Put into a gap by the talented murphyscreek, the debutant DRAGONZ_RULE streaks downfield, with dubopov and Jason Maher in support on either side. Approaching the Titans fullback, DRAGONZ_RULE comes up with
746 words between the stars, hoping it will be enough to send a teammate over for a try!
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LIFE, LOVE AND RUGBY LEAGUE: A HELLISH PARADISE
CHAPTER 1
Growing up in the bush is a tough gig, but growing up in the city is another kettle of fish altogether. And Kevin “Bluey” Wilson was one of those kids who just didn’t fit in...
Caught in the crossfire of a fight he didn’t understand, Bluey never saw his mother anymore. His father maintained she “deserved to rot in hell!” Bluey’s enquiries were always met with the same reply: “It’s not your problem!”
Despite his confusion, Bluey moved to Sydney with his father, whilst his mother stayed in Cobar. As he stepped into the ute, Bluey double-checked that he had his most important possession with him – his pack of tattered footy cards that he’d collected from bubblegum packs for years. He felt his pant pockets... nothing. Looked in his backpack... nothing! Frantically, he streaked back inside, and after the longest five minutes of his life, he found the bundle of cards in the most obvious of places – his bedside table drawer. Looking down at the faces of Greg Alexander, Brett Mullins, Brad Mackay, Benny Elias, Laurie Daley, Des Hasler and others , relief washed over him. His heroes, almost lost forever, were back!
It didn’t take long for Bluey to realise that he didn’t fit in with the progeny of suburbia. Whether it was the fact that he had never owned a Playstation, or that he had starred in his junior league team in Cobar but nobody here seemed to chat footy, Bluey just didn’t get along with the other boys at school, and he hated himself for it.
With his heart growing heavier by the day, Bluey didn’t know where to turn to. His dad hadn’t gotten around to buying a television yet, so he couldn’t watch his heroes (now safely tucked in his back pocket!) on TV – a weekend family tradition back in Cobar. Bluey spiralled towards depression, his strained laughter at classroom taunts followed by hasty trips to the toilet block, tears pouring from his eyes.
For months Bluey’s inner battle continued. And then, one day, everything suddenly changed...
Tom Edwards had always been kind enough to Bluey. Whilst not overly friendly, Tom never joined in with the others when they teased him; so when Tom asked if Bluey wanted to go to watch the footy on the weekend with his family, Bluey accepted without hesitation.
Tom’s family came to pick Bluey up that Sunday afternoon, and on the way to the ground – “Kogarah Jubilee, St George versus Parramatta, you’ll
LOVE it!” – Tom told Bluey about his favourite players: “Noel Goldthorpe, he’s the best! And Ricky Walford, you just watch him go!!” Bluey was sure he would remember every little detail about the day, from the red and white streamers attached to Tom’s car to the flags he saw people carrying as they made their way to the ground. Walking towards the stadium, the anticipation swelled like a balloon inside Bluey’s chest, but by the time they had arrived, Bluey’s heart had sunk:
everyone was wearing either a Dragons or Eels jersey. Everyone except him... although Bluey had always supported St George, his parents could not afford the jersey.
As they walked through the gates, Bluey couldn’t bring himself to look up from his shoelaces. A tap on his shoulder made him turn around, and there stood Tom’s father with a brand new St George cap in hand.
“This is for you, son,” Mr Edwards proclaimed.
“But, but... I can’t aff–”
“It’s a gift, welcoming you into the family: The St George family!”
Bluey jammed the cap onto his head, silently vowing to repay Mr Edwards by one day playing for the mighty St George Dragons! As he looked around himself for the first time, his eyes, full of wonderment, immediately settled upon the jam-packed hill – a hill crowded with a family that he was now a part of!
The game was a Dragons clinic – St George were Premiership favourites, Parramatta were out of the running for the Finals, and it showed. It was a procession from start to finish; even big Tony Priddle barged over for a try! But it was when Mick Potter streaked away from the clueless Eels defence to score yet another try in the 36-4 demolition, and ten thousand St George fans stood and cheered as one, that Bluey knew for sure and certain...
He knew, in that instant, that Kogarah Jubilee Oval was going to be his home...
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