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A Cowboys grand final victory on Sunday would have all the characteristics of a fairy tale finish. Cowboys teams of recent years have been characterised by agonising heartbreak and ongoing controversy when it comes to September.
Yet these setbacks will make the taste of victory even sweeter if the trophy is to head north. A premiership drought will be broken and the most geographically diverse rugby league community will finally have some silverware to celebrate.
It would also put the icing on the cake for a rugby league legend, Johnathan Thurston, and assure his status as an immortal of the game. So how would a Cowboys win notch upon against other rugby league fairy tale victories?
Here are the top five grand final victories of modern times that seem too surreal to be true.
5. ‘Ding Dong the witch is dead’ – Jack Gibson leads Parramatta to their first grand final victory in 1981
These were the words that coach of the century Jack Gibson chanted when the trophy travelled up the Parramatta river for the first time in the club’s 35-year history.
The witch was indeed dead, but it seemed like she had one final act before being buried into the ground. The spiritual home of Parramatta Cumberland Oval was burned down after the 1981 triumph, but the fans didn’t care, who would when you have finally tasted premiership success.
4. Goanna Crawl – South Sydney claim first title since 1971
This is more than just a story about a 43-year premiership drought. It is a tale of guts, determination and a never-say-die attitude. In 2000 South Sydney were removed from the NRL competition, a foundation club and the league’s most successful club.
Yet through the power of their supporters they rallied together, winning re-entry into the competition in 2002. This is a club whose supporters refused to stop believing. What made it all the sweeter was when the Michael Maguire-led Rabbitohs smashed the Doggies to put the icing on a stunning narrative.
3. ‘That flick pass’ – Benji and Wests Tigers in 2005
The joint venture wasn’t all bad for Western Suburbs. It had after all delivered them their first premiership since 1952 as Wests Tigers became the first merger club to hoist the Provan Summons trophy.
It ended years of heartbreak for Balmain fans after agonising losses in the late 1980s. The victory was important because it merged two groups of supporters together after what had been a tentative early period of their marriage. Everybody was now a West Tiger.
2. Late try seals first premiership – Penrith in 1991
Like all great narratives, tension and drama filled suspense provided unmissable viewing in the 1991 grand final. With three minutes to go, a short drop-out by the Raiders backfired and Mark Geyer produced one of the most famous runs in NRL history. Geyer offloaded to Royce Simmons who crashed over the line to hand Penrith their first ever premiership that was 25 years in the making.
1. ‘Albert will score, Newcastle have won the grand final’ – Joey Brilliance orchestrates 1997 win
The words that caused pandemonium at Newcastle Workers Club as Darren Albert strode over the try-line to secure a 22-16 win over Manly. The images of fans at the Newcastle Workers Club showed it all.
A town consumed by rugby league littered the streets to wish their team well before the grand final. A team of local boys led by Paul Harragon and Joey Johns had given Australia’s most rugby league mad fans their first taste of premiership glory.
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