95 and 96 Semis vs Manly

[Mr Ryan]

A lot will be made this week of the 73 and 78 Grand Finals - and rightly so.

I have seen them on DVD but they were played before I was born, so I don't have a lot to comment about them. I'll leave that for some older and wiser posters on here.

But the matches from our history that can't go unmentioned this week are the 2 semis we played against Manly in the mid 90s.

It's nearly 20 years ago so my memories might be a bit sketchy. So I wanna hear some of the memories from you other guys that were at the SFS on those 2 fateful days.

95 Qualifying Final 1 v 4:

Us against the minor premiers. They had had a pretty **** hot season. Only lost 3 games all year I think.

But we had won 8 straight leading into this match (including a win against Manly at Brookie). So we were confident.

We hadn't played in the semis for 6 seasons and hadn't won a semi since we qualified for the 78 GF.

We were definitely in uncharted waters - and didn't we all learn the hard way that semi final footy was different to the regular season stuff.

I think we were leading 14-4 at halftime. When the great man ET scored just after the break I remember my mate next to me asking "are you guys home?"

I replied "1 more try"

Then Cliffy Lyons decided to take control of the match.

We were run down 24-20. So I was right - 1 more try would of sealed it. But we were no chance of scoring again.

That day I learnt how cruel Rugby League could be.

96 Grand Final Qualifier:

I don't have many memories from this match - probably because there werent many for us.

24-0. Never in doubt, never looked like scoring.

I brought a bag full of shredded newspaper to use as streamers. I left it under my seat when the game ended - still full and not one piece used during the match.

I do remember Hopoate patting the Peach on the head when he dropped the ball. Hated him forever after that.


So there's my memories from those 2 games. I know we have our local derby with St George, but for me Manly are our mortal enemies. A win on Friday night would be nice.

 

[Sharkyle]

I think Friday night will be another story to add to your list unfortunately

 

[Ratsack]

what about 2008, I was in Delhi, arranged to go to the embassy to watch the game with the social club, text my mate to tell him not to tell me the scores due to time difference, massive issue arranging a taxi in Delhi then almost 2 hours in Delhi cross town traffic, then hop out of the taxi only to receive a text from my son saying "bad luck about the sharks" so then I had to pretend in front of all the aussie at the embassy, what a **** night that was

 

[dylan the villian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eY_mjoJu8U

this is the era i grew up watching an remember the most. i watch this when ever i want to get gee'd up for a game.

 

[Nulla Boy]

Went to both these games.

 

[sharky7]

cut out the doom and gloom lads.

being born in 95 myself, i have little memories of the early 2000s, this is probably one that sticks out though haha. to lighten the mood a bit,

i know this week is a different proposition, but this is my fondest memory.

edit: we had a fill in number 6 that day too

 

[sharkstragic]

Went to both these games.

Same.. Devastated after both..

 

[Sharkyle]

They need to show that to the players

 

[Bundy Shark]

At both of those, both were devastating for different reasons, we were the better team in 95, I vividly remember us making easy metres from dummy half & somehow we lost, in 96 the game was over almost before it started, we were hardly in it, Peach made a blue & smart arse Hopoate rubbing his head after it.

 

[blacky]

Jesus christ what is with the gloomy gusses in here its nor 95 97 99 08 12 its 2013 and o have hade a feeling all year . The telecrap tried to kill it didn't work .
ASADA tried to kill it didn't work.
Burbon beccy and cohorts tried to kill it didn't work.
Everyone not a shark tried to kill it . It hasn't worked the boys have bounced back every time .
Against all odds we got Sponsorship we got finals and we are 160 mins away from the grand final . Paul Gallen is going to finish that game the second most capped shark in history and he is going to lift that trophy above his head and every shark everywhere will celebrate like never before so BE13VE .

 

[sharkyman]

Yeah. This was my birthday and id flown to Sydney for the game and catch up with a mate who's also a mad sharky.
Watched us get smashed, and then headed back to a pub where all our mates were waiting for birthday drinks, and they'd already teed up with the publican to show the replay, and then as there was some melbourne fans there who wanted to see it he wouldnt turn it off, so I had to sit through it twice.

what was worse was the next weeks grand final was the day after my wedding, and id already organised a big screen and for a bunch of us to watch it hungover. thought that if I was every to get lucky with the sharks in finals it would be the weekends of my birthday/wedding respectively.

Instead we watched manly/melbourne and booed them both all game. am still thinking I should ask the storm to refund the cash for my post-wedding 'celebrations'.....cheating ****s

what about 2008, I was in Delhi, arranged to go to the embassy to watch the game with the social club, text my mate to tell him not to tell me the scores due to time difference, massive issue arranging a taxi in Delhi then almost 2 hours in Delhi cross town traffic, then hop out of the taxi only to receive a text from my son saying "bad luck about the sharks" so then I had to pretend in front of all the aussie at the embassy, what a **** night that was

 

[sharkyman]

Btw, can someone enlighten me, was Manly's 7 tackle try in 78' in the original grand final, or the replay? I was but a wee pup back then. Cheers

 

[Jumpback]

How good was Rogers and Peachey in those clips !