Canberra Raiders star Luke Davico drank six schooners and was on the bench for the 1994 grand final
Canberra’s Luke Davico’s 1994 premiership-winning shenanigans ranks highly on any list of the most extraordinary and humorous tales in rugby league grand final history.
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Wearing a long sleeve, button-up denim shirt, stone-wash denim jeans and Rivers slip-on shoes, Canberra’s Luke Davico was sitting in bay 41 at the old Sydney Football Stadium having just downed six plastic cups of Tooheys New beer.
He could not have imagined that inside an hour he would be standing side-by-side with Canberra superstars, singing the Australian national anthem in front of millions of television viewers and 42,000 fans before the 1994 NSWRL grand final.
Davico, an old-school prop who played 176 games for the Raiders, was to become possibly the first ever player to line up on-field before a grand final intoxicated.
This is among the most extraordinary – and humorous – tales in rugby league grand final history.
“I remember thinking: ‘How the hell am I here?’ I couldn’t believe it was happening – you couldn’t make it up. If it didn’t actually happen people would say I was full of bullshit,” Davico said.
“Double denims to six schooners to warming up for a grand final, arm-in-arm singing the national anthem to a lap of honour and grand final medal. It was the greatest day of my life.”
Davico wasn’t part of Canberra’s elite squad in 1994 – which included Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Mal Meninga, Steve Walters and Bradley Clyde – but suddenly roared into grand final contention after prop John Lomax was sent off in a preliminary final win over Norths.
What followed over the next week was amazing, starting with a big day on the drink at Brooklyn, just north of Sydney, and ending with Davico trying to pinch the Provan-Summons trophy as he left Queanbeyan Leagues Club.
And Davico’s fascinating story will no doubt be discussed when Canberra celebrates the 30-year grand final anniversary at a reunion in Brisbane on Magic Round weekend.
Not considering themselves in contention for selection in Canberra’s final 17, Davico — nicknamed Statue — and teammate Mark Corvo drove to Sydney the night before the game and enjoyed a big night out at the Brooklyn Hotel near the Hawkesbury River, the pair staying at the home of home Davico’s dad, Paul.
“Mark and I went out that night until all hours and woke up with a screaming hangover and headache,” Davico said. “We woke up as rough as, we were late and had slept on the lounge. We were in double denim, the denim jeans and denim shirt and made our way to the ground.
“We scrubbed up pretty well. We walked into the stadium and went straight to bay 41 where we had seats. On the way around we passed Craig Bellamy and then we started having a few schooners, as you do. Hair of the dog.
“At halftime in reserve grade, I ambled into the dugout because ‘Sheensy’ (Canberra coach Tim Sheens) said we could. But by then, I’d had six schooners in those plastic cups. I was a Tooheys New drinker. I’d just turned 21.
“We sat behind Tim and he turned around while watching reserve grade and said: ‘Statue, you’re in the official program, get your gear on’. He asked if I brought my boots but I’d left them in the car, which was parked about 10 kilometres away. ‘Corvs’ was asked to go and get my boots.
“When he got back I asked where my mouth guard was. It was still in the car. I told Tim who said: ‘Corvs, off you go again.’ Tim said being on the bench would be a great experience for me and I might get a run.
“I went and got changed, smelling like a brewery. They gave my jumper number 47.
“The first grade team ran out, pumped, and I was suddenly part of it. I came out last. Everyone was getting geed-up for the game. I went to the dugout but ‘Sheensy’ said: ‘Get out there, get amongst it, suck it up’. Corvs was pissing himself laughing.
“I was rolling the shoulders and doing the hamstring kicks with six schooners in me. I’m on the field right in the thick of it. Next thing we’re all arm-in-arm singing the national anthem.
“I remember seeing Craig Bellamy sitting in bay nine. I had seen earlier in the day. He saw my mug on the big screen and he was pointing going: ‘What the f … ing hell are you doing out there?’”
Davico, now 50, came off and sat in the dugout as Canberra dismantled the Bulldogs.
He was close to running on but he hadn’t been formally registered for the game amid fears the result could have been reversed had he played.
“I sat on the bench next to David Boyle and David Westley. We did the warm up running up and down the sideline every 15 minutes,” Davico said. “As soon as the siren went I was out there on the field hugging everyone, thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread.
“I joke with Laurie Daley that I pushed everyone out of the way and think I was third one up on stage to get my medal. I did the lap of honour.
“I snagged a flight home and remember getting busted leaving Queanbeyan Leagues Club trying to sneak off the Winfield Cup trophy but they caught me on the way out.
“All this while six schooners deep and hungover from the night before. I’ve still got the medal and mug sitting on my mantelpiece at home. I tell people it probably sums up my career – close to higher honours but a bee’s d … k short.”
This all happened on Sunday, September 25, with Canberra beating Canterbury 36-12.
“I played a few games going into the finals but Tim (Sheens, coach) picked his side week-to-week,” Davico recalled.
“I was in the extended train-on squad. You’d turn up to training and get bashed by the starting 17. Tim would dangle the carrot and say any week it could be any one of us selected.
“After the first two weeks of the finals, I didn’t think I had any chance of getting a run so I stopped turning up to training.
“But that weekend the Raiders went into the grand final but John Lomax got sent off. I still didn’t turn up to training but I had a message on my answering machine from (head trainer) Bryan Hider, saying: ‘Luke, why haven’t you been at training, see you at training tomorrow night.’
“I trained all week and Sheensy was going to go with younger blokes on the bench or start with Paul Osborne, and history will tell you he made the right move.
“Tim pulled me aside and said he’s going with ‘Ossie’ but I’m still on the extended bench. He was only taking 17 on the plane but wanted me there and I was going to the game anyway, regardless.
“He told me to pack my boots and mouth guard because you never know so that’s when I drove to Sydney Mark Corvo.
“What happened that day and the two nights either side of the game were unbelievable.”
Davico is now living in Newcastle and has run a cafe the Goldbergs’ Coffee House on Darby Street for the past 16 years.
“It’s a great little business,” Davico said. “I still follow the Raiders, I will always have a soft spot for the Green Machine.”
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Originally published as Canberra Raiders star Luke Davico drank six schooners and was on the bench for the 1994 grand final
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