Where Were You?

[dragonfan1]

http://www.nrl.com/newsviews/latest...0874/newsid/55509/where-were-you/default.aspx

This Friday June 26, Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra Dragons return to the scene of one of rugby leagues greatest matches for an all important re-match.

The atmosphere at the 2005 Preliminary Final between Wests Tigers and the Dragons was something special, with fans of both teams and the media in agreement that the action on the field was second to none.

The lead-up to the match was clouded in controversy, with both clubs wanting access to more tickets for their loyal supporters. It was this controversy that added to the atmosphere inside the ground, with members and supporters of both teams turning up clearly displaying their teams colours and creating a cauldron of emotion.

To help re-create this atmosphere, Wests Tigers have put out the challenge to members and supporters of both Wests Tigers and the Dragons to flood the stadium with their team colours and show your true spirit.

Wests Tigers is also asking members and supporters “Where were you?”. So tell us your stories about the match.

Several Wests Tigers Members and supporters, plus other prominent rugby league figures have filmed special WTV episodes that will be appearing all week on WTV.

Gates open at 3:45pm, with an Arrive Alive Cup match between Westfields Sports High and Hunter Sports High kicking off at 3:50pm. The NRL match between Wests Tigers and the St George Illawarra Dragons kicks off at 7:30.pm

Unfortunately, I never saw this game properly as I only began to support the dragons fully in 06. The Tigers have been a bogey team for us; I know they have beaten us in the last 3 clashes so hopefully we can get on top of them.

 

[Firey_Dragon]

Apparently whoever wrote the article can't differentiate between the words "where" and "were"

 

[muzby]

i remember exactly where i was..

crown casino melbourne.. i was a very very very sad boy that day.. i didn't speak for about 2 hours..

then proceeded to have a bender, of which i will not divulge any details......

 

[Daniel Dragons]

At a mates house with about 10 tigers supporters. I'll never forget the sh*t they gave me when Barrett got penalised for not playing the ball...

 

[hornbyslilhottie24]

At the game...shattered

I'll never forget, walking out there was this dragons supporter, lying on the group, curled up in the foetal position. He had his jersey over his head and was sobbing

 

[boxa777]

It is one day that for the most part I remember well and wish Id forget. A day of highs and lows..

Had confidently organised for the week following to have my old massive saints flag to be perched up high in my old man's backyard in Rockdale for GF week. Way too premature.

Was so pumped in the morning.. Met up with the boys in the city for pre drinks nice and early and then went to the stadium for more atmospheric drinks. The red Vs everywhere just like it was meant to be.

It was a brilliant army. The face paint was out in full force and we had a good chance in that year. The Cows and Tigers I didnt fear much.

Game got off, atmosphere electric. Another shattering result.

Had the ignominy of heading back to Balmain after the game where I had just moved to from the shire absolutely crushed. Had the jersey off with some mates just tryna get home as soon as possible to get changed and go out again and blur the nightmare that unfolded.

All i saw leaving was people jumping up and down darling st in Balmain with traffic coming to a stand still. People hugging, pubs were thriving, horns were blazing. Balmain was a f**kin sh*t place to be that night. So i left pretty quick. Don't remember what happened after that.

 

[DragonPunk]

I was at the the game and just shattered and sobbed for a bit and it remains the only time i have. I think it was triggered by the lady behind me bawling and my self confidence that we would be there that year.

 

[CreaghzyMark]

the night the army hooked me in. i was at the game with my uncle and sister. just sitting a few rows down from the army who were very loud and i joined it. i loved the atmosphere and every game since then i sat as close as possible to the army until the back end of season 07 before i had the courage to introduce myself. i didnt go to school for 2 days..

 

[brendothejet]

was at the game, in the army.

Couldnt believe it. walked out of the game. cant remember anything after hitting the back row of bay 23.

think i ate pizza in tempe at some point.

 

[W.B.2.S.O.S]

At the game...shattered

I'll never forget, walking out there was this dragons supporter, lying on the group, curled up in the foetal position. He had his jersey over his head and was sobbing

I was at the the game and just shattered and sobbed for a bit and it remains the only time i have. I think it was triggered by the lady behind me bawling and my self confidence that we would be there that year.

Are these 2 posts related. Were you the one in the foetal position DragonPunk

 

[sting]

sh*t thread.

at the game, then went back to hornsby rsl to meet mates and the place was going off like balmain leagues.

f**k that

 

[Jason Maher]

I was at home having a hard time coming to terms with the fact we'd blown it again. After 99 (nothing more needs be said), 01, 02 (both years couragous victories followed by absolute shellackings), and 04 (stirring comeback that fell one point short followed by inexplicable losses by Brisbane and Canterbury that saw us exit stage left) it was too much. For you blokes who lived through '98 and Clark as well...

 

[Cagey Mac]

At home holding my 5 month old son
Teaching him the darker side of the darker side of the English language

 

[Dragon]

Was there, shocked and awed by the amount of bandwagon Tigers support. Should have won that comp easily...

I fear another fairytale end this year for either the Scum or the Dogs

 

[DragonPunk]

Are these 2 posts related. Were you the one in the foetal position DragonPunk

Not at all :sarcasm: haha there would of been heaps of supporters in the fetal position

 

[silverex]

I was at the game too. I'll never forget it. The noise and atmosphere were unbelievable. I'd never experienced that kind of atmosphere previously or since.

Walking out of the ground after the loss was one of the worst feelings, with all the Tigers supporters asking if we had GF tickets we wanted to sell to them.

I hope I never have to go through something like that again.

 

[sting]

Walking out of the ground after the loss was one of the worst feelings, with all the Tigers supporters asking if we had GF tickets we wanted to sell to them.

f**kwits.

if i had tickets i would've pulled them out and ripped them up in front of them just to spite them

 

[DRAGONZ_RULE]

The day started with so much anticipation ... Swans in the AFL Grand Final, Dragons in the Prelim and virtually unbackable favourites against a flamboyant but inexperienced Tigers side ....

Spent the morning watching all the AFL GF pre-game stuff on Ch10 .. then the game started .. amazing match .. we held on for the win .. one of the best afternoon's of my life. Watched the ceremony, saw the boys lift the trophy, f**kEN AWESOME.

Went and got ready for the Dragons match, got to the bus stop near my house, a couple of others there (presumably hitting the City early on Saturday evening) said "Go the Saints" .. so psyched.

Got to the ground, met up with my old man there .. we were sat in the front few rows of the Army, had my horn-blowing contest with the other bloke (can't remember) sat near the back of the Army which had become a bit of a pre-game tradition in mid-to-late season 2005 as we tried to out-do each other .. anticipation level was similar to half time in the 99 GF. It was basically "Turn up and play OK, and we'll be through to the GF."

And, as it happened, that's all they needed to do .. if they'd turned up and played OK, they would have won the match.

Those 80 minutes need not be spoken about, I guess. Everything about it was horrific, except for the first 10 minutes after half time.

With 90 seconds to go, we put in a grubber and Scott Prince took it over the dead ball line, pretty much right in front of the Army. Gave up the ghost and the tears started .. the old man told me to harden up because the Saints are f**ken useless and have repeated this sh*t every year since 79, some Sea Eagles bloke who was sitting with the Army for some reason told me it would be OK, there was always next year ... yeah, always another Prelim failure just around the corner, f**k.


TBH, I have forgotten so much of the actual game. In my mind, there's an event, and then time fast forwards to the next event.

As such, my recollection of the game itself:

- Players run out to fireworks etc, f**ken intense!
- Best knocks on, first play off the scrum Gasnier rushes up out of the line like a missile, completely misses, Marshall over.
- Halatau(?) somehow scores next to the posts despite the attention of 4 tacklers after a dummy half scoot from 10m out. WTF?
- Half Time
- Barrett scores under the posts, tries to pump up the Army, everything's going OFF because we're back in the match and dominating.
- Barrett penalised by Mander, no tackler within 5 metres.
- Tigers score in the corner.
- Scott Prince takes the kick over the dead ball line.
- End of game.

 

[muzby]

f**kwits.

if i had tickets i would've pulled them out and ripped them up in front of them just to spite them

lucky it was us and not the doggies or cronulla that was beaten..

they wouldn't have just ripped up the tix.. they would have shivved them as well...

 

[W.B.2.S.O.S]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/dragons-dream-over-as-tigers-roll-on/2005/09/24/1126982272190.html

Dont forget this

The Dragons, looking off pace and out of sync following their one week layoff, struggled to mount any real pressure on the Tigers, with referee Tim Mander denying them their best tryscoring opportunity when he called back a flying Matt Cooper due to an offside in the lead-up play.