Big_Bad_Shark_Fan
First Grade
- Messages
- 8,279
Every decade there are moments in rugby league that will never be forgotten. Moments when a player projects himself above all others, and stand alone on a pedestal of sporting excellence and heroism. These are the moments where players make name for themselves, and step out from the shadow in which they hide, to a rollercoaster of fame and fortune, and a lifetime of rememberance and appreciation. These occasions are rarely seen on a rugby league field, but are rarely forgotten.
Many players overtime have stepped onto this stage. Noone who has ever bought a rugby league jersey, attended a game, or ever eaten mongolian lamb will forget these particular plays which made you cringe, and you didn't no whether to laugh or cry. Im talking about plays like Scott Sattlers "That Tackle" , Benji Marshalls "That Pass" or Sonny Bill Williams "That Hit". Its fair to say, these are the moments that you will never forget, the moments which make rugby league - the greatest game of all - The Game which they play in heaven.
April 22nd, 2006 - Judgement Day for the boys from Australias most growing city - the shire. The underfeated North Queensland Cowboys, the team who many say could not be beaten, up against the soon to be 2006 fairytale, a team with rich history and tradition,
who astonishingly are floundering near the bottom of the premiership ladder - The Cronulla Sutherland Sharks.
Egos running high, Temperatures flaring, men walking wounded, sides going blow for blow as the clock shows only a steady 15 minutes remaining. The score is 22-22 and the Sharks have a penalty 40 metres out. Dykes stares up to the stands, arms out - what should we do? … "Its too far, you have to go for touch" says the mysterious man wearing a top hat in the grandstand.
Luke stands there, eyes bulging, shirt ripped, dirt filled face, mind ticking. A flashback.... to the days of the Gunnedah Goannas VS Cessnock Seals Grand Final Qualifier in 1996 when Luke was just a fragile young man, 15 years of age, with a kick from the sideline to win the game after time had been called. He remembers how he kicked the goal, and how he stayed out to 2am that night partying, picking up two chicks in the one night. He remembers how he believed in himself and that he can do it then, why cant he do it there.
And from the famous line of a Mariah Carey blockbusting single………… “And Then a hero comes along”.
"NOOO MAN" yells Luke who snatches the ball off Adam Dykes and points towards the posts. "I CAN DO THIS BROTHER" he tells Adam who even must have doubts with this feat so unlikely.
So that leaves the difference between victory and defeat in the hands of this great player of the modern era. Memories of a hero, a running unicorn, a defensive stalward, courage of a representative from long ago, this game all depended on a fighter named Luke Claudia Covell.
So there he stand, on a park which only the religious will know the name of, with a burning determination to even up the score. Raging heat within, fevers rising, a fiery Luke Covell stands their with the #5 on his back, seeking revenge for all those fans who have called him too small , too slow , too hotheaded and branded him rugby leagues bad boy of 2006. Fire in his eyes as he stares at the posts, hunger in the belly as he looks to do the impossible, could this fill the champagne glass up, which has been dry for a few weeks.
Fourty Metres out, 10 metres to the side of the post, gail wind blowing into Luke’s face, it did not get any tougher. Flurries of dust and sand swirl round as he stands above the ball, in this eerie, barren land that is Shark Park. The crowd is nervous, the only sound is the howl of a rising gail wind. Pressure boiling like an ice cold freezer, crowd on the edge of their seat, Covells golden locks swirling over his eyes as he prepares for one of the biggest moments in his career, if not any mans career. A defeaned silence around the ground … it all came down to this. Luke, through all his experience takes a minute to reflect.
He has another flashback, two in one night, this is unusual for Luke. He remembers back to when he would go to the old woolshed after school and practise from 4.15 to 11.50pm every night. These same days when he would try and emulate his goalkicking heroes in Matthew Ridge and Brian Smith. He remembers all the training he has put in for a moment like this, where his sides chances all rest on his shoulders. Then Luke would walk home, side stepping bins and trees, lurking in the shadows of the mean streets of Goondiwindi, when most normal folk are sleeping, dreaming of the day he would kick a goal to win the game. He looks to the grandstand, the mysterious man who can now be seen as Kevin Iro stares back, nods, Luke nods back - it was all that was needed.
What happened next...
The kick is successful. Luke Covell, the scapegoat of many Sharks fans over the last few weeks after a string of losses steps up, and performs one of the biggest moments in the history of the game. Scores locked, game on the line, only moments remaining in the game. Move over Andrew Johns, Paul Gallen and Jonathon Thurston…. Rugby league has a new pinup boy, a new golden child. That man is … Luke Covell, the godfather as he is known to many, a representative of many, an ambassador for the great sport, a hero to some, a father figure to others, a representative of the people , the plague, the modern day folk.
Today we must stand up, take notice and applaud – I know I am, as I have just witnessed something very special. Rugby League is greater for Luke Covell’s presence.
Scott Sattler - 2003 - That Tackle
Sonny Bill Williams - 2004 - That Hit
Benji Marshall - 2005 - That Pass
Luke Covell - 2006 - That Kick
Many players overtime have stepped onto this stage. Noone who has ever bought a rugby league jersey, attended a game, or ever eaten mongolian lamb will forget these particular plays which made you cringe, and you didn't no whether to laugh or cry. Im talking about plays like Scott Sattlers "That Tackle" , Benji Marshalls "That Pass" or Sonny Bill Williams "That Hit". Its fair to say, these are the moments that you will never forget, the moments which make rugby league - the greatest game of all - The Game which they play in heaven.
April 22nd, 2006 - Judgement Day for the boys from Australias most growing city - the shire. The underfeated North Queensland Cowboys, the team who many say could not be beaten, up against the soon to be 2006 fairytale, a team with rich history and tradition,
who astonishingly are floundering near the bottom of the premiership ladder - The Cronulla Sutherland Sharks.
Egos running high, Temperatures flaring, men walking wounded, sides going blow for blow as the clock shows only a steady 15 minutes remaining. The score is 22-22 and the Sharks have a penalty 40 metres out. Dykes stares up to the stands, arms out - what should we do? … "Its too far, you have to go for touch" says the mysterious man wearing a top hat in the grandstand.
Luke stands there, eyes bulging, shirt ripped, dirt filled face, mind ticking. A flashback.... to the days of the Gunnedah Goannas VS Cessnock Seals Grand Final Qualifier in 1996 when Luke was just a fragile young man, 15 years of age, with a kick from the sideline to win the game after time had been called. He remembers how he kicked the goal, and how he stayed out to 2am that night partying, picking up two chicks in the one night. He remembers how he believed in himself and that he can do it then, why cant he do it there.
And from the famous line of a Mariah Carey blockbusting single………… “And Then a hero comes along”.
"NOOO MAN" yells Luke who snatches the ball off Adam Dykes and points towards the posts. "I CAN DO THIS BROTHER" he tells Adam who even must have doubts with this feat so unlikely.
So that leaves the difference between victory and defeat in the hands of this great player of the modern era. Memories of a hero, a running unicorn, a defensive stalward, courage of a representative from long ago, this game all depended on a fighter named Luke Claudia Covell.
So there he stand, on a park which only the religious will know the name of, with a burning determination to even up the score. Raging heat within, fevers rising, a fiery Luke Covell stands their with the #5 on his back, seeking revenge for all those fans who have called him too small , too slow , too hotheaded and branded him rugby leagues bad boy of 2006. Fire in his eyes as he stares at the posts, hunger in the belly as he looks to do the impossible, could this fill the champagne glass up, which has been dry for a few weeks.
Fourty Metres out, 10 metres to the side of the post, gail wind blowing into Luke’s face, it did not get any tougher. Flurries of dust and sand swirl round as he stands above the ball, in this eerie, barren land that is Shark Park. The crowd is nervous, the only sound is the howl of a rising gail wind. Pressure boiling like an ice cold freezer, crowd on the edge of their seat, Covells golden locks swirling over his eyes as he prepares for one of the biggest moments in his career, if not any mans career. A defeaned silence around the ground … it all came down to this. Luke, through all his experience takes a minute to reflect.
He has another flashback, two in one night, this is unusual for Luke. He remembers back to when he would go to the old woolshed after school and practise from 4.15 to 11.50pm every night. These same days when he would try and emulate his goalkicking heroes in Matthew Ridge and Brian Smith. He remembers all the training he has put in for a moment like this, where his sides chances all rest on his shoulders. Then Luke would walk home, side stepping bins and trees, lurking in the shadows of the mean streets of Goondiwindi, when most normal folk are sleeping, dreaming of the day he would kick a goal to win the game. He looks to the grandstand, the mysterious man who can now be seen as Kevin Iro stares back, nods, Luke nods back - it was all that was needed.
What happened next...
The kick is successful. Luke Covell, the scapegoat of many Sharks fans over the last few weeks after a string of losses steps up, and performs one of the biggest moments in the history of the game. Scores locked, game on the line, only moments remaining in the game. Move over Andrew Johns, Paul Gallen and Jonathon Thurston…. Rugby league has a new pinup boy, a new golden child. That man is … Luke Covell, the godfather as he is known to many, a representative of many, an ambassador for the great sport, a hero to some, a father figure to others, a representative of the people , the plague, the modern day folk.
Today we must stand up, take notice and applaud – I know I am, as I have just witnessed something very special. Rugby League is greater for Luke Covell’s presence.
Scott Sattler - 2003 - That Tackle
Sonny Bill Williams - 2004 - That Hit
Benji Marshall - 2005 - That Pass
Luke Covell - 2006 - That Kick
