It is nothing out of the ordinary to see Brian McClennan and John Ackland watching league together but yesterday the Warriors' coaching duo had a special assignment.
While the Warriors took a break, a few kilometres across town, the club that could be regarded as a spiritual home of theNRL franchise commemorated one of their most special occasions.
The Mt Albert Lions - part of the initial bid for the original NSWRL licence back in the early 1990s - staged an anniversary of the 1982 Fox Memorial grand final against Otahuhu, their second of six such finals at Carlaw Park in the 1980s.
As former Lions, Ackland and McClennan attended, along with other celebrated team-mates such as Mark Bourneville, Gary Prohm and Shane Cooper, as well as legendary coach (and Brian's father) Mike McClennan.
The dynasty is set to continue, as Cooper's two sons play for the Lions, as well as Ackland's. Warriors fullback Kevin Locke was another interested - and popular - spectator, as he watched his younger brother turn out for Northcote in an earlier game.
The 1982 final, won 18-8 by Mt Albert, was the beginning of a classic rivalry between the Lions and Leopards that continued over the rest of the decade. The south Auckland side boasted men such as Owen Wright, Hugh McGahan, Frank Tinitelia and Joe Ropati.
Otahuhu got revenge in 1983 with a last ditch 14-11 win before Mt Albert regained their title with a comprehensive 25-6 victory the following year. The two teams also clashed in the Tusk Cup, Roope Rooster and Stormont Shield.
"It was a pretty special team," recalls Ackland. "We all came through the grades together and were all from the neighbourhood, something that would never happen today."
"We were fit, we were mentally tough and we enjoyed socialising together," said Cooper.
Yesterday's event at Fowlds Park featured a luncheon, an auction of replica 1982 jerseys and a video replay of the Fox final from 30 years ago before the main game between today's incarnation of the Lions and Leopards. It was an end-to-end thriller won 24-22 by Mt Albert.
