Non Terminator begins this match for the Roosters.
731 OWC.
******
The Luck Of The Draw
It was nearly seven years ago to this very day. Maybe in a few weeks time. I went to my first Rugby League game with a friend and his father. Their family, it's easy to say the majority were Parramatta die hards. Of course, it was my Roosters taking on the Eels, at the Sydney Football Stadium. It feels so long ago, it was of course known as Aussie Stadium back then.
I remember going into the stadium with high hopes, the Roosters had a convincing 18-4 win over the Eels just weeks earlier. They were one position higher on the ladder than we were, so I still had the usual nerves that I got before any Roosters game. Both sets of fans were participating in a vocal battle on the way to the stadium, I loved it, hell, I even joined in.
I remember Brad Fittler leading the Roosters out. I don't think I've ever cheered so much in my life. A football side, when I look back on it, the line-up was one of a kind. Names like Mullins, Wing, Fletcher, Morley, Fitzgibbon and of course, Fittler. Names I've shouted plenty of times in the lounge room, in front of the television.
I remember how much those first two points meant to me, as Craig Fitzgibbon booted the penalty goal to send the Roosters in front. This is what I imagined it to be...
Until Luke Burt equaled the scores, before Justin Hodges set up a Parramatta try. We all remember the State Of Origin debut for Justin Hodges when he gave New South Wales two tries, it happened this night as well, with Hodges kicking the ball right in front of Andrew Ryan to dived onto the ball, scoring the first try. Before I knew it, Andrew McFadden had set up a Scott Donald try and Parramatta were well ahead. I was gutted. I remember watching these slick movements on television, and as soon as I finally got out to watch a game, nothing was offered.
Luke Burt added another quick two points early in the second half, Parramatta up 12-2. It looked bleak, but Luke Phillips set the world on fire with a great run to the line. Despite my young age, some "positive" expletives might have come out of my mouth with all the excitement. An army of Rooster fans stood up as one. I loved it. I still cherish it. We were loud and proud. As soon as you go up, you must come down.
The Roosters bombed a certain try moments later, more expletives arrived. Possibly, not so positive. The leader of our army, Brad Fittler, set Craig Wing up near the post. All of a sudden, after I spent so long looking away from the dreaded scoreboard, it was 12-all. Craig Fitzgibbon lined up the conversion and I was, quite nearly literally, terrified about the outcome. He kicked it, it looked good. I was cheering. It swerved away. I looked like a dickhead.
From there on, every single thing mattered. Minutes remaining, every tackle, every pass, everything was crucial. Both teams took attempts at field goal, no successful. Everything went back to that conversion. It could've been ours. The full-time siren blew and both teams were equal. No Golden Point, that was it. We hadn't lost, but we hadn't won. Some people might have said they felt empty that night, I didn't.
Because, what do I remember most of all from that night?
It wasn't seeing my beloved Roosters for the first time live at a game.
It wasn't watching Brad Fittler turn the Eels around with every play.
It wasn't even Craig Fitzgibbon's miss.
No, what do I remember most? The verbal battle between Roosters and Eels fans after the game. It was as vocal as before, probably even more. Once again, I got involved, sporting my team on my heart. The draw meant nothing on the table, but it meant everything. After the fierce eighty minutes, both teams deserved to walk away with something.
Sometimes, I guess I wish my first game was a few years earlier, I was about to turn thirteen when I went to this game, mind you. Overall, I wouldn't change that experience for the world. I'm sure every child going to their first game would agree with me on that one.