As I travel the 3.5hour journey down the F3 Freeway yet again to support my beloved Canterbury-Bankstown I’m thinking, despite our recent form slump I’m quite excited about this game.
Mt Smart, Auckland, New Zealand is this week’s destination and the New Zealand Warriors are whom we’re up against on Friday night.
I’m slightly confident for a Bulldogs victory as we haven’t had a win for a while and surely we cannot go through such a bad losing streak. Not with the team sheet we have.
That morning as I’m travelling to Sydney’s International Airport I’m in conversation with Mark Geyer – former League legend and co-host of the Triple M Grill Team, about my trip.
MG agrees I should be in contact with Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg about a possible rendezvous with the team in Auckland.
I shoot Greenberg a message and to my surprise he replies with an invitation to their training session on the Thursday afternoon! Of course, I gladly accepted the invitation.
I arrive in rainy Auckland late Wednesday night with Karen and after being totally screwed by our hotel with the dodgiest room with no heater and no hot water, we are relocated to a normal room and call it a night.
Thursday morning we enjoyed a nice sleep in then hit the city for some sight seeing.
We checked out the War Memorial Museum as the Bulldogs were training at the fields just next door in over an hour at 3pm.
At 3pm Karen heads back to the city to do some shopping and I head to the sports fields to find no sign of the team anywhere.
Heavy rain is still falling and the park was quite large but it’s not everyday you get this opportunity so I venture off in the mud to find them (I wasn’t paying $35 for an umbrella at the museum gift shop either).
I searched the park for a good 45 minutes before I double-checked the message form Todd Greenberg and it works out I was at the wrong park. Such similar names though…
Easy mistake and I was unbelievably annoyed with myself.
Next mission was to find a cab. If anyone has been to Auckland they would know that’s not the easiest assignment, especially in a park, so, I hitchhiked.
This lovely Maori couple were headed my way and were more than happy to give me a ride.
Turns out I was a pretty far away from where I should’ve been and these amazing locals had a giggle at me. I didn’t blame them really.
To their surprise I left them a financial thank you gift for saving me from the rain and delivering me to my special afternoon with my Blue and White boys. I cannot explain how grateful I was and how beautiful at heart they were.
I arrive at training over an hour late but had missed nothing. The boys were hitting the fields as I arrived.
After meeting a few of the lads they got into their drills and set plays.
The team was being run by Jim Dymock and Tony Grimaldi, which I thought was a normal warm up routine for them while Kevin Moore took a few calls.
Something just didn’t seem right…
I was there with Greg Eastwood’s cousin Rex and his 3 boys and that’s all that was in attendance but the players seemed a little quiet.
Todd Greenberg walked passed me from the sheds, I went to say hi and have a chat with him but he was busy talking over near the team bus, same as Moore. They seem to be having an in depth conversation, one that I didn’t want to interrupt. They both then boarded the team bus.
Dymock ran the team all session, which I then thought was odd and knew something was up.
Idris and Ryan both looked like they didn’t want to be there at all. I tried to talk to Ryan but got nothing but a “hey mate”.
Zap was out kicking goals and Ben Roberts was having a great time in the rain.
I caught up with Ben Barba at spoke about his hometown which I was visited last week and would have loved the Mackay weather right now.
The player who had the most time for me was Trent Hodgkinson. He was really appreciative for my support and dedication to the team for travelling all that way, a truly fantastic guy.
Dene Haletau, Chris Keating, Steve Turner and David Stagg were all great as well. After meeting them all I’m kind of glad Idris is going, he just wasn’t interested and I was disappointed in our captain Andrew Ryan.
It’s not hard to have a quick chat with someone who has flown to another country and stood in the freezing rain to support them. I could have easily sat in my lounge room in front of the fire and watched.
I soon realise during my travels I had missed the news of Coach Kevin Moore quitting the club with immediate effect as a result of the club not requiring his services next season.
The pieces of the puzzle are coming together, Moore not training, Greenberg in deep conversation, Ryan not happy. I was at a training session that will go down in the history of the club as the one where Moore walked out.
I couldn’t believe it.
The session wasn’t what I had expected. I thought I would have been able to interact with the players a little more considering there were only 5 of us there watching but with what had just happened I totally understand the distance that players and coaching staff took.
I’m glad I was there though. The team needs the supporters to get behind them and have faith. Even though I had received the cold shoulder from a few of them I was happy to be there to support my team and my club in a time they need me, all of us.
I hitchhiked a ride back to the city with Rex and his 3 boys, as I was nowhere near a main road to get a cab/bus/train.
That evening Karen and I went into the city for a few drinks and went home with a nice donation from the Auckland casino for my card skills on the Blackjack table.
Friday morning I woke with excitement. Not only was it game-day but we were also booked in to Bungy Jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
A long story short – I was pumped to do it – Karen was nervous but when we got there, I shat myself. We both did it and would totally do it again!!
In the afternoon we ventured to the Transport Centre to catch the train to Mt Smart Stadium.
It was approximately a 1km walk from the train station to the ground.
What do you know? It was still raining!! This time it was torrential rain.
Not a good thing when you have front row seats. Ponchos to the rescue! Well…. kind of. We got soaked!!
The two teams ran out with the Bulldogs leading the way.
I stood up, waved my Kennel scarf, clapped and whistled only to turn around to the greetings of a few dozen locals sticking their fingers up and me and having people simulating my throat being cut.
Welcome to Mt Smart Brad!
Karen kept a low profile as she doesn’t support either team but I wasn’t ashamed to show my passion and love for the Canterbury-Bankstown boys.
We took a 12 – 0 lead in the game and I was getting excited. “Come on boys” I was yelling, please win it!
It wasn’t to be. We went down convincingly and I copped abuse from every angle. To be honest it was all fun and games after I congratulated them on the win and they were all great about it. Well, I had to. They would have killed me otherwise.
After such a massive few days with the announcement of Moore stepping down, the freezing temperatures, the rain, the hotel room debacle, the rain, turning up to the wrong training ground, the rain, the death threats at the game, the rain and the loss to the Warriors it was only fitting that the trains were replaced by busses for the trip back from the stadium.
Of course we missed the last one. Did I mention it was raining?
We finally got back to the city after 4 guys kindly said they’d show us to the bus station only to jump in a cab and leave us in the middle of Whoknowswhere! Hmm, there seems to be a trend of misfortune here.
We finally make it back to our hotel for one of the best hot showers I’ve ever had and drift off to sleep, cranky I might add.
For those of you Bulldogs Army guys and girls reading this and thought the Tigers game at Campbelltown was cold – be very grateful.
All in all, I am glad I made the trip across “The Ditch”. The experience was fantastic. The training session was something special. Mt Smart Stadium put on a spectacle in all its precipitational glory and it was great to be introduced to the warm-hearted people of New Zealand.
The fans of the Bulldogs fraternity need to stick by the team. We need to support our boys through thick and thin. Don’t lose hope. Every team has its down time and ours seems to be now. Lets not bite the hand that has fed us such glories and happiness in the past.
I hope one day, no matter who you support, get to experience the Rugby League culture of the Kiwi way. You’ll never forget it. I know I wont.
Just for the record, our flight home was delayed for hours due to a snowstorm. Just to keep the trend of the trip continual.
“EVERYWHERE YOU GO… WE WILL FOLLOW
By Brad Eveleigh
(Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Kennel/Club Member)
Mt Smart, Auckland, New Zealand is this week’s destination and the New Zealand Warriors are whom we’re up against on Friday night.
I’m slightly confident for a Bulldogs victory as we haven’t had a win for a while and surely we cannot go through such a bad losing streak. Not with the team sheet we have.
That morning as I’m travelling to Sydney’s International Airport I’m in conversation with Mark Geyer – former League legend and co-host of the Triple M Grill Team, about my trip.
MG agrees I should be in contact with Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg about a possible rendezvous with the team in Auckland.
I shoot Greenberg a message and to my surprise he replies with an invitation to their training session on the Thursday afternoon! Of course, I gladly accepted the invitation.
I arrive in rainy Auckland late Wednesday night with Karen and after being totally screwed by our hotel with the dodgiest room with no heater and no hot water, we are relocated to a normal room and call it a night.
Thursday morning we enjoyed a nice sleep in then hit the city for some sight seeing.
We checked out the War Memorial Museum as the Bulldogs were training at the fields just next door in over an hour at 3pm.
At 3pm Karen heads back to the city to do some shopping and I head to the sports fields to find no sign of the team anywhere.
Heavy rain is still falling and the park was quite large but it’s not everyday you get this opportunity so I venture off in the mud to find them (I wasn’t paying $35 for an umbrella at the museum gift shop either).
I searched the park for a good 45 minutes before I double-checked the message form Todd Greenberg and it works out I was at the wrong park. Such similar names though…
Easy mistake and I was unbelievably annoyed with myself.
Next mission was to find a cab. If anyone has been to Auckland they would know that’s not the easiest assignment, especially in a park, so, I hitchhiked.
This lovely Maori couple were headed my way and were more than happy to give me a ride.
Turns out I was a pretty far away from where I should’ve been and these amazing locals had a giggle at me. I didn’t blame them really.
To their surprise I left them a financial thank you gift for saving me from the rain and delivering me to my special afternoon with my Blue and White boys. I cannot explain how grateful I was and how beautiful at heart they were.
I arrive at training over an hour late but had missed nothing. The boys were hitting the fields as I arrived.
After meeting a few of the lads they got into their drills and set plays.
The team was being run by Jim Dymock and Tony Grimaldi, which I thought was a normal warm up routine for them while Kevin Moore took a few calls.
Something just didn’t seem right…
I was there with Greg Eastwood’s cousin Rex and his 3 boys and that’s all that was in attendance but the players seemed a little quiet.
Todd Greenberg walked passed me from the sheds, I went to say hi and have a chat with him but he was busy talking over near the team bus, same as Moore. They seem to be having an in depth conversation, one that I didn’t want to interrupt. They both then boarded the team bus.
Dymock ran the team all session, which I then thought was odd and knew something was up.
Idris and Ryan both looked like they didn’t want to be there at all. I tried to talk to Ryan but got nothing but a “hey mate”.
Zap was out kicking goals and Ben Roberts was having a great time in the rain.
I caught up with Ben Barba at spoke about his hometown which I was visited last week and would have loved the Mackay weather right now.
The player who had the most time for me was Trent Hodgkinson. He was really appreciative for my support and dedication to the team for travelling all that way, a truly fantastic guy.
Dene Haletau, Chris Keating, Steve Turner and David Stagg were all great as well. After meeting them all I’m kind of glad Idris is going, he just wasn’t interested and I was disappointed in our captain Andrew Ryan.
It’s not hard to have a quick chat with someone who has flown to another country and stood in the freezing rain to support them. I could have easily sat in my lounge room in front of the fire and watched.
I soon realise during my travels I had missed the news of Coach Kevin Moore quitting the club with immediate effect as a result of the club not requiring his services next season.
The pieces of the puzzle are coming together, Moore not training, Greenberg in deep conversation, Ryan not happy. I was at a training session that will go down in the history of the club as the one where Moore walked out.
I couldn’t believe it.
The session wasn’t what I had expected. I thought I would have been able to interact with the players a little more considering there were only 5 of us there watching but with what had just happened I totally understand the distance that players and coaching staff took.
I’m glad I was there though. The team needs the supporters to get behind them and have faith. Even though I had received the cold shoulder from a few of them I was happy to be there to support my team and my club in a time they need me, all of us.
I hitchhiked a ride back to the city with Rex and his 3 boys, as I was nowhere near a main road to get a cab/bus/train.
That evening Karen and I went into the city for a few drinks and went home with a nice donation from the Auckland casino for my card skills on the Blackjack table.
Friday morning I woke with excitement. Not only was it game-day but we were also booked in to Bungy Jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
A long story short – I was pumped to do it – Karen was nervous but when we got there, I shat myself. We both did it and would totally do it again!!
In the afternoon we ventured to the Transport Centre to catch the train to Mt Smart Stadium.
It was approximately a 1km walk from the train station to the ground.
What do you know? It was still raining!! This time it was torrential rain.
Not a good thing when you have front row seats. Ponchos to the rescue! Well…. kind of. We got soaked!!
The two teams ran out with the Bulldogs leading the way.
I stood up, waved my Kennel scarf, clapped and whistled only to turn around to the greetings of a few dozen locals sticking their fingers up and me and having people simulating my throat being cut.
Welcome to Mt Smart Brad!
Karen kept a low profile as she doesn’t support either team but I wasn’t ashamed to show my passion and love for the Canterbury-Bankstown boys.
We took a 12 – 0 lead in the game and I was getting excited. “Come on boys” I was yelling, please win it!
It wasn’t to be. We went down convincingly and I copped abuse from every angle. To be honest it was all fun and games after I congratulated them on the win and they were all great about it. Well, I had to. They would have killed me otherwise.
After such a massive few days with the announcement of Moore stepping down, the freezing temperatures, the rain, the hotel room debacle, the rain, turning up to the wrong training ground, the rain, the death threats at the game, the rain and the loss to the Warriors it was only fitting that the trains were replaced by busses for the trip back from the stadium.
Of course we missed the last one. Did I mention it was raining?
We finally got back to the city after 4 guys kindly said they’d show us to the bus station only to jump in a cab and leave us in the middle of Whoknowswhere! Hmm, there seems to be a trend of misfortune here.
We finally make it back to our hotel for one of the best hot showers I’ve ever had and drift off to sleep, cranky I might add.
For those of you Bulldogs Army guys and girls reading this and thought the Tigers game at Campbelltown was cold – be very grateful.
All in all, I am glad I made the trip across “The Ditch”. The experience was fantastic. The training session was something special. Mt Smart Stadium put on a spectacle in all its precipitational glory and it was great to be introduced to the warm-hearted people of New Zealand.
The fans of the Bulldogs fraternity need to stick by the team. We need to support our boys through thick and thin. Don’t lose hope. Every team has its down time and ours seems to be now. Lets not bite the hand that has fed us such glories and happiness in the past.
I hope one day, no matter who you support, get to experience the Rugby League culture of the Kiwi way. You’ll never forget it. I know I wont.
Just for the record, our flight home was delayed for hours due to a snowstorm. Just to keep the trend of the trip continual.
“EVERYWHERE YOU GO… WE WILL FOLLOW
By Brad Eveleigh
(Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Kennel/Club Member)
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