Big_Bad_Shark_Fan
First Grade
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- 8,279
It was a horrid month. It all started with a controversial sacking, when two of Sutherlands wealthiest men went into battle, and for what it was worth Luke Covell was left to spend his Saturdays at HensonPark, playing for the Newtown Jets. Three games later
. And there is low worker morale, high staff turnover and loss of productivity. The Cronulla Sharks were on the way down the ladder and only one man could save them.
Covell.
Luke Covell.
One week later and the Sharks return to the winners circle, coincidentally the same week Covell had returned, as he sent the Storm back to Sunshine with a 12 point Haul.
He Returned, He Conqoured.
But now a bigger challenge .
The broadcast begins, and focuses us in on a dressing room of hope, belief and talented prodigys. A dressing room which contains more stars than a night at the Logies. Dykes, Kimmorley , Peachey , Vagana , Gallen , Stevens , Nutley. But one noteable star is missing. And as the camera pans around we finally see him.And while Peachey laughs, and Dykes rubs vasoline on himself, the man they call The Little Master Luke Covell that sits in the corner of the room , pondering what would happen next. He sits their, with the weight of expectation sitting comfortably numb on his shoulders. And as he sat in the change room moments before kick off, not even the players so similar to Luke, such as Graham Langlands, could imagine what would be going through the mans mind. Pressure boiling like a red hot iron, tension being able to be cut with a knife, Luke Covell sits their with a Gremlin on his shoulder, clawing into his back. It is the same Gremlin which has haunted the shire for 38 years in search of a premiership, and jumped on the back of past greats like Matt Rogers and Mitch Healey in their playing careers.
The young and highly talked about Luke knew that it was no coincidence that his sides plummet down the competition ladder ended when he returned to the side last week. Going into that game last week, Covell knew that it was the last chance for him to redeem himself, and show that he is the best winger in the game. It was his chance to redeem himself for the sharks, for the plight, for the fans, for rugby league itself , for sanity and for most importantly - Luke Covell , 2004 NSW rep and 2005 country origin rep.
And like John Travolta before him, Luke Covells comeback wrote his name into the record books. It ensured his name is etched into the book of legends, joining a list that includes Raudonikis, Meninga, Langer, and Albert Torrens. And how sweet does success taste. Especially after his past. He has survived turmoil between players and coaching staff, his colleagues he visibly upset one day a month ago , upon learning of his delegation to the premier league, causing boycotts and threats of mass walkouts teammates fearing for their safety, future, career at the absence of the teams lynchpin, their great white hope, the man who they all know, the white light shining in the know.
But a week on , and a different situation and as the crowd roared, the air of expectation looming in the night, deafened only by the hostile crowd of the SFS, Covell ran out onto the field , his place of destruction, his home of beckoning - his cauldron.
The game begins. A hectic battle ensues, team mates fired up, morale high and close together, they are having fun. However suddenly the game is turned on its head, when the ball is given, against the run of play to the brilliant Amos Roberts, a player that strikes fear into any team.
Luke Covell - a man possessed, still returning to the team that made him one of zeuses prototypes, sees his opposite number with the ball and makes a valliant attempt to try and stop Roberts in the clear. Two of the games speedstars, regardless of what anyone says.
Covell tries, but cant. He falls to the ground. How could this be? Ponders Covell, dirt on his face, taut, lean, tight body lying on the ground. He looks up at the coaching box, Raper has his head in his hands, the mysterious Murray sucking a cigarette, silhouetted by the Cowboy hat and Dark Trenchcoat he wears. Was Raper regretting his decision? Am I really still the superstar I was? When did my run at me and ill tackle you defence leave me? Questions running through Lukes mind, for all his hype, for all his hardwork in a nameless park in a grimy part of town could it have achieved nothing.
Covell closes his eyes, ready to fall into the ground that is his bed, just then, Covell had a flashback, to a time long ago, a little boy trying to ride his bike, his mother Shelley watching him. The same Shelley who was part of a long list of soccer fanatics that tried to turn Luke to soccer, another sport he excelled at. And as Luke had this flashback of him trying to ride a bike with his mother watching, their was a twist as the young boy with the golden blonde hair falls over onto the road, knees scratched, his tears on the cold Goondiwindi cement. Never give up Luke, Shelley says, never forget who you are. Luke returns to conciousness, ready to accept defeat, that he is not the player people say he is.
Luke Covell - The young boy who fell off his bike.
NO!!!!! , GET UP MAN, Luke says to himself, NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!. And with deep muscular muscles throbbing he hoists his tight muscular body of the turf, wipes the dirt of his chin, runs his hands through his golden brown hair and says im back baby, and I have to take care of business
However had the comeback really hit home? At halftime the Sharks are still down , Covell below his usual best. But soon after Covell gets them back in the game with a spectacular 40 metre penalty goals, some magnificent runs, bone crunching defence and not one, not two , not three but four try saving tackles. The man was back ..
Back to reality, 15 minutes from fulltime, and despite Covell sweeping his side around like a broom, playing the role of the little general, the Sharks still trail 14-2.
A cry from the distances .. Give him the ball. Covell heres the cry and the ball sails into his hands. The crowd all stand up, an air of excitement
And like the song from Mariah Carey And then a hero comes along , with a strength to carry on , Covell stood up and became a hero. He beats one, he beats two, he beats three, four , five, inside another! TRY!!!!!!!. He had given the Sharks a glimpse of hope, playing with ligament damage in his ankle, this was truly one of sports vintage performances.
But the job was not done there. 14-6 , a wounded man stands over the ball , which is right on the sideline. He sniffs the air. Does his usual warm up. The whole nation is watching, billions throughout the world thoughout hundreds of countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Paupa New Guinea and Switzerland. He moves in , left leg right leg he strikes it .the pressure is immense. It comes sweetly off the foot? But is it good enough? Yes its coming round! Its coming round! Its! Its! Its Over!!! The Sharks are alive!!!! 14-8 ! 14-8! 14-8!
But like all true fairytales, there is a setback. The Sharks, for all that is worth, could not find the line again. Fulltime, streamers , balloons, fireworks. The Roosters had prevailed against a gallant and underdone sharks outfit, spearheaded by one man. The fulltime score read:
Sydney Roosters 14
Luke Covell 8
Not even the greatest of all wingers could bring his side home tonight. Luke Covell carried his team, making tackles, making breaks, creating opportunities and scoring all the points. Remember what Mabo said , A Champion can only do so much.
Luke Covell - Defeated, but still a true champion.
It was like a comeback within a comeback, despite the result, the Immortal Luke had returned. Four try saving tackles, each one of these tackles a testimony to his effort, champions die tomorrow, but class lives forever- these words never run more true than this warm winters night, a champion on display, once in a lifetime sight .
Maybe you dont care about Covell , but I do, so if you do not like him, then do not turn this into a negative thread, as this was truely one of sports Vintage performances.
Covell.
Luke Covell.
One week later and the Sharks return to the winners circle, coincidentally the same week Covell had returned, as he sent the Storm back to Sunshine with a 12 point Haul.
But now a bigger challenge .
The broadcast begins, and focuses us in on a dressing room of hope, belief and talented prodigys. A dressing room which contains more stars than a night at the Logies. Dykes, Kimmorley , Peachey , Vagana , Gallen , Stevens , Nutley. But one noteable star is missing. And as the camera pans around we finally see him.And while Peachey laughs, and Dykes rubs vasoline on himself, the man they call The Little Master Luke Covell that sits in the corner of the room , pondering what would happen next. He sits their, with the weight of expectation sitting comfortably numb on his shoulders. And as he sat in the change room moments before kick off, not even the players so similar to Luke, such as Graham Langlands, could imagine what would be going through the mans mind. Pressure boiling like a red hot iron, tension being able to be cut with a knife, Luke Covell sits their with a Gremlin on his shoulder, clawing into his back. It is the same Gremlin which has haunted the shire for 38 years in search of a premiership, and jumped on the back of past greats like Matt Rogers and Mitch Healey in their playing careers.
The young and highly talked about Luke knew that it was no coincidence that his sides plummet down the competition ladder ended when he returned to the side last week. Going into that game last week, Covell knew that it was the last chance for him to redeem himself, and show that he is the best winger in the game. It was his chance to redeem himself for the sharks, for the plight, for the fans, for rugby league itself , for sanity and for most importantly - Luke Covell , 2004 NSW rep and 2005 country origin rep.
And like John Travolta before him, Luke Covells comeback wrote his name into the record books. It ensured his name is etched into the book of legends, joining a list that includes Raudonikis, Meninga, Langer, and Albert Torrens. And how sweet does success taste. Especially after his past. He has survived turmoil between players and coaching staff, his colleagues he visibly upset one day a month ago , upon learning of his delegation to the premier league, causing boycotts and threats of mass walkouts teammates fearing for their safety, future, career at the absence of the teams lynchpin, their great white hope, the man who they all know, the white light shining in the know.
But a week on , and a different situation and as the crowd roared, the air of expectation looming in the night, deafened only by the hostile crowd of the SFS, Covell ran out onto the field , his place of destruction, his home of beckoning - his cauldron.
The game begins. A hectic battle ensues, team mates fired up, morale high and close together, they are having fun. However suddenly the game is turned on its head, when the ball is given, against the run of play to the brilliant Amos Roberts, a player that strikes fear into any team.
Luke Covell - a man possessed, still returning to the team that made him one of zeuses prototypes, sees his opposite number with the ball and makes a valliant attempt to try and stop Roberts in the clear. Two of the games speedstars, regardless of what anyone says.
Covell tries, but cant. He falls to the ground. How could this be? Ponders Covell, dirt on his face, taut, lean, tight body lying on the ground. He looks up at the coaching box, Raper has his head in his hands, the mysterious Murray sucking a cigarette, silhouetted by the Cowboy hat and Dark Trenchcoat he wears. Was Raper regretting his decision? Am I really still the superstar I was? When did my run at me and ill tackle you defence leave me? Questions running through Lukes mind, for all his hype, for all his hardwork in a nameless park in a grimy part of town could it have achieved nothing.
Covell closes his eyes, ready to fall into the ground that is his bed, just then, Covell had a flashback, to a time long ago, a little boy trying to ride his bike, his mother Shelley watching him. The same Shelley who was part of a long list of soccer fanatics that tried to turn Luke to soccer, another sport he excelled at. And as Luke had this flashback of him trying to ride a bike with his mother watching, their was a twist as the young boy with the golden blonde hair falls over onto the road, knees scratched, his tears on the cold Goondiwindi cement. Never give up Luke, Shelley says, never forget who you are. Luke returns to conciousness, ready to accept defeat, that he is not the player people say he is.
NO!!!!! , GET UP MAN, Luke says to himself, NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!. And with deep muscular muscles throbbing he hoists his tight muscular body of the turf, wipes the dirt of his chin, runs his hands through his golden brown hair and says im back baby, and I have to take care of business
However had the comeback really hit home? At halftime the Sharks are still down , Covell below his usual best. But soon after Covell gets them back in the game with a spectacular 40 metre penalty goals, some magnificent runs, bone crunching defence and not one, not two , not three but four try saving tackles. The man was back ..
Back to reality, 15 minutes from fulltime, and despite Covell sweeping his side around like a broom, playing the role of the little general, the Sharks still trail 14-2.
A cry from the distances .. Give him the ball. Covell heres the cry and the ball sails into his hands. The crowd all stand up, an air of excitement
And like the song from Mariah Carey And then a hero comes along , with a strength to carry on , Covell stood up and became a hero. He beats one, he beats two, he beats three, four , five, inside another! TRY!!!!!!!. He had given the Sharks a glimpse of hope, playing with ligament damage in his ankle, this was truly one of sports vintage performances.
But the job was not done there. 14-6 , a wounded man stands over the ball , which is right on the sideline. He sniffs the air. Does his usual warm up. The whole nation is watching, billions throughout the world thoughout hundreds of countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Paupa New Guinea and Switzerland. He moves in , left leg right leg he strikes it .the pressure is immense. It comes sweetly off the foot? But is it good enough? Yes its coming round! Its coming round! Its! Its! Its Over!!! The Sharks are alive!!!! 14-8 ! 14-8! 14-8!
But like all true fairytales, there is a setback. The Sharks, for all that is worth, could not find the line again. Fulltime, streamers , balloons, fireworks. The Roosters had prevailed against a gallant and underdone sharks outfit, spearheaded by one man. The fulltime score read:
Sydney Roosters 14
Luke Covell 8
Not even the greatest of all wingers could bring his side home tonight. Luke Covell carried his team, making tackles, making breaks, creating opportunities and scoring all the points. Remember what Mabo said , A Champion can only do so much.
It was like a comeback within a comeback, despite the result, the Immortal Luke had returned. Four try saving tackles, each one of these tackles a testimony to his effort, champions die tomorrow, but class lives forever- these words never run more true than this warm winters night, a champion on display, once in a lifetime sight .
Maybe you dont care about Covell , but I do, so if you do not like him, then do not turn this into a negative thread, as this was truely one of sports Vintage performances.
