By PETER ROWE
The lights went out briefly at HBF Stadium on Friday night – shock horror?
No, it was a very clever messaging ploy from the premier of Western Australia to highlight and push the need for an NRL team to be based in Perth.
Premier Roger Cook led the chant as 20,027 league fans switched on their mobile phone flashlights.
“Perth NRL,” the premier chanted from midfield during the halftime break of the Round 22 NRL clash between the Dolphins and the Roosters.
A record crowd for the recently rebuilt HBF Stadium was a clear sign that Perth is ready to support an NRL team. Especially as that other football code was also playing 10 kilometres away at Optus Stadium.
A couple of hours earlier fans had begun to arrive for the game – and while a slight majority might have been shouting for Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins, the crowd was a sea of many colours – fans in both local and NRL jerseys – all wanting rugby league at elite level to become a regular must-watch event in the West.
Keith flew in from Brisbane on Thursday evening, he works for a company called Ozbuild, a sponsor of the Dolphins.
Decked out in a red hoodie, he said he was delighted the game was a sell-out.
“It’s great that the game is sold out and it would be great to come back in a couple of years time to watch a Perth team play,” he said.
He also spoke about the challenge of being a new franchise and wished the Perth bid every success.
“Of course there’s another bid from Papua New Guinea as well, but from what I read and hear Perth looks very positive.”
With NRL legends like Joey Johns, Freddie Fittler and Billy Slater in town to cover the game, fans waited patiently for that photo opportunity.
Billy laughed as he climbed the steps to the commentary position, as well informed footy fans from a certain State let him know they didn’t follow the Maroons.
A quick cry of’ NSW, NSW’ as a smiling Slater prepped for the game.
Earlier players from both sides had walked out to test the field, Angus Crichton chatting with NRLWA staff about the quality of what they were about to play on.
Crichton was pleasantly surprised to learn there was a growing local competition here in WA – yes there is!
A lush green field, no doubt aided by a few weeks of winter rain, and a cool 13 degree evening saw the game kick off.
No Mexican waves as in the past, a clear message to Sydney that these fans were there to watch the game – knowledgeable and well versed on knock-ons, penalties and the bunker.
A thrilling first half gave both sets of fans – and even the neutrals – the chance to witness six tries as the teams headed back into the sheds locked up at 18-apiece.
Then came the premier’s moment in the spotlight – or out of it perhaps – a clever way to once again endorse the Perth bid to become the 18th franchise in 2027.
A second half largely controlled by the Roosters confirmed Dolphins fan Keith’s earlier concern about lasting the full 80 minutes, as errors began to creep in from the ‘home’ side.
Errors coach Wayne Bennett spoke about after the final siren.
“Too many errors, we beat ourselves really,” he admitted.
“If we do the fundamentals right and get over the stupidity then we can improve.”
And the Perth bid? Bennett had loved the trip west.
“Perth’s been really good, a wonderful crowd, a great atmosphere and an entertaining game.”
Roosters’ halfback Sam Walker may have won the award on the field for a great performance with two chip and chase tries, but the fans were the winners off it, something coach Trent Robinson was quick to mention in his after-match thoughts.
“It’s been a good few days, a great city and great to bring the team over. Great to see a full stadium, especially on a night when both codes were playing,” Robinson said.
And the future, a regular season game here in 2027?
“That would be great … to have an NRL that covers the whole of Australia – east and west.”
Who won the game for many was secondary, because the winner was rugby league, in a town where another code is the dominant sport.
Other codes have tried to compete, but have struggled to stay the course.
Now the game has the chance to make a comeback – 27 years after the Reds became a casualty of the Super League war.
And on Friday night’s performance, it has every chance of becoming a major success.
As premier Cook shouted from the halfway line at half-time: Perth NRL.
We are ready.
