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Excuse me if I sound a little bewildered, or sound like I have lost touch with reality. Right now, I am completely and utterly numb.
It’s been over 24 hours since my beloved Rabbitohs did the unthinkable and broke a 43-year drought, to make it to the big dance.
It just doesn’t seem real, Souths are involved in the grand final week – Souths. My Souths, my club who wasn’t even involved in the competition 14 years ago.
The banner that the Burrow held up prior to the match “What we do in life, echoes in eternity, your time is now, become legends”. And legends they are on the verge of becoming.
If anyone had told me we would be here after our fightback I would have scoffed at the thought. All I wanted was to see my cardinal and myrtle bring a smile and a sense of joy back onto the faces around me.
For myself and my family, South Sydney isn’t just a football club, it’s a way of life. We mainly only see each other during the rugby league season, we spend our own family time at Souths matches, or while watching other league matches. It’s an incredible affinity.
It all started 45 years ago when my Dad and his brothers migrated from the south of Lebanon. Their brave parents made the decision to uproot their 10 children, get on a boat and search for a better life, when Lebanon was on the verge of yet another violence-fuelled war.
When they finally made their way to Sydney, the areas of South Sydney were their home. Redfern was their home away from home, filled with other Lebanese migrants. They all sought solace in each other and their rugby league team. My father and his brothers fell in love with the game, it was their way of assimilating and coping with the massive change.
My father and his younger brother began their footballing career within the Souths district, playing for the Alexandria Rovers before making their way into the Jersey Flegg sides. Then my father went over to the Illawarra Steelers, where he was coached by Brian Smith.
A horrific knee injury and unfavourable racism shattered his opportunity to play first grade, and let me tell you, he would’ve been a first grader, he was a humongous five-eighth that had tricky feet and a great eye for the game.
But through those tough times, Souths were his solace. And they still are. So on Friday night, being able to experience that magic moment with them was mind blowing. When the full time whistle blew, I fell to my knees just to shed tears, I couldn’t bring my mind around to what had just happened.
I looked to my left and my youngest uncle is looking bewildered with tears rolling down his cheek, while my father – who is a pretty tough and unemotional bloke – was trying to choke back the tears. And within us on Friday night, were three generations of Souths supporters. The youngest was three, the eldest 85.
It was a surreal moment for my club, the club that has for some long underachieved and shot themselves in the foot. To see them in that moment was probably one of the greatest living memories. But hey, we haven’t achieved anything yet, as they say.
But that is just underplaying the whole situation. These last three years under the magic of Michael Maguire have been an absolute roller-coaster. But that man has steered us to the unthinkable. I don’t know what it is, but I see a lot of comparisons between Michael Maguire and Sir Alex Ferguson, a young Ferguson that is.
The two are apparent good mates, but beyond that, like Ferguson, Madge took over a club who were in a rot and a horrific premiership drought. Both clubs where in tatters, and were cycling around the cycle of self destruction.
But like when Ferguson took over, Madge has completely changed around the mentality, culture and discipline of the club. Like Ferguson, the guy is ruthless. But a generally humble and community man, that will feed off his knowledge and not be too proud to seek knowledge from elders.
Madge hasn’t broke the premiership drought yet, but you can feel it’s coming. If he can’t break it, I really think no one ever will. The guy just breeds confidence into his players, he breeds respect, discipline and the will to get his lads performing at their absolute optimum.
Just look at Lote Tuqiri for goodness sakes, I was laughing when I heard he signed at the club, but the guy has turned back the years, and has been one of our most consistent and lethal performers towards the back end of the season.
And that’s not stopping with him, the likes of Alex Johnston, Dee Walker, Kirosome Auva’a, Adam Reynolds, Luke Keary and Kyle Turner have all become absolute killers within this South Sydney squad, and have cemented themselves to being the future of South Sydney.
Back to grand final week, it’s refreshing to not have to get behind your least hated side on grand final day, or have that empty feeling in your stomach that an entire year has passed and your boys have failed to come up with the goods. Or be fuelled with jealousy at your rival supporters soaking up the joy and jubilation on that first Sunday in October.
This is our best ever opportunity, this is the best group of players Souths have ever acquired. It features a deep level of experience, youth, spark, creativity, depth, will and power, and has the momentum swinging in their favour.
One more big performance and the premiership is ours. Just one more. It is isn’t much to ask in hindsight aye?
Next Sunday I will be at ANZ stadium, with nine of my family members and friends, and I think I will just have to take a moment to realise the enormity of the day. This piece might sound whack to the majority of the rugby league community, but when you have been deprived of glory and joy for so long, this is the surrealist feeling.
Regardless of what happens next Sunday night, this smile won’t be wiped off my face anytime soon.
Will I ever see glory in their eyes? I will be down on my knees for the next eight days, and praying to the heavens and gods above for that moment.
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