NRL’s greatest GF moments: Broncos great Shane Webcke recaps the 2000 Grand Final
Shane Webcke played in the 2000 decider against the Roosters with a broken arm, with the Broncos legend saying a stern message from coach Wayne Bennett inspired his determination.
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Broncos warhorse Shane Webcke has played down his famous 2000 NRL grand final heroics, insisting any footballer would push through the pain of a broken arm to help their teammates taste premiership glory.
Webcke’s dogged determination to carry a broken arm into the 2000 decider against the Sydney Roosters remains one of rugby league’s most memorable grand final moments.
Regarded as one of the toughest to have played the game, Webcke suffered a badly broken arm just three weeks before the 2000 finals series.
With fellow front row warrior Petero Civoniceva already sidelined by a broken arm, Webcke was determined to soldier on.
He trained in secret and sat out the last two rounds of the regular season and the first week of the finals before Broncos coach Wayne Bennett gave him an ultimatum.
“The big call was actually for the prelim game the week before against Parramatta,” said Webcke, now a Seven News sports presenter.
“We were staying in our team hotel in Sydney, I had been training with it for a few weeks and I will never forget it, Wayne Bennett said, ‘You play in this game or you aren't playing the grand final’.
“That was the tougher decision. What I was really worried about was not so much my arm, but letting my teammates down if I went off early. That really played on my mind.
“The doctors explained to me the dangers. They said another break to an existing fracture and you risk it becoming a compound break.
“It wasn't healed at all. I was four weeks into a 12-week healing period. It was very raw and very sore. I couldn’t really use it.
“Wayne said, ‘If you win this, you could go into folklore, but if you lose, it could go down in infamy’. Either way it was going to be a story.”
With his arm protected by a resin and foam guard that had to be approved by the NRL, Webcke started in the front row against the Roosters.
The Broncos went on to win 14-6 and Webcke secured his place in grand final folklore, but 23 years later insists it was no big deal.
“It’s probably been overstated a bit, but as a footballer that’s what you live for,” Webcke said.
“I don’t believe I did anything that any other footballer wouldn’t have done.
“In some respects, I accept it was pretty bloody selfish. In those big finals games, you have to be at your absolute best and I was really underdone.
“Countering that was that ‘Kevvie’ (Kevin Walters) and my teammates said they wanted me there, so I said I will do whatever I can to be part of it.
“Never in my head was it a chance to cover myself in glory. I just wanted to win with my mates and for my mates.”
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Originally published as NRL’s greatest GF moments: Broncos great Shane Webcke recaps the 2000 Grand Final
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