about every piece of merch you could imagine celebrating the GF and still remember the Sydney media denouncing the grand final as tarnished and most reviews seemed to be more about Simpkins than about the Broncos winning. No skin off my nose since the Broncos won but just proof positive that they're just a bunch of sore losers. Similar antics emerged when we won in 2000.
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So that's my recollection, I'd love to hear some of yours.
2000 - I was extremely fortunate, not a lot of fans get to witness their team win the premiership when they first start watching the sport but thankfully I was one of them. I never appreciated the fact we were rebuilding after life without Langer or anything like that - I just thought we were this utterly powerful and professional unit that was a good step above everyone else.
Being 10, I didn't really get too swept up in the build up. The extent of it was that I was happy to see the Roosters beat the Knights in the manner they did, but had to alter my perception pretty much 24 hours later when Brisbane confirmed their place. The actual build up to me is really blurry these days, I just remember hearing snippits on the radio about how the Roosters were confident which caused me to laugh and feel sorry for them at the same time as well as a Broncos GF team poster in the CM.
Gameday I had to listen to the bloody thing on the radio! First grand final and I got dragged to my mum's softball grand final. So I listened to the game in the car and would race all the way over to ma whenever we scored which thankfully wasn't too often! We won, came home and rubbed it in my dad's face and then had some Red Rooster while I watched the replay on telly.
2006 - This was a completely different story. This was the first year I became a season ticket holder so I experienced every high and low of the season. It was a real rollercoaster of a season, perfectly summed up in that Bulldogs game. That's where the build up really begins for me. See, I was on my way to Sydney just as the game was kicking off and only caught snippits of the first half as we were making our way through the terminal. It was so frustrating because it seemed like every time I had access to a television, the Bulldogs score had increased and it appeared that our fairytale season was over.
Fortunately the plane I was on had ABC radio so I got to listen to their half-time show. In true ABC fashion, they already had the Dogs penciled into the GF and were putting the boot into Brisbane. At that point, I just wanted the boys to give me something to smile about - a nice long field try would be enough for me...and boy oh boy did they deliver. Still remember the moment on the plane, Sherwin's great clearing kick and Hodges' even better return. That plane ride would still have to be the best, everytime the Broncos scored the majority of the room would let out a little cheer and I couldn't wait until I got to watch the replay. I still remember eventually getting to the hotel, watching the sports highlights and logging onto here and LU and reading all the celebrations - it was fantastic.
It was the perfect build up in a sense because I got to experience reactions from both Rugby League heartlands. It was interesting to be in Sydney when they didn't have a team to support because it just felt more like a celebration of the sport than the contest itself - meanwhile in Brissie it seemed like plenty of places were coloured with maroon and there were plenty of Broncos emblems about. Personally, I don't think I'd been more excited for the match. I was quietly confident we could win the match because it seemed like after the Bulldogs game we could beat everybody. Also the loss of Michael Crocker on the eve of the contest seemed to serve as a good omen - at that point Melbourne had never been beaten with him in the side and that run would continue well into 2008 I believe. Anyways, this didn't stop me writing all sorts of reports (written and player comparisons), playing through a number of GF games on Rugby League 2, buying every newspaper/magazine and watching through all the festivities (GF breakfast, Footy Show, GF replays and the full gameday coverage).
Thankfully this time I was home to watch this game and had just about every television in the house tuned in so I could pace nervously around the house. Game was well and truly in the balance right up until Tate scored. I couldn't believe that try when it happened, and honestly still can't. Berro got rewarded for terrible play but the way our senior players responded was amazing, particularly McGuire who threw an awesome hail merry pass which bounced up perfectly for us. At that point, it was our premiership to lose and every play from that point became crucial. It wasn't until Gus came up with his typical famous mocker that I believe we could win it. Ha, that still brings me a smile to my face. "Broncos are out of it...you could throw a handkerchief over them" next minute 60m set and not long after that boom, Lockyer field goal and that was that.
Winning the game felt like an ending to a Rocky movie. I even had the victory song blasting in my head as we won and must admit I was disappointed when Webcke didn't give us a 'Yo Allison' but that's just me.
I bought about every piece of merch you could imagine celebrating the GF and still remember the Sydney media denouncing the grand final as tarnished and most reviews seemed to be more about Simpkins than about the Broncos winning. No skin off my nose since the Broncos won but just proof positive that they're just a bunch of sore losers. Similar antics emerged when we won in 2000.
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So that's my recollection, I'd love to hear some of yours.
