By Ron Lane
For the sport mad Aussie last weekend must have been like Christmas.
It all started on Saturday morning when the Dolphins A Grade rugby union team assembled on the verandah of the Noosa Surf Club for their traditional grand final day breakfast, a tradition that goes back many years; make the grand final and the Surf Club plays host to a good luck breakfast.
The rest is now history for not only did the A Grade win the final, but also their reserve grade and the Colts.
“Three finals and three premierships,” said club president Donald McKill.
“There could not be a better season. The whole club has worked as one and look what they have achieved. Well done to everyone; players, coaches, work force, sponsors and the whole town in general.”
As the president said, the support of the town was unbelievable.
The ground was packed and when the final whistle blew the crowd erupted. Interesting to note that Noosa’s win in the reserve grade over Nambour (20-12) was Nambour’s only defeat for the season.
When the after game party got underway, it was interesting the number of people who made the comment, “Hope the Noosa Pirates can get up tomorrow, it will give Noosa the double; winning both the Union and the League.”
In what can only be described as a fairy tale ending, that is exactly what happened.
At Stockyard Park Stadium Kawana, Noosa Pirates did the unthinkable by upsetting the favourites Maroochydore Swans 24-6.
Once again Noosa’s Lucky 7 came to the forefront.
Travelling home on the club bus after the game, he sat quietly in a front seat and after a while, Mick Plant, Noosa’s former player coach and first ever coach to win an A Grade final, turned his head and quietly said, “You know mate, it is forty years since we won our first premierships; I know because I was the coach. But I’ve got to be honest – this one is one of the sweetest. Why? Because everyone was saying it couldn’t be done – but we did it. Great coach (Ron Greentree) having his first crack as the A Grade coach and a great team of young blokes.”
As we assembled at the clubhouse for the trip to Kawana, one thing had become obvious and that was the club pride – we can and we will – it was in everyone’s mind. But the big factor was the number 7. “There it is again,” said many supporters, “our number 7. First win in ’77 again in 1987 and then again in 2007 during Goldies (a former coach) three year winning streak. Now again there is a number 7- it is going to be our year.”
People on the streets couldn’t believe it. “Is it true Pirates made the final – how did they achieve that?”
If ever there was a great example of what pride can do for a club it would have to be the Pirates of ’17 “While you have still got your pride anything is possible.”
They were really down; on one occasion they even had to forfeit – not enough players. But now the Noosa Pirates of 2017 are the rugby league premiers of the Sunshine Coast. The impossible dream is now a reality.
