For the past eight years passionate, mad and downright crazy NRL fans have witnessed one of the greatest sporting teams ever.
The era has finally closed after dominance seen only by Sir Don Bradman’s Invincibles.
Queensland’s reign has finally ended but let’s make sure that their great reign, and the great match to end it, are remembered for what they were: titanic.
I will be proud to tell my grandchildren that even though I despised every minute of Queensland’s dominance, I watched one of the great sporting dynasties.
It has been a dynasty filled with greatness, perseverance and a whole lot of luck too. The eight-year run Queensland has enjoyed has been blessed with too many moments going their way.
The referees in particular have been kind to Queensland, something I think even the most ardent cane toads would have to agree with. Yet it was more than that.
For eight years they got every bounce, every murky decision, every piece of luck imaginable.
It was as if some unseen force wanted Queensland to win.
But for once, just once, NSW got the rub of the green and that tiny bit of luck they needed to seal their historic win.
Josh Reynolds kicking the ball away from what looked certain to be another Daly Cherry-Evans magic moment. Jarryd Hayne miraculously dislodging the ball from Sam Thaiday’s grasp. Brent Tate sadly pulling up hurt with what looks like yet another knee injury and Dave Taylor throwing the ball to where Tate should have been.
In past years, those moments would have gone the other way.
Cherry-Evans would have scored, the video referee would have awarded Thaiday a try and Tate would have sliced through the line, rather than busting his fragile knee.
Before we go chest beating about one in a row, or eight in a row, let’s just take a moment to reflect upon the magnitude of what we have seen.
Let us resist the urge to bicker about refereeing decisions, or how dirty Paul Gallen or Cameron Smith are now that the game is over. That only takes away from what we have witnessed.
As a sporting fan, you could not have asked more from the last three series. All have been decided by two points or less, and we should not reduce these contests down to one single refereeing error or which team is better.
The Queensland players were magnanimous in defeat, and their fans should follow their example. Likewise, NSW fans should simply bask in the moment, and realise that we finally won it.
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