Sports fans are a strange breed. You will struggle to find a more fanatical bunch. There aren't many people who will continually turn up to a stadium and support their team during the blistering cold, brutal storms or howling winds. Rain, hail or shine, a true fan turns up each and every time, for better or for worse.
The other characteristic of a sports fan is that they tend to foster rivalries that are sometimes decades old. Manchester United and Manchester City. New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Ferrari and McLaren. All vaunted rivalries driven by a genuine dislike for their opponent.
Manly and Brisbane might not be a rivalry that many recognise but for me, Manly are the true enemy. Recently the Melbourne Storm have challenged that mantle - the Broncos squashed their Grand Final dreams in 2006 and Melbourne proceeded to knock us out of the finals for 3 consecutive years, albeit illegally.
Prior to the Broncos entering the NRL (then ARL) in 1988, Manly were known as the Silvertails. Why the Silvertails? Back in the 70's and 80's, they went on a buying spree that cannot be compared to even the Storm of the late 2000's. They plundered the playing stocks of other teams without remorse.
You are probably saying "Well, that was before your time so why concern yourself with it". During my younger years, Origin was just as special as it is now. Watching Renouf, Langer and Walters are fond memories of mine. Not so fond memories are of watching players such as Terry Hill, Geoff Toovey, Mark Carroll and Cliff Lyons run amok. Mark Carroll, dirty player extraordinaire. Toovey, the little whinging halfback/hooker. Terry Hill, possibly the most lacklustre footballer but managed to always talk it up. Cliffy Lyons for purely being successful in a Manly jersey.
This weekend sees the Broncos ventures to Fortress Brookvale, the home of the some of the most despised fans in the NRL. Manly always step it up a gear at home similar to us at Suncorp and I expect 110% from the lads this weekend. Manly are without Lyon which robs them of one of their stars this season. The Broncos need to lay the foundation with the forwards and shut down players such as Watmough and Stewart. I sound like a bit of a broken record but completion rates and error free football will get us home here. We were a little average against Cronulla so I expect the boys to turn it up.
Prediction? 18-12 Broncos.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
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Don't forget they've never forgiven us a certain 44-10 drubbing a few years back :D
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