Mal Meninga on the Raiders’ chance at NRL history
Three decades have past but the same words I said to my Canberra teammates before we ran onto the field in 1989 are just as relevant for Sunday’s grand final, writes MAL MENINGA.
Opinion
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I remember the words I said to the team in the moments before running out for the Raiders in the 1989 grand final.
I spoke about the chance to go out there and prove your worth and your talent on the one day that actually matters.
It was about the opportunity to silence all the critics and prove the doubters wrong by performing on the biggest stage in the domestic rugby league season.
If you have got a premiership in your pocket, you will have that for the rest of your life. No one can take that away from you.
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Three decades have past but that same words are as relevant now as it was then, as we toppled the Balmain Tigers to claim the club’s historic maiden premiership.
Being outside of Sydney we had our detractors and a lot of inexperience, a bit like this modern era Raiders team.
No one expected us to make the grand final, just like this team.
We were big underdogs, with the Tigers considered commanding favourites after making the grand final the year before.
They were expected to win. But we were determined to seize the opportunity to show the rugby league world that we had what it takes.
LISTEN! In the season finale, Matty Johns is joined by James Hooper and Paul Kent to go over this Sunday’s grand final, plus how the build-up to the NRL’s biggest weekend can weigh on the favoured team (and how the Roosters are counteracting it).
The bookies have the Raiders as $3.30 outsiders on Sunday, with the Roosters at $1.42.
But there have been plenty of underdogs win grand finals before. History tells us that just because you are favourites with the bookies, doesn’t mean you are going to win the game.
The Raiders just have to focus on what has been successful all year. Get off to a strong start and make their mark right from the kick-off. Canberra will have the sentimental vote and have the support of the crowd. They can use that to their advantage.
The Roosters will have a completely different mindset, and I can speak from experience as well.
They would have the mentality that the Raiders had in 1994.
It was my last game with the Raiders in the 1994 grand final and I was determined to go out a winner.
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I knew if everyone prepared as well as they possibly could to bring their best on game day we would triumph as a team.
It is always nice to finish on a high note and I was lucky enough that the whole team fired and we blew Canterbury off the park.
The Roosters are chasing back-to-back premierships but they will also be determined to send retiring halfback Cooper Cronk out a winner.
As much as I would like to see Cooper get the fairytale finish, the Raider in me would rather see Canberra prove the doubters wrong and usher in a new era of dominance for the Green Machine.
Originally published as Mal Meninga on the Raiders’ chance at NRL history