Well people have doubted the 'Newcastle factor' trend all week - people have said that the Roosters would win comfortably and that the Panthers were just there because someone had to play the Roosters.
How wrong people were. I never lost confidence in the Panthers - I tipped them, my heart was with them, and importantly I could see they weren't carrying any pressure of performing.
They just went out there and played like they always play - they did the simple things right, and managed to keep the Roosters to just 6 points - that try came about because of a rare Panther's mistake.
It says a lot about the Knights actually - we win when we hold the ball - I hope our boys saw the game last night and had pen and paper ready because I've been trying to tell them for years and still no changes. Everyone alluded to it after the GF last night - the Panthers controlled the football. The fact the only Roosters try came about because of a mistake by Penrith only accentuates that when you control the football, even against the Roosters, you lift your chances of winning tremendously.
As for the notion of winning a Grand Final as 'fairytale victors' - many of the news stations were reporting it as a new concept, beating the massive favourites. How quickly they forget just two years ago, and then another 6 years ago when Newcastle were massively massive (great terminology) underdogs - given no hope of winning - but we won.
The Knights have won 2/2 in GFs, Penrith have won 2/2 in the last 12 years (had they made a Grand Final prior to 1991?) - it says a lot about the underdog ability to never be phased by the reputation and form of their opponent.
It was a win for Penrith, but also a win for Newcastle fans like me - I love the underdog - I'm right there celebrating with the Panthers.
