I just spent 90 mins watching our 2009 season highlights game by game in the back half.
What a team we were in full flight then
I wrote some notes during our run
Round 19 v Melbourne @ Parramatta - where it all started a gritty win on a monday night in Hindy 250th. I dont think Cam Smith played as James Maloney was dummy half for Melbourne & Luke Kelly came on as well and setup a try in his debut game for Hoffman with his 2nd touch. Hayne setup the first try for Robson, Fui barged over and razzle dazzle in the 2nd half for Lowrie try. We were up 18-6 and it ended up 18-16 hanging on for Hindy.
Round 20 v Bulldogs @ Homebush - Blew them apart a couple of long range tries including a 105m try to Grothe from 2 plays. Hayne went 80m got tackled then we down the right where Grothe ran straight through for the try. 2nd half we just steamrolled Kingston went himself and scored, Fui barged over 3 blokes and Burt FG to win 27-8. Thats the game where i think everyone believed we could make a run
Round 21 v Sharks @ Shark Park - A couple of nice tries to Joel Reddy, Hayne had spiders on him basically was doing as we pleased could have won by 50 but took it easy on the battling sharks who were 2nd last to win 30-0.
Round 22 - Newcastle @ Parramatta - The Eels were electrifying - Rabs & Sterlo were having orgasms in the comm box over Hayne's skill, Burt was on fire with 24 points, Inu scored a try where Gidley fumbled and turned around like a turtle to try and recover while Inu swooped. Reddy again was a menace in the backline grubber it through with no one out the back and scored. Kingston was making line breaks from dummy half darts so much so Gus was telling the audience with 10 mins to go the Knights were already on the bus after Burt's 2nd try to win 40-8
Round 23 - Warriors @ Parramatta - An absolute rout another game we could have won by 50 half our tries came from the opposite half of the field. Hayne only had to have the ball in his hands to send a shiver down the opposition. A couple of chip and chases, flick passes and support play and we won 40-4
Round 24 - Tigers @ SFS - The Friday Night blockbuster Benji v Hayne - Benji setup a couple of tries with a few of his flicks but Parra fought back with there harlem globetrotters style of play with a couple of freakish tries. 20-18 up 3 mins to go Hayne dances around Farah chips and chases gets the ball back and scores next to the posts to send the Tigers out of the finals and basically lock up 8th spot for the Blue & Golds. Andrew Johns was in awe in the commentary box.
Round 25 - Penrith @ Parramatta - Daniel Mortimer scores 3 tries while Hayne basically sets up another 3 with skill & precision landing the ball on a dime for Luke Burt and co. Jarrod Sammut had a barry crocker and we win 48-6 storming towards september
Round 26 - Dragons @ Kogarah - The DVD cut out this game on the highlights package went straight to Jarryd Hayne collecting his Dally M medal.
Finals Week 1 - Dragons @ Kogarah - Incredible win against the odds. Hayne bomb where Mortimer outjumps Darius Boyd to pass back to Burt to score. Mortimer scored, Grothe intercept, Burt FG and Hayne beat 15 players and 2 refs to score to send the Dragons fans walking out before the FT siren.
Finals Week 2 - Titans @ SFS - In 3rd gear a lot of lesser names in Ben Smith, Kingston, Jono wright scored. Mortimer went down early which meant Mateo came on to 5/8 and scored a try. A pretty easy win 27-2 where the whole 2nd half the crowd were chanting "Bring on the Bulldogs"
Finals Week 3 - Bulldogs @ Homebush - After patten got knocked out the Dogs get a 8 point try we fight back through Hayne and Galuvao. Josh Morris scores on HT for the Dogs to go up 12-6. 2nd half all parramatta had 1 try disallowed and scored another 3 through harlem globetrotters never say die footy. Hindmarsh saved a line break when Ennis went through with 13 mins to go. Then shortly after Mortimer finishes off a 80m try off the back of 6/7 sets of hands.
I dont need to recap the GF but yet again when you rewatch that period of footy we were simply incredible & unstoppable really. It took a team full-strength over the salary cap to scrape home and edge us out of what would have been the greatest premiership of all-time.
