Who do you support and why?

I support parramatta as my first game i watched, I was 9 and the dragons were playing the eels. Since my dad supported the Dragons, I naturally went against him for fun. It was also Luke burt's first grade debut and I got hooked watching nrl after that game and have stuck with them since. It also helped that I was born at blacktown and I live in the middle of penrith and parramatta.

Growing up in country NSW I started supporting the Dragons when a school mate started playing with them in 1973. We used to travel to Sydney to watch him play and got to meet some of the Dragons legends. Most of them were just knock about blokes with no great egos (with the exception of Billy Smith who was an absolute ratbag once he had a few beers).
My timing in supporting them was pretty good as I only had to wait until 1979 to celebrate a premiership win although I was at the SCG in 1974 (I'm still having therapy).However the wait after that was at times heartbreaking going through the highs and lows until 2010. But as they say you don't appreciate the highs without the lows and even though I now live in Melbourne and do go and support the Storm through the practicality of watching some footy, my number one team will always be my beloved Dragons.

Brisbane - I was born in Brisbane. Brisbane entered the comp when I was 5 so while I saw are few games in the Brisbane comp can't really remember them or the players so it was easy to start following Brisbane especially when I had my Dad taking me to a few games and seeing a number of the same players then lining up for QLD in State of Origin.

I was born and grew up in the St George area, my Dad played 200+ games for St George Rugby Union, my uncle played lower grades for St George League and used to take me and my cousins to Kogarah Oval regularly I knew nothing else I was just lucky.

I've followed the Bulldogs ever since I knew what footy was, they were the Berries back then. The family home was in Rydge Street Belmore, a few hundred metres from the gates at the Canterbury Road end of Belmore Sports Ground. Dad was a member from way back and we had season tickets for years and he'd take us all over the place to away games as well.
Most memorable games, the 1980 GF sitting at the fence in front of the Noble stand. Standing in the rain at Henson Park and nearly froze to death watching the nil all draw. Last home game in '02 at the Showground beating the Broncos. Last years return to Belmore win over Melbourne.

Ok, i was born on the Eastern suburbs of Sydney and my mother was a die hard Roosters supporter. Unfortunately when I was 5 years old my parents separated and soon after they got a divorce. Not long after the final court hearing had finished my mother hooked up with another guy from Southport on the Gold Coast and a few years later they got married meaning I had no choice but to move to Qld and live with the both of them. The year was 1987 and I was a mad Tigers supporter but my new stepfather had other plans if I was to live underneath his roof (hahaha). He basically said to me their was no other option while living North of the border, it had to be Qld, Qld or Qld (nothing else lol). Anyway this story could go on forever but basically ever sense day one 1988 I have followed the Mightiest team of all "The Brisbane Broncos". I hate to say this but after watching the Broncos vs Manly round one match 1988 i was hooked on Qld forever no matter what the sport. Qld sporting teams have lived in my veins for almost 30 years and I would do almost anything to see the Broncos go one better this year to take home the Premiership trophy, Katrina.

Third-generation Rooster. Born in Waverley Hospital!

j0hn said:

Third-generation Rooster. Born in Waverley Hospital!

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I was born in Waverley too mate. Come join the Rabbits!

I'm often asked why I support Melbourne Storm and the NRL in victoria and dont follow a specific AFL team having never lived in any other state, people assume I must have lived in NSW or QLD for a period of time to have NRL as my main sport I follow. However, for me when I was younger I used to follow North Melbourne, back when they were still called North Melbourne, in the AFL however have never really been that keen on it, I started to get frustrated with the weak nature of the AFL and started watching NRL because my girlfriends Dad who was a Storm supporter from day 1. Then one week in the AFL a player was running backwards and bumped into the umpire, he got a 1 week suspension and fined 10k or something like that. In the same week an NRL umpire got knocked out cold. They replaced the umpire and continued the game, with the umpire later stating that he should have gotten out of the way it was his own fault.

That basically locked it in for me, stopped following AFL and started following the storm. Then when I got back into cards around 2006-2007 I had a heap of AFL cards from earlier years so I continued with AFL and NRL cards and now I just really follow AFL as a sport, not a particular team and just collect the stuff I like, in both AFL and NRL.

However I am getting more and more frustrated with the inconsistencies with the NRL refereeing that I am starting to loose interest in the game, I just dont find it fun anymore when so many decisions are made by the bunker and even when its reviewed the fans and commentators dont actually know what ruling is going to be made. It just baffles me that there is so much grey area in decisions these days.

Despite all this I will still probably always continue to collect cards, and follow the Melbourne storm, however time will tell

Since 1982 (when I was six) I always supported RL. I lived in Wagga Wagga and I remember the 1983 sticker book had a Brian 'Chika' Moore sticker (he was a bald former player who was the then coach).

A lot of people started going for Canberra. My dad moved a lot, overseas with the govt so between 1984-1987 I didn't really see any games but my pop would buy me the Scanlens sticker books and bubblegum cards (and he was a mad Saints fan [as were all my mum's family]). Then in 1987, we had a holiday back in Australia, and we were going to move to Europe and mum said I had to pick a scarf because it was cold. K-Mart had all the RL supporters gear, so I picked a Souths beanie and scarf because I liked the colours. My grandfather was really supportive of it as it gave me a team and I had no idea of the history or rivalries. He'd buy me all the books about RL and the number 1908 and the number 20 always seemed to define me. After that, they became my team. I started boarding school in 1989 when Souths last topped the table, so it was good for me, but I was at a private school and RL was pooh-poohed. But I bought the newspaper, bubblegum cards and anything related to Souths. Little did I know that from 1990 until 1999 it would be some of the leanest years in Souths' history. Still...I went to 4-6 games a year, watched Friday Night Footy (the old 8.30 delayed kick off) and loved the bunnies and it didn't bother me if they came first or last. I loved footy, so I'd go to other games, watch them all, loved SOO and loved the Bears, Raiders, Manly and Broncos even when they thrashed Souths. Then expansion came and Super League arrived in 1995 (a year out of high school). I was staunchly ARL. I detested SL with every fibre of my being. I still have trouble reconciling the war and the family and friends who lost their team in mergers or drifted away from the game. When Souths got punted in 1999, I remember going to Para stadium for the last game and some Para fans telling me to "get fked, you're dead". I actually tried to initiate a rally at Fox Studios in late 1999 (I was 23, young and dumb and naive) and even got ads up and sent letters to the papers to cover it, until Andrew Denton personally called me and said not to proceed as it would damage the court case and much more was being done. During 2000 and 2001 I did some petitions, went to the rallies and charity games, but generally avoided NRL. I met my future wife in June 2000, and I just didn't talk about footy. I said I have been a Souths fan but that was about it. Her brother was an ex-Dogs lower grader and the family loved footy (and my future father-in-law was an old Newtown fan...talk about serendipity). When Souths got back in to the comp in mid-2001, it was the most wonderful thing. I was still bitter though. I saw the first game back against Easts and we got smashed. Then I went to London for a year so missed all of 2002 and early 2003 seasons. Once I got back, my newsagents had footy cards. The first pack I bought had an Asotasi sig card. I said to my wife "who the f*** is Roy Asotasi?" and just chucked it in a penny sleeve and put it in the back of the binder. Did the same thing with some dude called Billy Slater. I had NFI. I got back in to cards big time though. I renewed my memberships, went to every game home and away in Sydney and in NSW because I promised myself I'd never, ever take the club for granted again. To this day, I still go to all the games that I can. Between 2002-2006 it was dire. Then Russell Crowe took over. I was at the vote. When 'yes' won it was amazing. I don't care what anyone says, Crowe saved Souths from oblivion. It wasn't easy but in 2007 we made the finals, the first time since 1989. Roy Asotasi signed and I will always credit that guy for legitimising my club in the modern era and slowly, we signed some more talent, culminating in Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis arriving. With the young guns coming up, in 2012 Souths made the finals and we were a busted hammy away from a GF appearance. In 2013, it felt like 'our' year but Manly got us and I think the players, club and fans got ahead of themselves. First time I never watched a GF was in 2013 - I felt so, so gutted. 2014, well, it's history now. But it was magic. For so many years, the number 20 identified me. At times, I still pinch myself to think I witnessed Grand Final Day amongst a sea of red and green to win 21. I still chuckle thinking 21 is the new 20. That we beat Manly, Easts and Canterbury to win our comp made it even better. No longer would I hear 'oh, you haven't won a grand final in colour tv...40+ years since your last win...blah blah blah'. It was MY grand final win and all those old folks who'd seen the last batch in 1967-71 and always said 'oh well, you've never seen Souths win a comp like me'...we all had something in common, and it was wonderful. The years of heavy defeats and Super League was all but forgotten and the win cathartic. I'm happier now too...LOL. Now I have my kids as die hard fans and members, my wife and her dad as a member too. And I still never take my team for granted. In fact, I say to any fan, not having your footy team for a winter would make you appreciate them even more. So even if you aren't a Souths supporter, get right behind a team, any team and go to the games. The ups and downs are magic. The fans are great. The rivalries fun. And best of all, I still collect mountains of coloured cardboard and trade with heaps of cool people here.

Very nice story Chris, i love your passion. Everyone that follows sport in general should act the same way no matter what team you follow. Love your team, wear your colours with pride, cherish the good times and the bad times and never give up hope that one day the team that you follow wins a premiership, Katrina.

When l started following the magpies it was 1977 ( I was 8).we lived in Waverley, I hadn't really picked a team until the 1977 amco cup final( wests vs easts) & as I was born in nz and their colours are black & white I decided to pick the magpies. First and only grand final I've been to was the 2005 grand final.

Gavin.

I follow the Bulldogs as I grew up in the Bankstown area. I was of an impressionable age during the glory days of the 80's and I went to the same primary school as Terry Lamb and Peter Kelly (although not when they were there). My parents and grandparents are of mixed European extraction with little interest in RL. I loved it but didn't watch my first game until in my teens and continued to support them through my 20's. I eventually married into another Bulldogs supporting family and have 3 blue and white pups of my own (one of which has the strongest lungs you are likely to hear at a footy match!). We are stronger supporters now than ever, having been members for the last 6 years.

Nice story Mischa, in fact lots of interesting stories in this thread.

I support the Roosters although I have never lived in the eastern suburbs.

I remember the first game my dad took me to was a pre-season Wills Cup Final (First NRL match played under lights at the SCG) between Easts and Parramatta in 1979. At the time i was only 12 and knew nothing about football however when the two sides were on the field i just liked the red, white & blue jersey better than the blue and gold. From that moment and that win, the chooks were my team.

I have never waived once through the tough years when they were always ridiculed by the media for being the club that would buy any player on the market. I used to live out west and copped abuse for wearing the rooster jersey on the weekends but it never fazed me. I was there at the 2002 and 2013 Grand Finals which they won and the feeling was awesome. I am now a Roosters Member and constantly go to at least 10 games a year and also attend the post match functions back at Easts Leagues club after home games. I saw the mighty Arthur Beetson destroy teams with his ball skills, watched Russell Fairfax score some miraculous tries, Ian Schubert, Hugh McGahan, Craig Salvatori, Kevin Hastings, Kerry Boustead, Brad Fittler, Luke Ricketson, Craig Fitzgibbon, Adrian Morley (the Pommy hit-man) to the more recent years of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves & Jake Friend.

We are having a tough season this year but the experience these young players like Latrell Mitchell, Connor Watson and Jayden Nikorina gain and with Trent Robinson re-signing on as head coach until the end of 2019, we are in good hands to get back to the top.

Cock-a doodle-doo!!!!

I support the mighty Dragons.
My first game was StGeorge vs Balmain back in the early 70's and I can remember Laurie Nichols doing his shadow boxing in the crowd.
I grew up in Parramatta and went to most of Parra's home games in the late 70's and early 80's so got to see a great team - what a backline they had. I still rate Brett Kenny as the most natural footballer I have ever seen.
I have gone for Saints since I knew about football and enjoyed "banter" with all the Parra supporters growing up.
I can remember the Mobil cards and the 1974 set with the muddy Billy Smith card who was my favourite player and hard to get in my area. Still remember swapping 10 cards for the one Billy Smith.
I have been at both of Saints last two winning Grand Finals, 1979 and 2010 and my weekend is great when we win and bad if we lose.
I am a member at Saints and go to their Kogarah games but seem to be going to more Canterbury games over the last few years chasing those bits of cardboard.
Cheers everyone and happy collecting.
Roger

RogerWills said:

I support the mighty Dragons.
My first game was StGeorge vs Balmain back in the early 70's and I can remember Laurie Nichols doing his shadow boxing in the crowd.
I grew up in Parramatta and went to most of Parra's home games in the late 70's and early 80's so got to see a great team - what a backline they had. I still rate Brett Kenny as the most natural footballer I have ever seen.
I have gone for Saints since I knew about football and enjoyed "banter" with all the Parra supporters growing up.
I can remember the Mobil cards and the 1974 set with the muddy Billy Smith card who was my favourite player and hard to get in my area. Still remember swapping 10 cards for the one Billy Smith.
I have been at both of Saints last two winning Grand Finals, 1979 and 2010 and my weekend is great when we win and bad if we lose.
I am a member at Saints and go to their Kogarah games but seem to be going to more Canterbury games over the last few years chasing those bits of cardboard.
Cheers everyone and happy collecting.
Roger

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Your obviously around my vintage, one of my most vivid memories of my early days at Jubilee was Ross "the skull" May he was one scary psycho..........

Hey Ross. Yes I remember Skull.
Two memories that are most vivid.
1-seeing him up the back often SheridanStand at the SCG at the 79 GF. He cut the top of his head so it was red and white.
2-At Henson park on the fence. The ground got lower as you walked towards the goal lines. A Newtown official was walking around the fences the inside and Skull just started hitting him with his flag.
He was one crazy MoFo.

My main memory of him,

My cousin, friends and I used to try and catch (and maybe souvenir) a footy when it got kicked over the fence, we all knew of the skull and things he had done and that he was psycho, anyway a long story short, a ball went over the fence and The Skull was sitting in the tree and I didn't know and as I chased toward s the ball I saw him, close up and he gave me a manic look and I thought I was going to die.

For those who are unaware of who the skull is

https://antifascistactionsydney.wordpress.com/2015/05/14/ross-the-skull-may/