Fans are pouring in to ANZ Stadium in Sydney ahead of a David vs. Goliath NRL Grand Final.
The Melbourne Storm and their historic ‘Big Three’ have a chance to further cement themselves as the greatest collection of talent rugby league has ever seen against a Johnathan Thurston-less North Queensland Cowboys that refuse to say die.
Thousands have travelled interstate to cheer on their respective teams in what is just the third finale not to feature a Sydney-based team.
Fans are pouring in to ANZ Stadium in Sydney ahead of a David vs. Goliath NRL Grand Final
Cowboys fans carrying big heads of their favourite stars, including the human bowling ball Jason Taumalolo, have been seen in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct since the early afternoon
One group of North Queensland fans have shown up donning Bob Katter masks, the state’s beloved MP from near Mount Isa, heartland Cowboys territory
Seas of supporters draped in purple, blue and yellow have already made their way into Homebush for the game kicking off at 7:30pm.
Cowboys fans carrying big heads of their favourite stars, including the human bowling ball Jason Taumalolo, have been seen in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct since the early afternoon.
One group of North Queensland fans have shown up donning Bob Katter masks, the state’s beloved MP from near Mount Isa, heartland Cowboys territory.
The region has been galvanised under the late form of their team which looked without hope when they lost their captain and the game’s finest player to injury mid-season.
Thurston went down with a season-ending shoulder injury during the second State of Origin match in Sydney, and a string of other injuries to first team players saw the side sliding down the table.
Thousands have travelled interstate to cheer on their respective teams in what is just the third finale not to feature a Sydney-based team
The Melbourne Storm and their historic ‘Big Three’ have a chance to further cement themselves as the greatest collection of talent rugby league has ever seen against a Johnathan Thurston-less North Queensland Cowboys that refuse to say die
Thousands have travelled interstate to cheer on their respective teams in what is just the third finale not to feature a Sydney-based team
Heading into the final round of the regular season the Cowboys did not control their own fate, instead needed St George Illawarra to lose to Canterbury to book their place.
They did, and in consecutive weeks they knocked out last season’s premiers, the Cronulla Sharks, and the Sydney Roosters in the preliminary final last week to set up a most unlikely grand final appearance.
On the other side the Storm are exactly where everyone expected they would be.
Fans are pouring in to ANZ Stadium in Sydney ahead of a David vs. Goliath NRL Grand Final
Thousands have travelled interstate to cheer on their respective teams in what is just the third finale not to feature a Sydney-based team
Fans are pouring in to ANZ Stadium in Sydney ahead of a David vs. Goliath NRL Grand Final
Led by the same three faces that have guided the club through a decade of success not seen since the Dragons of the 50s and 60s, Melbourne have began to transition their team away from their aging superstars and towards their great players of tomorrow.
While the team unequivocally still belongs to Cameron Smith, the departing Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, they have been surrounded by a gluttony of other representative talent, including Cameron Munster, Suliasi Vunivalu and Jesse Bromwich.
The game kicks off from ANZ Stadium at 7:30pm tonight. You can watch the game on Channel Nine.