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Wests Tigers veteran Pat Richards expects the build-up to this Saturday's anniversary match against North Queensland, which will commemorate the club's 2005 grand final victory, to be a positive exercise for the club's battalion of rookies.
Richards, who latched on to Benji Marshall's audacious flick pass in the 35th minute of the premiership decider to score a celebrated try, conceded there were comparisons between coach Jason Taylor's so-called "Concord Kids" - because they boast the youngest roster in the NRL - and the outfit Tim Sheens guided to a shock grand final victory.
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Piece of history: Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards. Photo: Getty Images
Wests have prepared a series of events at Campbelltown to commemorate the victory but Richards, who joins Robbie Farah and Dene Halatau as the remaining members of the 2005 team, thought the possibility of the club's cubs meeting the grand final winners and learning how that side bonded to become the premiership's band of brothers could be beneficial.
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"We had a really good group of guys back then and they were starting out their careers," he said. "Guys like Benji Marshall, and they all came through together. There's some similarities to now. A lot of the [2005] team played plenty of football together [as juniors] and while it's hard to compare eras many of the [current] boys have a lot of potential and they're living up to it."
Richards said his life changed when he displayed cat-like reflexes to catch Marshall's trick pass to score a four-pointer that's been replayed on countless occasions and used in a variety of promotions to showcase the sport's excitement. "At the time you don't know what's happening," he said of the shock of the pass. "It's the way we trained and played and we expected that kind of thing from Benji because that's what he did.
"It wasn't until a few days later I realised how incredible his flick pass really was and I'm pleased to say I was part of it … played a small part in the win.
"To be involved in such a special play and one that everyone seems to talk about it when they mention that grand final is great and the group we had, the friendships we enjoyed and still have, is amazing."
The members of the 2005 grand final squad will be afforded a lap of honour around Campbelltown Sports Stadium at half-time while there'll also be a fireworks display, a Kids Zone and a post-match function at the neighbouring Wests Campbelltown leagues club.
"We're talking about [2005] all the time at the moment and it's crazy to think it happened all those years ago," Richards said. "It'd be great to get a big crowd to not only support the team against North Queensland but to cheer the boys from '05 when they go on at half-time."
Richards, who left the Wests Tigers after the grand final triumph to play for Wigan in England's Super League competition, said he was enjoying his second stint at the club.
Wests Tigers veteran Pat Richards expects the build-up to this Saturday's anniversary match against North Queensland, which will commemorate the club's 2005 grand final victory, to be a positive exercise for the club's battalion of rookies.
Richards, who latched on to Benji Marshall's audacious flick pass in the 35th minute of the premiership decider to score a celebrated try, conceded there were comparisons between coach Jason Taylor's so-called "Concord Kids" - because they boast the youngest roster in the NRL - and the outfit Tim Sheens guided to a shock grand final victory.
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\
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Piece of history: Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards. Photo: Getty Images
Wests have prepared a series of events at Campbelltown to commemorate the victory but Richards, who joins Robbie Farah and Dene Halatau as the remaining members of the 2005 team, thought the possibility of the club's cubs meeting the grand final winners and learning how that side bonded to become the premiership's band of brothers could be beneficial.
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"We had a really good group of guys back then and they were starting out their careers," he said. "Guys like Benji Marshall, and they all came through together. There's some similarities to now. A lot of the [2005] team played plenty of football together [as juniors] and while it's hard to compare eras many of the [current] boys have a lot of potential and they're living up to it."
Richards said his life changed when he displayed cat-like reflexes to catch Marshall's trick pass to score a four-pointer that's been replayed on countless occasions and used in a variety of promotions to showcase the sport's excitement. "At the time you don't know what's happening," he said of the shock of the pass. "It's the way we trained and played and we expected that kind of thing from Benji because that's what he did.
"It wasn't until a few days later I realised how incredible his flick pass really was and I'm pleased to say I was part of it … played a small part in the win.
"To be involved in such a special play and one that everyone seems to talk about it when they mention that grand final is great and the group we had, the friendships we enjoyed and still have, is amazing."
The members of the 2005 grand final squad will be afforded a lap of honour around Campbelltown Sports Stadium at half-time while there'll also be a fireworks display, a Kids Zone and a post-match function at the neighbouring Wests Campbelltown leagues club.
"We're talking about [2005] all the time at the moment and it's crazy to think it happened all those years ago," Richards said. "It'd be great to get a big crowd to not only support the team against North Queensland but to cheer the boys from '05 when they go on at half-time."
Richards, who left the Wests Tigers after the grand final triumph to play for Wigan in England's Super League competition, said he was enjoying his second stint at the club.
