Parramatta 22 Manly 12
Parramatta, once the pride of Australian Rugby League with the most committed supporters in the game, has a heritage that includes some of the greatest players the game has seen : Thornett, O'Reilly, Lynch, Sterling, Kenny, Cronin, Price, Grothe, Ella, Hindmarsh. But of recent times, they have struggled to say the least.
But not their superstar fullback Jarryd Hayne. And, when he plays really well, they usually win. The rest of the side though to say the kindest thing one can ...do their best to try and keep up with him.
Yesterday, facing elimination from the finals race 'the team' appeared down and out at half time. Even their most ardent supporters would've said - "they haven't turned up today". Manly, are of course, one of the leading sides this year and have always 'done their darndest' whenever facing 'Parra'. Given that they were the greatest of rivals throughout the 70's and 80's. The competitiveness is always there still.
Whatever happened yesterday, we now know that every player who came out for the second half played with the level of commitment that was required. The same commitment that Hayne (who some say to be perhaps the most complete player to ever play the game) showed in recently re-signing with the club that had given him his start. A rare thing today given the level of professionalism needed in this game.
The crowd also rewarded the team in turning up in record numbers for the last home game and they roared, and roared, as Parra mounted their comeback; with memories of the old Cumberland Oval warmly rekindled where once all the great players before Hayne worked their magic in decades gone by.
'Oft-seen faces'
Sitting on this craggy ridge...
Gazing at my fallen bridge...
The weather's hit me hard this year...
Not sure where to go from here?
Take this rambling road, our sole traverse
Has a mind of its own and a devils curse
Some days I have what it takes I'm sure
but others...
Well ...I'm not so sure
When it's not the floods
it's the constant sun
40 plus brings you right undone
Just reaching the cattle's often tough
Priming them ...I can't do well enough
Can I take this another year?
What will the banker say I fear?
These are times that stop you dead
And cop-outs nag
So deep in your head:
Is there a fortune to be had?
Would my life be rich and glad...?
In shiny cars in far off places?
Save this farm and these 'oft-seen faces'?
(but you know...)
Surrender is for mugs & fools...
What use downing trusted tools
Where barriers may block our way
Belief arrives with the coming day
And although life can torment you
these 'oft-seen faces' see you through
They will always sustain you
The ones you love will see you through
Grahame J Flynn - Sent from my iPhone
