Great thread!
92-93: Early teenage years. Loved the 3pm kickoffs and family BBQs. We seemed invincible.
97: Watched at a pub. Pretty confident we would win and win well. Don't remember being nervous at all.
98: Was living in UK. A bit distracted by alcohol and travel stuff so I didn't get to see it live. I remember the feeling of relief and that we had proven we were the absolute best. ARL be damned!!!!
2000: Still overseas. Watched the game live still seriously hungover on a big screen in Ios in the Greek Islands. Surprisingly a heap of NRL fans there. I reckon about 100 Aussies and Kiwis. Remember being supremely confident. Lockyer, Lote & Wendell great.
2006: Flew down from the NT for the game last minute, via Adelaide and Melbourne

. Had awesome seats next to John Howard and Eddie McGuire for some reason... Not confident at all in this game given Storm were so good throughout the season and we had had our run of losses during the season, until Wayne gave the lads a break mid-season. Went home to my 4 week old baby with a premiership as a fan. Loving life.
2015: Flew down from Cairns on the Sunday morning. Watched the Wallabies smash England in the world cup as I got onto the plane, so was really happy to start the day.
Met my Cowboys supporting mate and went out to the game. We were both nervous, not knowing who should be the underdog, but both claiming it.
At halftime I said to him, I think JT will get a kick to win it. When the Feldt try happened, he looked at me like I was Nostradamus. He still thinks I'm some sort of rugby league savant...

We lost, and I couldn't really process it for a day or two. All I remember is the Cowboys were my 2nd team before the game, and afterwards they were my mortal enemy.
2023: ****. It's still raw but I've finally been able to even think about the game. I can't watch any of it yet.
I flew down for the Storm final. Perfect..
I drove down for the Warriors game. Even better..
I flew down on the Sunday morning for the GF. Met up with the same Cowboys supporting mate, wearing his 1988 Bronx jersey. He was a Bronx supporter before the Cows came in.
The game was fucked. Couldn't believe we were only 2 behind at halftime.
I was sitting in section 404, so, elevated a bit but right in front of Ezra's breaks/tries. I've never been that excited/out of control/ecstatic at a game. I was literally hugging strangers and screaming primally. I think the frustrations of 2015, and the seasons following, the Storm hoodoo, 2008 Sims, Siebold, Wooden Spoon. Everything came out.
My mate says to me, are you confident now? No, I said. Never.
Cleary then fucked us up properly. The siren went, we looked at each other and just started walking. Sat on the train. Couldn't say a word. Couldn't sleep.
Messaged my wife, "I'm never watching a grand final live again".
It was a lie. I'll be there again. Probably until I'm too old to travel.
Love this club.