3. Lillyman - it's only when you're at the game that you realise the collisions this guy has to make. He went at it all day. What a fantastically tough prop we have, so lucky to sign him all those years ago.
2. Matulino - I can't go on about one prop and ignore the other, who's got more finesse, more ball-running skills. While the opposition are thinking 'bloody hell, we don't have to tackle this Lillyman guy again, do we?', when it comes to Mutts, they're genuinely wary of what he's going to do next.
1. Kata - you little ripper. Big bro Fergy's got a bloody nose in the backyard! And mum's wagging the finger at you this time.
All our tries were to the left of the posts which meant, with a half-time switch, I saw all of them up close. That last one, with them running towards us from deep in their right defensive side straight into the left attacking one, is one of the great memories. A grizzly old kiwi oke, who moved to Newcastle in the 1970s, was my sudden new friend. We hugged like old mates. What magic.
I'll claim it was the sunscreen that had gotten into my eyes (but it was probably a bit of misty-eyed emotion) but when I saw Cappy on the field (and he's quite a small, unconfident, almost vulnerable-looking man, isn't he?) shaking hands and hugging his players as they walked off in triumph, I couldn't help but think good on him, it must have been like going to hell and back these last six months.
But he deserved that special moment with his players. If you read this then well done, Andrew. I know you'll never forget it, nor will I and I'm sure every other Warrior fan who was there.
