So John Cena is back on Smackdown, reminding us all to Never Give Up. It’s great advice, and a mantra I let my kids know about, especially during these lock down times,
But just for now, I want to recall a more lighthearted moment around Never Give Up
August 21, 2005. I walked down to my local RSL to watch my Manly play Cronulla. The Sea Eagles, in their first year under the coaching of club legend Des Hasler were in 7th place after being near the top for most of the early part of the season. Cronulla were in 8th and looking to cement their place in the finals with just three rounds to play.
I got to the club a bit early, and sat down with a beer as the teams ran out. Manly were in their rebuilding phase. Steve Menzies and Ben Kennedy were in the forwards alongside a young Anthony Watmough and Jason King. Brett Stewart was the season’s new fullback.
It soon got ugly. Cronulla scored a couple of tries early, and I soon found my way back to the bar. The Sharks’ halves were Nigel Vagana and Brett Kimmorley, and they had the game on a string. Cronulla passed 30, 40, 50 points.
To their credit, patrons at the local RSL (nowhere near Manly - in fact in real enemy territory) felt sorry for me, and started to buy me sympathy beers after every Sharks try. Unfortunately, Cronulla ran in twelve that day, so I had to leave a couple there on the table.
Yet, just towards the end, Steve Menzies crossed for Manly’s only try. It happened to be the one where he went past Bob Fulton on the all time try scorers list. I celebrated like it was the 1987 Grand Final all over again.
Des Hasler eventually brought in a number of young blokes from Manly and other clubs, and in 2008 the team defeated Melbourne in the Grand Final to claim their first premiership since 1996. It took Cronulla close to another decade to finally win the comp for the first time. I think Paul Gallen was the only survivor from the team that beat Manly 68-6 back in 2005.
Des never gave up. He forged the team in his own spirit of competitiveness that saw him win two Grand Finals as player. Three years later the Sea Eagles were celebrating.
In adversity comes strength.
Never give up.