Warriors 1st Winfield Cup scorer Phil Blake evades the tackle of Broncos Julian O'Neill, during the team's season opener at Ericsson Stadium. Photo / Getty Images.
Warriors 1st Winfield Cup scorer Phil Blake evades the tackle of Broncos Julian O'Neill, during the team's season opener at Ericsson Stadium. Photo / Getty Images.
Securing two tickets to the Warriors' opening game still seems like one of my father's greatest achievements.
In the weeks leading up to that match 20 years ago they were like gold dust, and the Warriors had to turn down thousands of applications from their own supporters club.
But Burgesssenior had been a regular at Carlaw Park since the early 1980s, and had the necessary league connections.
Thanks to CEO Ian Robson's hype, the reputation of coach John Monie and the presence of some big names (Greg Alexander, Dennis Betts, Andy Platt) the Warriors had been built up to almost mythical proportions. Watch out Australia.
It wasn't to be - and looking back was never going to be.
Less than a third of the first grade squad had NRL experience, a situation that would never be contemplated today. Monie struggled in his return to the Winfield Cup and too many of the stars didn't perform consistently
But that night, we dared to dream. The pre match entertainment was something never seen - before or since - in this country, and the match was a cracker with the Warrriors coming back from an early 10-0 deficit to lead 22-10 with half an hour to play.
Despite the eventual 25-22 loss, everyone in the sell out crowd seemed to leave with smiles on their face, only heightened when we read the next morning that Wayne Bennett felt the Warriors had the potential to be a "top three team".
Of course the team that year couldn't turn potential into performance, a stigma that has dogged the club for most of the last two decades.
The Warriors are yet to deliver a premiership but some perspective is needed there. It ain't easy. In the same 20 year period the Eels and Raiders have also come up short.
The Rabbitohs only broke a 43 year drought last year and St George's 2010 success was their first since 1979. And teams like the Sharks (established 1967), Cowboys (1995) and Titans (2007) are also still waiting.
But there is no doubt the Warriors should be a regular playoff team - where missing out on the top eight becomes the exception rather than the rule - and that should eventuate in the next few seasons.
But look at the impact the team has had anyway. It's become the biggest single sporting franchise in this country and the third largest sporting organisation, behind the Rugby Union and New Zealand Cricket.
They sell more merchandise than any other NRL club and attract large crowds across Australia. Just imagine what will happen if they become September regulars.
