From Sea of Blue member Sam Nunn waxing lyrical.....
Finals!
T’was the night before lockdown and all through the State
not a single employer made their workers work late.
On the eve of the ANZAC Day long weekend
COVID had struck, into lockdown again
Many rushed to the shops or took to their heels
To make it down south, out of Perth and of Peel.
But for over 6000 there was but one destination
to HBF Park, to watch in fascination.
as the Force fought again to stay in the race
and for the 1st time in history book a finals place.
Queensland were favourites, all set for glory
but that changed in an instant with that hit on Paisami.
Paisami scored and then Taniela Tupuo
and some callow souls thought “Oh, again, here we go”.
But Olowefela was past overdue
and took to his heels to show us what he could do.
Then Old Man Tevita showed us the Tevita of old
and the past met the future with a clash of bones.
A George Miller moment, whispered the breeze,
“Two men enter, one man leaves.”
It wasn’t obvious, at least not right away
but those with a nose felt something change.
Still trailing the score board, behind on every stat
there was a hint of something that brewed after that.
With a man in the bin for nearly half of the game
the Force stayed within striking again and again.
As Mike Tyson said, way back in the day
“Everyone has a plan until their punched in the face”.
And that’s just what the Force did, metaphorically.
Played direct and aggressive, with physicality.
They weren’t going down, not without a fight.
Wouldn’t die wondering, no, not tonight.
Its been a long time since a hat trick we’ve seen.
It was just like watching Nick’s highlight reel.
Both with an intercept, both with speed out and down
and both had to fight to get one to ground.
The fans are asking what game ranks along side it?
I guess Hodgo’s last game or against Panasonic?
Or the 1st win at Subi, all those years ago now.
But for me, last night was best. Last night takes the crown.
3 weeks. 3 wins. All from behind.
There’s something special in that, something hard to define.
Now off to Canberra, to finals footy!
Practice your place kicks Domingo Miotti!
Or Ian, or Jack or whoever’s on duty.
For all that I care it could be Sitaleki Timani!
But we’ll be with you, from a long way away,
from our arm chairs and lounge rooms in WA.
I hope you win, I really want you to.
Man what a story after all we’ve been through!
But win lose or draw you’ll put up a good fight.
You’ve made the finals. Thank you for last night.
) with their current trajectory.