Roosters celebrate 2018 grand final win with fans in Sydney
ON the morning after, Nobody looked to be having more fun than Roosters hitman Dylan Napa, who was seen walking Oxford St boots and all as the 2018 NRL champions celebrated with fans.
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DYLAN Napa’s strut down Oxford Street in his full playing kit the morning after the grand final was five seasons in the making.
It has been almost five years to the day that the Sydney Roosters hitman was unceremoniously cut from premiership winning side back in 2013 to make way for Boyd Cordner and Luke O’Donnell.
So when the full-time siren went at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night, it dawned on Napa he’d finally lived out a lifelong dream. He’d just played and won and NRL grand final. The enforcer wanted to saviour the moment for as long as he could.
That meant partying into the early hours of the morning in his premiership outfit, boots and all.
It was also a nod to his teammates, who kept his title ambitions alive during September as he sat on the sidelines serving a three-week suspension.
Napa’s style is reminiscent of Chris Heighington at the Sharks two years ago who said at the time he wasn’t going to take his premiership jersey off for three days.
We are not sure if Napa is going to emulate the Sharks forward but he is showing a similar level of commitment so far.
He was still in the get-up at 11am when he arrived the for the Roosters fan day at Allianz Stadium on Monday morning. That’s 14 hours and counting.
And while most of his teammates hid their weariness under their sunglasses, Napa wore his dark circles like a badge of honour.
As well as puffy eyes, the daylight revealed Cooper Cronk wasn’t the only player to show remarkable courage during Sunday night’s decider against Melbourne.
Star winger Blake Ferguson, who showed up to the fan day in a moon boot and on crutches, played with a broken leg.
“It was definitely worth it, it’s all a bit of carry on I guess as usual,” Ferguson told the crowd.
“It’s amazing getting the ring, this club has been amazing to me. They brought me in in 2014 and I was just really grateful for what they’ve given me.
“I’m just really glad I can leave … on a good note.
Cronk was also in a sling after it was revealed he took to the field with a 15 centimetre break to his scapula.
A few hundred diehard Chooks fans, decked in blue, red and white, lined the forecourt of Allianz Stadium to get a glimpse of their premiership heroes up close.
Roosters players presented the Provan-Summons Trophy to their adoring fans with co-captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend holding aloft the prize for winning the grand final. While there were hoarse voices all around, the Roosters managed a passionate rendition of their team song much to the delight of their fans.
After the sing a long, the players were ushered into Allianz Stadium to enjoy some beers on the turf for one last time before the stadium is torn down as part of a redevelopment.
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