By CASEY O’CONNOR
THERE are simply no adequate words to describe the 2015 NRL Grand Final. It is being touted as the “greatest ever” and you will get no arguments from me. I have been to most of the State of Origin games, many Test matches and my share of Grand Finals, but never have I witnessed anything near to last Sunday’s game. The atmosphere was amazing. For Queenslanders, the first win came when the Ipswich Jets took out the State League Championship with a win over Newcastle.
Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel set the scene for the game, rocking the arena and getting the adrenalin pumping.
There was a sea of blue and gold and Maroon and gold and plenty like myself who just really couldn’t decide or buy a T-shirt and opted for basic “Queensland Maroon”.
The game seemed to be played at an amazing pace and half time had come and gone in the blink of an eye. The Bronco in me thought things were heading for a Bronco’s premiership at half time. Three quarters of the way through the game and then with 60 seconds on the clock, I was ready to celebrate their win. The image that will stay with me forever was the sound of the fulltime siren as Morgan flicked that amazing pass to Kyle Feldt and he planted the ball. It was almost fitting that JT’s conversion should hit the upright and bounce away to send the game into extra time because no-one really wanted this game to finish. Not one person had moved from their seats as the clock wound down. The tension was palatable, and I think everyone in the stadium shared Ben Hunt’s anguish at the kick off.
The result almost inevitable – when JT finally got a clear shot, the stadium erupted.
It was truly a GF for the ages. It had it all, but what impressed most was the sportsmanship shown after the game. Thurston was quick to offer his retiring mate Justin Hodges a hug and a word.
Hodges could have been forgiven for thinking he had a fingernail on his own fairy tale and although he must have been bitterly disappointed was the first to Hunt to console him. Hodges then went to each of his players urging them to keep their heads up- it was a moment that will define him as one of the great captains in my opinion.
As for Thurston, well I like many am sure that he walks on water in his spare time. He is a footballing genius the likes of which we see only rarely, but he is also a great leader and a wonderful ambassador for the game. He has grown up, stood up and delivered all of North Queensland the premiership they so richly deserve.
And more than anything, I was reminded on Sunday that NSW are going to have a dam hard job to beat Queensland judging by the quality of the football and players we saw on both sides. The old adage – football was the great winner and I am just grateful I was there for the 2015 Grand final.
– Casey
HAWKS DOMINATE THE SKIES OVER AFL
THE Hawks physically and mentally did the Eagles over, leading at every change and running out comfortable 46-point winners. In essence, they had the game in their keeping after the end of the first quarter and those West Coast fans who had trekked across the Nullarbor must have had a real sense of foreboding.
On one of those rare Melbourne days which was better suited to building sandcastles than playing football, it was the Eagles who wilted. Early in the second half, they looked fragile and attacking forwards appeared missing in action.
The Norm Smith Medal for best afield was awarded to Cyril Rioli, though he could have raffled it among any number of team-mates.
Rioli it seemed fulfilled his destiny with the win. The champion player joins his father’s brother Maurice Rioli and Mother’s brother Michael Long as Norm Smith medallists. Not bad for kids from the Tiwi Islands.
While Hawks fans continue to celebrate, there are some in the AFL who are concerned by the domination of the Hawks pointing the finger towards the expansion of the game as the cause of the growing divide between the haves and have nots. I am sure things will even themselves out as they normally do in these cases. You only need look to the golden years of the Brisbane Lions and their current situation to know that what goes round comes round.
For the Hawks, it is their time to shine. For the AFL they should have begun planning their 2016 GF entertainment about 3.00pm Saturday in an effort to finally get it right next year.
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
THE Red Rooster Rumble was held on the front nine last week. It came down to a battle of the sexes as Don Warrener got the better of his partner Joely Singleton. Don finished with 23 points just in advance of Joely 22 points in the nine hole competition. In a couple of weeks, the pair will team with Charlie and Kath Morrison to compete in the regional final of the Holden Scramble at Ocean Shore GC in northern NSW. In Friday’s RRR run down, Mal Crawford 21 and Col Smith 19 took the balls. Don Warrener also cleaned up the Red Rooster hot chook vouchers for the pins at five and seven.
MONTHLY MEDALS DECIDED
THE Warwick Real Estate sponsored monthly medal was held last Saturday with trophies in two divisions. Doug Rickert won Division One (handicaps under 15) with a score of 66 nett. Runner-up in this division was John Pearson with a nett 68. Junior member Rhys Farrell (playing off 16) took out the Division Two trophy with a nett 62. Rhys has been upping the ante lately and is in a real purple patch of form lately, let’s hope it continues. Gordon Kerr was the runner-up in Division Two scoring nett 63. Best gross winner with 75 was Greg Sellick and the best junior gross was Declan Murphy with 80.
In the run down, balls were won by Gary Hankison (66), G. Catchpole (a visitor from Nanango GC), Eddy Kemp and A McKinlay (67), John Brack, Don Maher and Williams (68). Nearest to the pins went to Doug Rickert (5), Simon Macdonald (7), Greg Sellick (9), Peter Collett (11), Mick Payne (3) and Eddy Kemp (16).
NOT OCTOBERFEST GOLF-FEST
OCTOBER is definitely golf month in Warwick beginning this Sunday (11 October) with the Cowboys annual golf day. It is a four ball Ambrose competition with a shotgun start at 11am. Register and pick up your card at least an hour before (or the day before), to ensure tee off is on time.
October 17 is a single stableford sponsored by B&K Motors.
The Westpac Warwick Invitational golf day is scheduled for Friday 16 October with a 10am start. This is a fund-raiser for Warwick Golf Club and includes lunch, golf, and drinks until the end of play. Cost is $100pp, or $70pp for non-drinkers (designated driver).
The fun doesn’t end there – on Sunday 31 October, Big W is holding its charity golf day. It will be a 10am shotgun four ball Ambrose, so get your name in quickly or you’ll miss out and just have to buy raffle tickets.
It’s certainly shaping as a busy month on the Warwick fairways and greens. For further information to put your name on a timesheet, call the pro shop or call on 4661 3664.
ENGLAND PUT TO SWORD
THE Wallabies spoiled the England World Cup party when they upstaged the Poms at Twickenham last Saturday. It added just another layer to a wonderful weekend cross code football. Wallabies fans who set their alarms early Sunday morning were rewarded for their efforts as the Australians dominated across the park answering the trash talking Poms in the most appropriate manner as England became the first host nation to be dumped out of the Rugby World Cup at the pool stage defeated emphatically 33-13.
The Wallabies now have the attention of all nations and have climbed to second in the world rankings and for many have moved into favouritism to win the tournament. But let’s not count out chickens just yet.
Under Michael Cheika’s guidance, the Wobblies look to have fixed their scrum. They have some competitive set pieces, and we they have never been lacking talented backs. David Pocock is fast stamping himself as the best breakdown forward in the competition and Bernard Foley on Sunday showed he handles the big occasions with apparent ease.
The Wallabies now take on Wales, however they will be doing it without vice-captain Michael Hooper, who has been slapped with a one-week ban after being cited in Sunday’s game.
(Sunday morning AEDT). He will leave a big hole in the starting line-up, but will be back in action for the quarter final. Hooper’s pleaded guilty to foul play and charging into a ruck without using his arms. His pleading guilty reduced his penalty to just one game.
The suspension rules him out of the clash against Wales at Twickenham on Sunday’s game.
The result will determine who finishes on top of Pool A. In further bad news for Wallabies fans, Israel Folau is under an injury cloud. In a strange twist, English supporters are now expected to turn their allegiance to the Wallabies in Sunday’s game.
HITTING THEM WELL
DICK Hilton was hitting the ball well last Sunday, nailing a win at Sporters in Stanthorpe last Sunday. Hilton outscored runner-up Rowan Anderson. Run-downs went to Rod Pettiford and Kev Rowling. Kev also had the Best Gross and Buster Pettiford the pin-shot on the third. The Pro Pin was snapped up by Angelo Maugeri. The lucky meat tray winners were Owen McPaul and Clarky.
Tee off is at the normal time of 8am – 8.30am next Sunday.
A reminder to all Sporters – a date for your diary – Sunday 22 November – Apple and Grape Fund-raiser for Amanda McCosker. Should be a great day.
TAKE YOUR MARK AT LITTLE A’S
IS THERE a budding Olympian inside your kids or do they just want to get active and have some fun? Either way, they should get along to the Warwick Little Athletics Trial Days.
The motto of the Warwick Little Athletics for the 2015-2016 season – Family, Fun and Fitness – highlighting it is a community activity involving the whole family on a weekly basis.
The focus of Little A’s is to encourage kids to improve their own personal performances, sportsmanship and social skills throughout the season.
Free sign on / trial days will commence this Sunday (11 October) from 3pm to 5pm and again on Sunday 18 October at Hamilton Oval (located at Warwick State High School).
Interested parents/guardians with children aged between 3 and 17 are invited to attend the two free trial days. For further details, contact Trudy on 0429 119 799.
DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR CHAPMAN
IT WAS all down to a countback to determine the winner of the Monthly Medal competition played last Saturday in Stanthorpe. In the end, it was Ricky Chapman who narrowly edged out Ian Harvey for a win after both players returned nett 66. Chapman becomes the last to qualify for the Medal of Medallists which will be played in November and involves all medal winners during the past 12 months.
Best gross of the day of 80 went to Dylan Barraclough and Ian Harvey with Ian also recording least putts of 25 for the round.
In the Ladies event, Lyn Ludlow returned to the winner’s circle with a winning score of nett 70, just ahead of Madeline Jarman, nett 71.
Thanks to Brett Lacey, Rod Pettiford and Danny Folkers who sponsored the day.
The Captain’s match play has now reached the final round. It will be a Central affair with parts taking on sales as Mark Mark McCosker and Rob Reeves go head to head after winning their respective semi-final games by the closest of margins. McCosker edged out Trevor Ludlow, two and one and Reeves had a win over Len Leigh at the 19th hole. Good luck to both players as they head into the final round.
The Mixed Foursomes championships will be played this Sunday. The 27 hole event tees off from 9.30am.
Have you nominated for the Open carnival? Like Christmas it will be here before you know it – time sheets are almost full for both days. If you plan to nominate, do not leave it much longer – get your name on the time sheet.
In the meantime, this Saturday is the fund-raising day for Breast Cancer research sponsored by Heritage Bank. The game will be a single stableford with a raffle after the event. Proceeds for day will be donated to this worthy cause. A time sheet has been posted at the clubhouse and tee off is a shot gun start at 11.45am.
Due to the long weekend and a much-anticipated Cowboys GF win, it was very much an ad hoc affair at the Inglewood SSAA lat weekend. There were Clays shot Sunday and some pistol Monday.
More importantly members collected a firefighting unit which will be on standby for use in the area. Naturally we hope that it remain in pristine condition – hopefully never to be used.
Things are back on track this Sunday for Single Action and our cowboy shoot.
TOURNAMENT FIRST
GATEBALL players from Stanthorpe spread their wings last week, travelling to Toowoomba to compete in their Tournament last weekend. Pat Schnoor, Val Fancourt, Bill Golding, Joy Newman, Margaret Dickenson, Andrea Denkewitz and Les Williams experienced all the thrills and spills of the tournament experience.
On Friday, be on hand to share some of his experiences and coaching tactics.
