In 2005 I was 19....
To give some context as to the year that was...
The few years prior I had played SG Ball and Harrold Matt's and I think this was the first season I hadnt played since I was 6.
It was also my first season playing fantasy NRL... It wasn't with apps like we have these days.. it was something a dedicated group of people had built out with spreadsheets that included player prices and positions, the trading window opened at 3pm every Monday and closed at 3pm.. trades were manual, so there were always arguments as to who sent the email first (based on the server receipt)...
It was the equivalent of "draft", so only one person could have a player. It was based on points scored for the backs... You could have one first kicker and one second kicker.
For the forwards it was all about activity.. so the combination of tackles and hit ups had to be 45 or more to warrant a forward try...
It was brilliant.
Ive never been part of something so insanely competitive and time consuming.. It was my introduction to a whole new level banter (and this is after playing 15 years of footy).. Friendships would be strained based on who picked up what player... The strategic manipulation to plant ideas in someone's head as to who they should pick up... The banter then if someone bought a player who was injured or dropped. It was fkn amazing..
Because I followed the tigers, my team included players like Brett Hodgson and Paul whaturia who had stellar seasons and scored me lots of points .. I went on to win the fantasy comp this year... And it was the only year I ever won it...
So the season finishes and i make my way to every single Wests tigers finals game.
I had a trip booked with my girlfriend at the time to go to the gold coast with her family and some other families the week of the grand final...
After we beat the dragons in the preliminary final, I thought that was it... We'd be playing Parra in the finals... So I was content just watching it on TV...
Then I get a phone call on the sunday and I was offered a corporate box ticket to the game... I had to let them know within the next few hours...
I think after all the years hearing about the disappointment my dad went through with the 89 grand final and having lost some GRand finals myself, I just thought I'd take the holiday... It seemed the right choice given how much my life had previously revolved around footy.
I also thought we were going to be playing Parramatta , and they seemed to have the wood on us...
Then the cowboys PUMPED Parra ..
I was too entrenched in the world of a 19 year old bloke with a hot Mrs and what comes along with that, to think rationally.
I put the call in on the Monday to see if the ticket was still available... And it was gone...
I went to multiple games in the 05 season and every semi final... But I missed the grant final, over a girlfriend...
Can you top this?
I think it explains why I'm so deeply passionate these days... I have this need to experience the tigers winning a GF, in person, before I die, to make up for the mistake in 05...
I still have hope 😔 🙏
To give some context as to the year that was...
The few years prior I had played SG Ball and Harrold Matt's and I think this was the first season I hadnt played since I was 6.
It was also my first season playing fantasy NRL... It wasn't with apps like we have these days.. it was something a dedicated group of people had built out with spreadsheets that included player prices and positions, the trading window opened at 3pm every Monday and closed at 3pm.. trades were manual, so there were always arguments as to who sent the email first (based on the server receipt)...
It was the equivalent of "draft", so only one person could have a player. It was based on points scored for the backs... You could have one first kicker and one second kicker.
For the forwards it was all about activity.. so the combination of tackles and hit ups had to be 45 or more to warrant a forward try...
It was brilliant.
Ive never been part of something so insanely competitive and time consuming.. It was my introduction to a whole new level banter (and this is after playing 15 years of footy).. Friendships would be strained based on who picked up what player... The strategic manipulation to plant ideas in someone's head as to who they should pick up... The banter then if someone bought a player who was injured or dropped. It was fkn amazing..
Because I followed the tigers, my team included players like Brett Hodgson and Paul whaturia who had stellar seasons and scored me lots of points .. I went on to win the fantasy comp this year... And it was the only year I ever won it...
So the season finishes and i make my way to every single Wests tigers finals game.
I had a trip booked with my girlfriend at the time to go to the gold coast with her family and some other families the week of the grand final...
After we beat the dragons in the preliminary final, I thought that was it... We'd be playing Parra in the finals... So I was content just watching it on TV...
Then I get a phone call on the sunday and I was offered a corporate box ticket to the game... I had to let them know within the next few hours...
I think after all the years hearing about the disappointment my dad went through with the 89 grand final and having lost some GRand finals myself, I just thought I'd take the holiday... It seemed the right choice given how much my life had previously revolved around footy.
I also thought we were going to be playing Parramatta , and they seemed to have the wood on us...
Then the cowboys PUMPED Parra ..
I was too entrenched in the world of a 19 year old bloke with a hot Mrs and what comes along with that, to think rationally.
I put the call in on the Monday to see if the ticket was still available... And it was gone...
I went to multiple games in the 05 season and every semi final... But I missed the grant final, over a girlfriend...
Can you top this?
I think it explains why I'm so deeply passionate these days... I have this need to experience the tigers winning a GF, in person, before I die, to make up for the mistake in 05...
I still have hope 😔 🙏
