The karma has played out strong in this one....
In terms of memorable finals matches, I can't go past the 2008 home semi against the Roosters. I was working in the media, and I'd thrown my Mt Smart media pass out when we had the away final against the Storm. The Warriors media man wasn't overly chuffed to be producing a new one. The ground was HUMMING from the start, really that 'I didn't think we'd be here' buzz. I remember a few things - it was an arm wrestle until the second half, the crucial penalty try when Hohaia was taken out, then Aidan Kirk's epic runaway. Oh, and certainly can't forget Ruben's CHAAAARGE into Sia Soliola, wowee that was felt 100m across field. And Josh Massoud, the slippery little f**k climbing all over me in the press box, cheering on the Roosters, crying foul for the penalty try then sooking it up deluxe at fulltime. I took a fair bit of schaudenfraude out of his eventual demise - what a shit person.
The 2008 Storm final before that, I'd said to the guys I was watching with that I'd run home nude if we won. Witt scores, I end up running home and Mum was not expecting to see that at the front door.
2011, Tigers game I was at the Cloud in the CBD for the Rugby World Cup...not many people cared a lot until the end, then it was an absolute raucous celebration. And I still remember being drunk for the Storm game, watching SJ lay on that try and thinking it was the closest to God I'd ever be, scoring from a try where he actually dummied the whole Storm team, me, and the cameraman. I should have gone to that GF, but was probably flat broke.
2007, I was at the Eels game and all I remember is Logan Swann. I learned yesterday from one of LeagueNut's epic quizzes that Swann has played the most finals for the Warriors. Explains a lot, I guess.
2023, my daughter ruptured her appendix in the days before the Penrith final. Really didn't get to enjoy that one too well, but I have wonderful memories of watching the Knights game with her and the Broncos one - she is sweet now, and an absolute Warriors tragic (she's 7). She threw a wobbly last night because she couldn't stay up to watch the Dogs game. Brainwashing, complete.