Guess what I watched again tonight. I took some dictation of the commentary highlights from Ray Warren and co. I'm not the hugest fan of the Nine commentators... but reading these sonnets back they flow and resonate with poetic lyricism.
"And look at this, the Olympic Stadium. I havent seen it as full .. ever. Full to the brim, we think 84, somewhere between 82 and 84 thousand people, theyve crammed the stadium to watch this highly anticipated grand final"
"Hornby knows theres a chance, Soward puts a little kick in, theres a try for Gasnier! Gasnier I think has got the first try, it might have looked as though he came down on the line but I think Mark Gasnier has scored, off a bottler of a kick from Soward."
"15 out, the kick from Pearce is accurate, going up is Hornby! Right up above the pack! And thats taken beautifully by the captain!
[GUS] That, that is sensational. Hornby, an ex-fullback, has come from nowhere with a flying leap. And that showed all his fullback skills there no thought of self preservation. A big grab. 3 mins from the break, 2 the difference.
[Freddy] Gussy that deserved a Wow! That was a beauty"
"[gus] 52 seconds left in the 1st half, absolutely nothing in this game
[rabs] And I dont think theres going to be very much in the game really, as I look at the advancing black clouds above us. 2 points is going to prove quite valuable..."
"So 40 minutes of football remains to see who stands and holds the premiership trophy aloft. The Dragons from left to right, running towards the southern end theyre running towards home you might say"
"Dean Young, taking play to the 20 metre line, Dragons going down with an opportunity. Hornby, behind Scott and heres Boyd into the back! Trouble, trouble, trouble! Nightingale has scored for the Dragons! Jason Nightingale has scored for the Dragons to go to the lead."
"Heres Soward from the T-junction.. and he has landed the goal! Dragons go another two."
"Now Pearce, he puts a kick in, high, theyre coming after it, particularly Shaun Kenny-Dowall, but more particularly Darius Boyd!
[gus] Very very good. Very very very good. Sprinkling rain coming down in his eyes there, he goes up and takes a leap of faith and comes down with the ball. Thats terrific stuff."
"Fien gets it away, Hornby gets it on, bounces for Nightingale! Hell do it! Hell do it! Hes done it again! Put 2 down for Nightingale
[sterlo] Im sure its a try I think Nightingale gets the ball down without any problem whatsoever - and he does. There was no danger. Anthony Minichiello sliding in there cops him no hes happy, hes happy. Hes not in pain, hes in ecstasy is Jason Nightingale."
"Well the Dragons have now asked the big big question. 16 to 8, a damp pitch, rain coming down. Nightingale scores his 39th try, and they build up an 8 point lead. Jamie to make it 10 points from the same spot that he kicked the goal from the previous Nightingale try. Its on its way. I like it! Hes got it! Sowards kicked the goal! ...Andrew sideline
[Johns] Sowards gone off his nana, his excited about kicking that goal. Wow! Jason Nightingale what an underrated winger, thats 2 tries tonight. Look at this, he doesnt panic. Wet slippery ball on the ground, picks it up on the half volley, and scores in the corner and screams. Here come the Saints."
"Costigan driving it to 8m from the line. Fien, looking left, looking right, having a little go. Youngll score! Dean Young - he has scored! The son of the captain of 1979! Hes got a wonderful combination going with Nathan Fien, and he has scored behind the uprights."
"[Sterlo] Field goal Jamie Soward, very very deep, to put them outside 3 converted tries, if they can get the ball there.
[rabs] I think they will, Nathan is reading off the same page. And Nathan Fien gets a try!
[sterlo] ahhh clever!
[rabs] Well they set it up, they rehearsed it, even Ben Hornby played a little part. And Nathan Fien has said forget Jamie Soward, what about me? And he scores in the 70th minute.
[sterlo] Well we were all on the same playsheet but it was the wrong one! Great work there from the Dragons. They sold Jamie Soward was going to take the point, he couldnt get any deeper, they couldnt sell it any better. Im going to throw the ball to Jamie Soward, we all know Im going to throw the ball to Jamie Soward no Im gonna go down the short side and score myself."
"Hornby, floats it over, Gasnier puts on the speed button, goes down the right side Gasnier! Puts a little kick in, Minichiellos got work to do! And he gets it dead, with Nightingale lurking and now jumping amongst cameras and what have you. He wants 3 doesnt he, Nightingale? But hes not gonna get them. Waynes got the centre of attention and so he should. Seven grand final victories for Wayne Bennett. And the Dragons win the grand final! 32 to 8. Their first since 1979. In front of a crowd of upwards of 82000 people. Tears appropriate. But 32-8 in favour of the Dragons."
