Roosters Aim for Redemption, Wakefield Nab First Title, and AFL Anthem Nearly Missed

The sun was shining over the MCG like a bright, unblinking referee’s whistle, and the crowd was buzzing louder than a swarm of cricket‑field mosquitoes. The first act of the grand‑final day began with the Sydney Roosters, the NRLW’s glitter‑glow‑gold squad, standing on the cusp of redemption after last year’s shock defeat to the Brisbane Broncos. Their aim? To prove that a season of unbeaten glory can still be a bit of a ‘what‑if’ if you’re on the wrong side of the scoreboard.

The Roosters’ captain, a lad who looks like a mix between a kangaroo and a ballerina, lifted a ceremonial microphone and, with a voice that could cut through a packed stadium, declared that the final would be a ‘fair dinkum showdown’. The crowd cheered, the jerseys glimmered, and the scoreboard flashed a green‑yellow light that promised a blockbuster.

Meanwhile, over in the North of England, the Super League’s Wakefield Trinity were having a different kind of day. They had just delivered a first‑ever Grand Final win over the Warrington Wolves, a match that saw the Trinity’s forwards swing more than a broom in a cyclone. The win was a clean, commanding one that left the Wolves looking more like a broken record than a team.

Back in Melbourne, the iconic ‘Up There Cazaly’ anthem was on the verge of a missed performance. Mike Brady, the veteran singer, nearly missed the opening notes because a traffic jam turned his car into a moving stage. The anthem was still performed, and the crowd roared, proving that even a near‑miss can become a memorable moment.