NRL grand final 2019: Fans take diehard love to new level
From heartbreak to utter ecstasy, being a rugby league fan on grand final day can be a tumultuous experience. Roosters fans came from far and wide to ANZ Stadium to support the club’s nail-biting back-to-back grand final win.
Canberra Star
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From heartbreak to utter ecstasy, being a rugby league fan on grand final day can be a tumultuous experience.
Roosters fans came from far and wide to ANZ Stadium to support the club’s nail-biting back-to-back grand final win.
Die-hard chooks supporter John Heckenberg got a tattoo after the club’s 2002 win and was quick to roll up the sleeves of his jersey to show where the ink commemorating the Roosters 2019 premiership would go.
“I’m a fanatical follower of the chooks. I’ve been following them for over 50 years,” he said. “Tonight is amazing. This is an amazing feeling. We are part of the club’s history.
“What a game, what a win. That was amazing.”
Max Mulliett, 10, from Toongabbie in Sydney’s west, has only set foot in the eastern suburbs a handful of times — but he is a huge fan of the Bondi-based club.
He turns 11 tomorrow and as a gift his dad Chris Mulliett decked out the family’s ute in Roosters colours for grand final day, made all the better by last night’s historic win.
“My mates are Storm fans, Bulldog fans, and Warriors fans so I’d like to drive around their houses,” Max said.
“Chicken man” Harry Zourodis, 50, said he felt lucky to have the chance to watch his team go for back-to-back NRL premierships.
“I tried to dress up as a Rooster last year, but I couldn’t get a costume in time. This year I wasn’t making the same mistake. I bought this one online and got it delivered in 10 days,” he said. “For all of those who say the Roosters don’t have fans — look at me, I’m dressed as a bloody chicken.”
The mood switched from jubilant to deflated in a heartbeat at the Raiders Belconnen live site in Canberra when the siren sounded.
Fans were furious with a referee blunder which, they say, cost them the premiership.
“It would have been better if we’d got the win but I’m so proud of them,” Ros Wilkinson said.
“I’m disappointed because of the refereeing but when the team comes back to Canberra we’ll still give them a hero’s welcome.”
Tegan Ahern said it was an “anti-climax” her team lost.
“I’m gutted but I feel like they have done us proud to make it to the grand final because a lot of people didn’t think we could make it,” she said.
“I’m so proud of them.”
Kailin Odlum said he was “gutted” to see the Raiders lose and was “dirty” about the referees.
“We had (the Roosters) mentally and physically beaten but it came down to a stupid call at the end,” he said. “(The Raiders) had the whole match done and dusted.”
PRE-MATCH SHOWDOWN
Sammie Adams and Luke Burns admit their relationship is undergoing a test tonight as their favourite teams lock horns in the do-or-die NRL final at ANZ Stadium.
The couple are among Raiders faithful who have pi
led into the Raiders Belconnen live site in Canberra where excitement is building among the green army, who are pumped to perform a viking clap at kick off.
Mr Burns is hoping the Green Machine can end the team’s 25-year-premiership drought while Ms Adams is gunning for the Roosters to become the first back-to-back premiers in 26 years.
“It’s going to be a relationship tester,” Mr Burns said.
“It means I’ve got to bite my tongue a bit but it’s a friendly rivalry.”
Ms Adams was a Raiders fan as she lives in Canberra but switched her allegiances 22 years ago, drawn in by Roosters stars Craig Wing and Anthony Minichiello.
However she’ll always have a “soft spot” for the boys in green and is hedging her bets, painting the nails of her left hand blue, green, yellow and white and her right hand in Roosters colours.
“I’m going to look like someone with schizophrenia tonight; when the Roosters get the ball I’ll be cheering for them and when the Raiders get the ball I’ll switch,” she said.
“I’d love the Roosters to win but I also think: ‘Don’t be selfish, give it to the Raiders because the Roosters won last year’.
“We’ll both leave here happy, neither of us are sore losers.”
Mr Burns is actually from Sydney but feels a connection to Canberra now as it’s where he met Ms Adams and he’s been involved in building three sports fields in the capital.
“Also I just love the colour green,” he said.
Tegan Ahern has been a fan since she was born and reckons it’s the Raiders’ turn to win the flag.
“Ricky has come in and instilled that dream team feeling into the new team,” she said.
“He has instilled a sense of home for the boys, they want to stay and that’s reflected in the contract renewals.”
The diehard fan has dedicated a section of her wardrobe at home for all her Raiders merchandise.
She says the last few years has been “heartbreaking” for fans who have watched the Green Team struggle.
“But this is our year, I can feel it.”
MEANWHILE AT ANZ STADIUM ...
Roosters fans from Toongabbie, Port Macquarie, Penrith and Cronulla packed into ANZ Stadium to support their team.
Despite being heavily outnumbered by Canberra supporters John Heckenberg said chooks fans were often heard, not seen.
“There are huge numbers of supporters, especially in the country. We’re from Port Macquarie and there are lots of Roosters fans back home,” he said.
“Part of the reason for that is that they’ve got some good country boys in their side. Boyd Cordner is from near our way and Lattrell Mitchell is from Taree.
“I’m a fanatical follower of the chooks. I’ve been following them for over 50 years, I even got a tattoo after the 2002 win.”
The superfan was quick to roll up the sleeves of his jersey and show where the Roosters back-to-back tattoo would go.
There is also a support base for the Roosters slowly building in western Sydney.
Max Mulliett, 10 and from Toongabbie, has only set foot in the eastern suburbs a handful of times but this has not stopped him following the chooks.
He turns 11 on Tuesday and his dad Chris Mulliett, 48, told The Daily Telegraph he wanted to deck out their family’s Ute in roosters colours for his special day.
“That’s is what he wanted for his birthday,” Mr Mulliett said.
“We got some stripes for the car, Max went out and bought a rooster to stick on the top. Then this morning he helped me put the Rooster’s crest on the bonnet.”
Mr Mulliett has been a Chooks fan his whole life and said he loved that his son followed in his steps.
The family live in Toongabbie, in Sydney’s west, and Max has quite the road trip planned if the Roosters can manage back-to-back premierships.
“My mates are Storm fans, Bulldog fans, and Warriors fans so I’d like to drive around their houses,” he said.
“It would be really cool if we could go and see the players in Bondi too.”
Chooks fan Stacey Rennie is hoping for a repeat of the 2018 Grand Final.
The 29-year-old from Penrith first started supporting the Tri Colours when Brad Fittler moved to the eastern suburbs in 1996.
She’s found a new favourite in new Latrell Mitchell.
“Latrell, he’s my boy! He’s got strength, he’s got power and just a sheer ability to play football,” she said.
“After him, it would have to be the master, Cooper Cronk or James Tedesco.”
Ms Rennie was at the final last year and feels very special that she’s been here to see her side go back-to-back.
Roosters fan and chicken man Harry Zourodis, 50, said he was lucky he had the chance to watch his team go for back-to-back NRL Premierships.
“I tried to dress up as a Rooster last year, but I couldn’t get a costume in time. This year I wasn’t making the same mistake. I bought this one online and got it delivered in 10 days.
“I’ve been a fan since 1975 but I am really grateful for the last 10 years - they have been unreal.
“The way the team plays and behaves, it is just amazing. And for all of those who say the Roosters don’t have fans — look at me, I’m dressed as a bloody chicken.”
BELCONNEN GETS CLAPPING
The mood was tense at the Raiders Belconnen club as the game kicked off, with loud and loyal fans performing a raucous Viking Clap at kick off to coincide with the one in Sydney.
The room exploded with excitement and fans leapt to their feet chanting “Go Raiders” after Jack Wighton scored the Green Machine’s first try and then converted.
The overwhelming feeling among supporters was that is was the Raiders turn to win the flag but that they’d be proud of their team either way for what they have achieved this year.
Kailin Odlum was sporting green war paint and downing green beers in the hope he would “bleed lime green” if he drinks enough.
“I’m turning 21 next week and it’ll be the best birthday if they win, I’ve been a supporter since I was five and I’m ready to rock and roll. This is the night of the Raider.”
He said he loves the “never give up attitude” of the team and said the team’s goal line defence had been on-point this year.
Mum Skye Mitchell said sons Leo, 2, and Dylan, 6, have been “pumped” all week in anticipation of tonight’s game after watching their team beat Souths at Canberra stadium.
“Leo loves chanting for the Raiders and doing the Viking clap,” she said.
“We we’re listening to the theme song earlier and he was dancing around the room, he’s so excited. He’s built to play footy so maybe one day he could play for the Raiders.”
His favourite piece of headgear is his beloved Raiders beanie.
Dylan’s favourite player is captain Jarrod Croker and he’s tipping his team to win 18-12.
“But I love all the players, I love them so much because they do big kicks.”
Ros Wilkinson, 62, was visibly shaking with excitement with her eyes glued to the screen.
“I’ve been a member of the Raiders for 20 years and I’m so nervous,” she said.
“Even if they lose it’s just fantastic how much Canberra have got behind the team this year.
“But I’ve felt all season that they’re going to win it.”
She said Ricky Stuart had done “wonders for the team”.
“We were worried when a few big players left last year but Ricky made the right call.”
The Kaminski family represent three generations of supporters.
Helen Kaminski, 66, arrived at midday to secure the family a spot right in front of the big screen.
Her son Aaron, 38, and grandson Dante, were by her side supporting the team.
“It’s such a great bonding thing to do as a family,” Ms Kaminski said.
“On an excitement scale of 1-10 I am a 20.
“The Raiders have been my team since they started — we watched the 1989 grand final in our backyard in Latham.”