Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans @ CommBank Stadium

My first Rugby League game in 27 years.  Yikes!  And the boys first ever.

Thanks to legendary Michael Cronin (my brother-in-law's brother-in-law) and the also legenday Peter Wynn, the boys, nanny & my sister's family got 8 incredible seats (in the Michael Cronin Stand, no less) to see th Eels play the Gold Coast Titans - a team that didn't even exist the last time I went to a league match.

We drove down early and started at Peter Wynn's Score to pick up our extra tickets and meet Peter himself.  What a gentleman!  I remember watching him play for Parramatta when I was a kid.  He always had that sports store, and it looks like game days are good to him.  The store was packed, but he made sure to spend time with everyone that walked through the door.  And the amount of time he spent with us was amazing.  He really hyped up the boys for their first league game and talked to, and shook hands with, all of us.  I am honored and humbled to be able to use his tickets, which are the 4 next to the Cronins.  

Peter Wynn-signed ball for B&L

Near the CommBank Stadium is Club Parramatta, where we had our pub dunch (as L like to call it).  While a limited menu, because of the volume of people coming in before the match, still some good food.  

L, M, Nanny, L & B @ Club Parramatta

A quick walk over the river and we are at the stadium.  Turns out CommBank Stadium is in the same spot as the old Parramatta Stadium, where I last say Wests v Cronulla in a semi-final in 1996.  We are in the 7th row on the 22 years line.  Perfect!  as for the footy - it was great.  A biased Parramatta crowd giving to the referee non-stop, and just a great back and forth for 80 minutes.  Parramatta ended up winning by the slimmest of margins 25-24.  A Moses field goal the difference on the day.

J, Nanny, K & Me @ CommBank Stadium

We stuck around after the game as the Parra players came out to meet the fans, as footballs and merchandise were thrown into the crowd.  I managed to score a mini-footy for the boys, only after dropping a real sized ball moments earlier.  Another great first experience for the boys, which I don't think they get at this age, but will hopefully appreciate one day.  And the opprotunity to do it with family, made it all the better.

Parramatta Eels 25 (R.Campbell-Gillard, W. Penisini, B. Cartwright, C. Gutherson tries: M. Moses 3 goals, field goal) vs Gold Coast Titans 24 (A. Khan-Pereeria 2, P. Sami, T. Boyd tries; T. Boyd 4 goals).

Crowd: 12,599

Wests Magpies vs Cronulla Sharks @ Parramatta Stadium

What I remember (in 2024)...

Drove out from Coogee with Rberta and Kelly.

Cronulla Sharks 20 (Paul Green 2, Paul Donaghy tries, Mat Rogers 4 goals) defeated Wests Magpies 12 (Darren Willis, Paul Bell tries, Andrew Leeds 2 goals)

Crowd: 22,433

Manly Sea Eagles vs Auckland Warriors @ Brookvale Oval

What I remember (in 2024)...

Went with Robert, Troy & Beck and Brooke & Lewy.

First time back a Brookvale Oval since leaving Dee Why in 1987.

Manly 22 (Craig Innes, Terry Hill, Jack Elsgood, Steve Menzies tries, Craig Innes, Des Hasler, Shannon Nevin goals) defeated Auckland 10 (Gene Ngamu, Phil Blake tries, Gene Namu goal)

Crowd: 18,588

Manly: John Hopoate, Danny Moore, Craig Innes, Terry Hill, Jack Elsgood, Cliff Lyons, Geoff Toovey, Owen Cunningham, Daniel Gartner, Steve Menzies, Mark Carroll, Des Hasler, David Gillespie, subs: Solomon Haumano, Neil Tierney, Nik Kosef, Shannon Nevin.

Auckland: David Murray, Sean Hoppe, Richie Blackmore, Tea Ropati, John Kirwin, Gene Ngamu, Stacey Jones, Mark Horo, Stephen Kearney, Tony Tuimavave, Andy Platt, Phil Blake, Gavin Hill, subs: Tony Tatupu, Joe Vagana, Awen Guttenbeil, Iva Ropati

New South Wales vs Queensland @ SFS

What I remember (in 2024)...

These tickets belonged to friends of Robbie's parents, who couldn't use them.  Robbie was already going, so we went along and sat separately with Kern.

As the score suggests, the game was a bit of a defensive slugfest, with 1 goal the difference.

Queensland 2 (Wayne Bartrim goal) defeated NSW 0

New South Wales: Tim Brasher, Rod Wishart, Terry Hill, Paul McGregor, Craig Hancock, Andrew Johns, Matthew Johns, Brad Fittler, Steve Menzies, Brad Mackay, Mark Carroll, Jim Sedaris, Paul Harragon, subs: Greg Florimo, David Farleigh, Matt Sears, Adam Muir

Queensland: Robbie O'Davis, Brett Dallas, Mark Coyne, Danny Moore, Matt Sing, Dale Shearer, Adrian Lam, Billy Moore, Trevor Gillmister, Gary Larson, Gavin Allen, Wayne Bartrim, Tony Hearn, subs: Terry Cook, Ben Ikin, Mark Hohn, Craig

Crowd: 39,841

Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles @ SFS

What I remember (in 2024)...

Drove to Sydney with Dad to see the game.

This was a semi final match.

We sat up really high in the stadium.

Gary Coyne is the most unlikely 4 tries in a game ever.

Canberra 34 (Gary Coyne 4, Gary Belcher, Mark Bell tries, Mal Meninga 3, Matthew Wood 2 goals) defeated Manly 26 (Kevin Iro 2, Frank Stokes, Owen Cunningham tries, Matthew Ridge 5 goals)

Crowd 34,707

Canberra: Gary Belcher, Paul Martin, Mal Meninga, Mark Bell, Matthew Wood, Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Bradley Clyde, Gary Coyne, David Barnhill, Glen Lazarus, Steve Walters, Brent Todd, subs: Darren Fritz, Darrell McDonald, Jason Gregory, Brett Boyd

Manly: Matthew Ridge, Craig Hancock, Kevin Iro, Darrell Williams, Frank Stokes, Cliff Lyons, Geoff Toovey, Owen Cunningham, Matt Dunford, John Jones, David Hosking, Danny Russell, Martin Bella, subs: John Grieve, David Ronson, Chris White

Sydney Morning Herald Report - 9 September 1991

Canberra Raiders vs Wests Magpies @ Seiffert Oval

What I remember (in 2024)...

Stopped overnight in Canberra on family trip to Victoria.

Went to the game with Dad, while Mum & K stayed at the hotel.

As cold as I'd ever been.

Wests were not expected to win, but did.

Wests 25 (Graham Mackay, Jason Lidden, Garry Schofield, Wayne Simonds tries, Brett Docherty 3, Graham Mackay goals, Garry Schofield field goal) defeated Canberra 22 (Gary Belcher, Mal Meninga, Kevin Walters tries, Mal Meninga 5 goals)

Crowd: 8,289

Canberra: Gary Belcher, Mark Bell, Ivan Henjak, Mal Meninga, John Ferguson, Chris O'Sulllivan, Ricky Stuart, Craig Bellamy, Craig Dimond, Gary Coyne, Brent Todd, Steve Walters, Glen Lazarus, subs: Dean Lance, Kevin Walters, Ashley Gilbert, Wayne Collins

Wests: Brett Docherty, Graham Mackay, Jason Lidden, Garry Schofield, Wayne Simonds, Elery Hanley, Richard Smith, Brendan Tuuta, Cameron Blair, Dave Gallagher, Pat O'Doherty, Pat Flanagan, David Woods, subs: Gary Bukowski, Doug Rawlings, Trevor Cogger.

Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks @ Brookvale Oval

What I remember (in 2024)...

Went with Mum and Dad

Rick Chisholm's debut for Manly and scoring all their points

Manly 17 (Rick Chisholm 2 tries, 5 goals, 1 field goal) defeated Cronulla 14 (Greg Mullane, Kurt Sorensen tries, Dane Sorensen 4 goals)

Crowd 9,458

Manly: Ross Windshuttle, Tom Mooney, Simon Booth, Russell Gartner, Jim See, Martin Meredith, Rick Chisholm, Paul Vautin, Bruce Walker Ray Brown, Steve Cray, Max Krillich, Ian Thompson

Cronulla: Rick Bourke, Ossie Welsh, Chris Gardner, Greg Mulllane, Tony Graham, Dave Chamberlin, Greg Cox, Scott Dudman, Kurt Sorensen, Greg Pierce, Dane Sorensen, Barry Pearson, Paul Khan.