Was Kyle Feldt’s 2015 NRL match-winner the greatest grand final ‘get out of jail’ try ever?
Maybe it was, but one from the 1981 Brisbane Rugby League grand final between Redcliffe and Souths should at least be mentioned in the same breath.
Before I talk about that one though, I realise this could be a “don’t mention the war” moment for all the long-term Redcliffe Dolphins supporters out there, but I hope not.
I’ll explain why later.
So what happened in the 1981 BRL decider? If a picture tells a thousand words, then a video must tell a million, especially when it’s as dramatic as this.
Souths were down 9-8 against Redcliffe with a minute to go. Redcliffe were captain-coached by a 36-year-old Artie Beetson, trying to get his beloved Dolphins a premiership in his final year before hanging up his boots.
Souths had a 21-year-old centre named Mal Meninga in their side. And if you don’t know who Mick Reardon is, watch this video clip and find out.
I can still picture the image of Artie slumped in the in-goal area as Mal lined up his meaningless ‘toe-poke’ conversion from the sideline, which he kicked.
Artie had given his all, but knew it was all over – both his playing career and his dream of a fairy tale premiership victory to finish.
It was hard to begrudge Souths their victory though, at the time it was their first premiership in 28 years. The drought was broken and it was the start of a great era for the club, with stars like Meninga, Peter Jackson and Gary Belcher all playing for the Magpies in the 1980s before they made their way to the Canberra Raiders.
In sport there has to be a winner and a loser. But there are no ‘real’ losers in matches like the Broncos versus Cowboys 2015 NRL grand final, or the Redcliffe versus Souths 1981 BRL grand final. In time, hopefully the Broncos players and fans will come to realise that, just like the Redcliffe team of 1981 and their supporters have come to that realisation.
It takes two teams to create a great grand final memory. In the long term, who remembers the details of one-sided grand finals other than the two teams and their supporters who are directly involved? Those games don’t live in the memory banks of all rugby league supporters, like close grand finals do, with all of their drama.
‘Time heals all wounds’, so the saying goes. Or does it? You would probably have to ask the Redcliffe players from 1981 that question, and maybe the 2015 Broncos players in years to come.
Reunions if you do lose a grand final either don’t happen at all, or aren’t the same as a premiership reunion.
I hope the 1981 Redcliffe side has had some reunions over the years though, and that they were happy occasions. They played in one of the classic BRL grand finals of all time.
I also hope the 2015 Broncos side has happy reunions in years to come. They played in one of the best NRL grand finals of all time and it will be remembered for decades.
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