As a child i was never going to grow up to be anything other than a dragons supporter.My father and my uncle were dragons tragic's and they passed this on to me from an early age.Dad would never have made me support a team just because he did but when your a young boy all you want to do is be like your father so i jumped aboard the roller coaster that is the life of a dragons supporter. Dad and my Uncle would always talk of the good old days of the 11 premierships in a row or watching ''puff the magic dragon" the prince of centres Reg Gasnier, Changa Langlands and the great Norm Provan, like i said my life as a dragons supporter was written in the stars, it was meant to be.
Being a long time ago now the details have faded along the way but i do know that the first game i ever went to with Dad was a Dragons v Broncos game at Kogarah. I think it was in 1989, the early years of the broncos. It poured rain most of the game.We sat on the old steel benches to the left of the old grandstand as you walk in, huddled under two umbrellas rain dripping all over us, everything was drenched, ''IT WAS GREAT". Dad warned me that Brisbane would be hard to beat that day and for me not to get mt hopes up as they were on a long winning streak. The dragons got up that day in the rain at Kogarah because i remember dad saying on the way home he was glad that my first time watching the mighty dragons live was a win for the good guys.Looking back on the records i think it was round 11 1989 with the Dragons winning 20-10. Like i said the details had faded but what i do remember is the rain and being with Dad under the umbrellas cheering for the red V.
I watched a lot of Rugby League with Dad over the years,we went to the 1993 Grand Final hoping to see the Dragons win a premiership together but we fell short,although we did get to see Tina Turner perform ''Simply the Best'' live that was awesome.We watched at home in 1999 thinking this was it only to be robbed at the death. We stopped going to games but i would always try to make it home on the weekends so we could watch the dragons games together . I doubted that i would ever get to see the Dragons win a grand final with Dad.
That changed in 2010 when Dad and I sat together in the lounge room of the home i grew up in and watched the dragons beat the roosters.When the heavens opened up in the second half i couldn't help but think of that day in 1989 at a rain drenched Kogarah Oval.
When the final siren went i stood up and hugged Dad and we both got teary eyed which was unusual for me and really unusual for Dad.I think we both new how significant a moment it was because it ended up being the last grand final we got to watch together.Dad passed away the next year in August after been diagnosed with cancer in April 2009.
Looking back i am so glad i got to see the Dragons win a Grandfinal with Dad.Sometimes i wish i could go back in time to that rainy day at Kogarah Oval in 1989 when i was only 11 years old and sit with Dad again and cheer on the Mighty Dragons.
People say that rugby league is "just a game" but to some it is so much more.
Miss you Dad.....
