Storm won 48 to 6 in front of almost 45,000 fans. This is a huge crowd when you consider many NRL matches in NSW attract less than 10,000 to a game.
I have attended hundred and hundreds of AFL matches in Melbourne and this includes possibly the best part of 15 AFL Grand Finals which get crowds in the 100,000 range. So this NRL experience was interesting for us.
There were 6 of us in our group, one couple dyed in the wool Broncos fans, the other couple formerly from NSW but not big NRL watchers and ourselves.
We decided to make a night of it and booked into a hotel in Brisbane to stay the night. The hotel was perfectly placed and about a 15 minute walk from Suncorp Stadium. The hotel was great, quite comfortable for us and not overly expensive for an overnight stay.
Needless to say the event began with drinks in the room and a chat and a good catchup with friends. Around 5pm we began the walk to the game along the famous "Caxton Street", the main drag which leads to the stadium and is designed to capture NRL supporters both on their way to the match and again on the way home.
We found a place to grab a bite to eat and a cheap meal called "Hanks Burgers and Beers". It had been difficult to find a spot where 6 of us could sit, have a drink and grab a quick bite to eat. But Hanks was perfect. What we didn't know was the place had only opened for the first time 5 hours earlier and we should have guessed there would be first opening night hassles.
Drinks service was slow but not too bad. Whereas the meals were impossible. When our meal order eventually arrived after waiting for almost an hour the food wasn't hot and they missed three of our orders. Refunds followed.
But they did have Little Creatures Pale Ale on tap. This is the beer I really enjoyed in Fremantle a month or two earlier. And even better it was a little cheaper than when I had it in Western Australia.
Now to the game itself. Unlike Aussie Rules where you actually see 'more' when you are at a live match, with NRL you see more on a TV broadcast. The photo shows exactly where we sat in relation to the game. So close watching of play at the far end was better watched on the "big screen'.
It may have been the one sidedness of the game, but the crowd was strangely quiet. With Aussie Rules there is a continual noise, cheers and shouts. With NRL the major crowd reaction comes when a "Try" is scored.
That will most likely be our one and only NRL match experience, an experience I am glad we did and was a fun night out with good friends.
And unlike a night game in July at the MCG, it was about 9pm when a soft cold breeze rattled through the ground causing fans to be glad they had worn warm coats and scarves. At the MCG this would have happened around 4pm that afternoon!
Speaking of cold it was just over 6° at 7am this morning here at Caloundra but we do have a glorious sunny day in front of us and a top expected of around 21°. It may be a degree or two warmer here.
Kate and Arj and family have arrived in Orlando Florida after New York and Washington. Kim is in California and all are having a great time.
No comments:
Post a Comment