It was hard to believe we were heading into Australia’s most populated city on NRL Grand Final day when we left Mascot airport after a ridiculously early flight on Sunday morning. Anyone else get caught out by Daylight Savings??? (thank you i-Phone!) The streets were empty, rain was coming down and as we hit the CBD I seriously expected to see tumbleweed rolling down Pitt St as we pulled up to our hotel.
Squared away it was time to go and set-up our function at the Menzies. What an event this promised to be. Benny Elias, Billy Moore (daylight savings victim!), comedian Clint Paddison and 150 Sportsnet guests having a few drinks, a great lunch and getting into the spirit of the game. It was a great function. Benny and Billy were hilarious, almost as funny as Clint and when they knuckled down to talk about the impending Manly v Warriors clash that you could feel the excitement building in the room. After the function it was a train to the game. Now – we left at 3.30pm to head to the ground and courtesy of free transport for all ticket holders on the day, we were at Olympic Park by 4pm. Brilliant. Easy. Just what’s needed for all visiting fans and most appreciated. Well done NRL. Well done Sydney!
All creatures great & small...
Arriving at ANZ Stadium the noise and the hype was getting close to fever pitch. Fans from both sides singing and carrying on, and crazy costumes and get-ups could be seen everywhere! Over an hour before kick off and the place was absolutely humming. As a predominantly AFL fan, I can tell you there’s a lot the AFL could learn about Grand Final day (granted that would be about it but still…) from the NRL. The bars were exceptional and fast moving. The food, the same. There just seemed to be a lot of space in the concourses and it was so incredibly well organized. You never had to wait for anything! Cue entertainment. Where Meatloaf failed to fire at the G, Clarkson, Eskimo Joe etc nailed ANZ complemented by fireworks, dancers and so much more. Kudos once more NRL.
What a view!
So we hit our seats. Perfect! Try line, section 1, in a melting pot of Sea Eagle and Warrior fans. It was raining, but somehow we managed to be 3 rows back from where the rain stopped…luck or perfect management? Of huge benefit to me was the man-by-man intros of the players on the big screen. Loved it and man did it get the crowd going?! For me, well it made the players ‘real’ people and when they ran out to even more fireworks, I kind of felt like I knew them! Then it got serious…and how!
There was a lot of talk about whether the NZ national anthem would be played, or if the Haka should be performed. I mean, it IS an Aussie comp after all with the Warriors going further than anyone thought possible. To my extreme pleasure, both happened. The anthems of both countries were fantastic, and I think everyone was singing along. But the Haka…well well. THIS is something extraordinary. Though I’m sure they were freezing in their native costumes, the Maoris in on the ground gave it everything, I could her something behind me and when I turned in my seat, I saw these Warrior fans helping out doing the Haka too! (anyone else see these guys??)
There were goose-bumps the size of golf balls all over me, and you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. The pride, the patriotism, the passion. THAT is what sport is about, what Sportsnet want all our clients to experience, and here I was, EXPERIENCING IT!! Right there I decided I was a Warrior fan for the day and no matter what happened in the next 80 minutes or so, they’ll have a special place in my heart due wholly to the passion of their fans.
The game itself was OK…A battle of defences and Manly were just too experienced, too structured for the most part. In the last 20 minutes the Warriors found the flair that had got them this far but the clock, steady rain and an oppressing Sea Eagles outfit all conspired against them to see Manly win convincingly in the season decider. There was also talk of some dubious refereeing decisions; can anyone enlighten me as to what these were? I saw unbridled joy, and open heartache. As a true fan of neither team I was simply honoured to be there and to see how a game that has had so many off field issues in 2011 put it all on the line for the big one. As far as I am concerned, they got it bang on! I’ll be back for sure, mind you I’ll head over on Saturday night next time…
Who else was there? How would you rate your experience at this magnificent event and will you be back? I know I will. Get in early here and join me!
YOUR say about OUR say!