Grand Final week is here.
It's a special feeling when the siren goes in a semi and you realise you've made it to the 'big one' - the GF. It's something hard to describe, something that you can only really explain with a couple of words.
Amazing, special, crazy and awesome come to mind, but it really is just this feeling of achievement.
But, we haven't achieved anything yet...
There's still 80 minutes of footy to be played. There's still a team standing between us and the title and we know we've got a job to finish, it's definitely not over yet.
Today was a relatively easy day on the body, but Grand Final week is so jam-packed that you never really do have a 'day off' even if you aren't training.
I was on the phone this morning at 7.45am to the boys on Grill Team on Triple M, talking about last week's win and the week ahead in the lead up to Sunday's game.
It's always a laugh when you chat with Matty, MG and Gussy Worland. They're three characters in the game and it's always a different kind of interview with them, but always one I really enjoy doing as well. Gussy is a mad Roosters Fan - and doesn't hide it at all - so I always feel like I'm just chatting with a fan and it just happens to be on-air and being broadcast to heaps of people.
After the interview I headed into Roosters HQ, as did the rest of the boys, and did the usual rounds in the office upstairs to see the crew and then hit the Video Room for our first Video session of the week.
The usual things are said and go on in these sessions, looking back at our own game, looking at the opposition and just chatting amongst the whole group with the Coaches and beginning that mental preparation for what's going to be a tough challenge this Sunday.
Lunch was next, which always pleases the guys like Jared [Waerea-Hargreaves], Sammy Moa and young Naps as well [Dylan Napa]. The one thing I learnt early on was that you never get in the way of a prop and his food, it was the same back with guys like Moz [Adrian Morley] and it's definitely still the same now!
After lunch we had a bit of a break, as a group, and some boys head home if they live close enough, others hit the table-tennis table in the Players Room, others are fans of the PlayStation and some just take it easy with a coffee or kick back and just have a chat.
We're a tight group here, and that's been a huge part of getting this far, so those 'breaks' are times that are just as important as any in your schedule each week. You've got to want to work for that guy next to you when you're out on the field and that all starts with being as close as we are as a group.
After the break we all headed down to the Allianz Stadium field and prepared for the Team Photo. It's always a laugh trying to organise 30 blokes to stand still for a couple of minutes, especially when there's so many cameras around and Jared's worrying about his hair!
After the photo it was media time, upstairs in the stands. There's obviously so much interest in the NRL these days and so much more in the Grand Final, so it's tough to get around and do it but at the same time it's fantastic that the game has the exposure it does these days and it's always exciting as well starting to chat about the week ahead and for me personally, remembering others I've had and just looking forward to what is going to be a special day this Sunday.
Finally, before I head off to bed and rest up for the big week ahead, I just wanted to thank you all for the support last Saturday and all season. The feeling of running out to a crowd like you guys is impossible to describe, you really are the best in the comp.
Keep it coming guys, we're out there for you just as much as ourselves and we hope to see plenty of Red, White and Blue this Sunday at ANZ Stadium - it's going to be a big one!
Speak tomorrow, Roosters Fans..
Mini.
It's a special feeling when the siren goes in a semi and you realise you've made it to the 'big one' - the GF. It's something hard to describe, something that you can only really explain with a couple of words.
Amazing, special, crazy and awesome come to mind, but it really is just this feeling of achievement.
But, we haven't achieved anything yet...
There's still 80 minutes of footy to be played. There's still a team standing between us and the title and we know we've got a job to finish, it's definitely not over yet.
Today was a relatively easy day on the body, but Grand Final week is so jam-packed that you never really do have a 'day off' even if you aren't training.
I was on the phone this morning at 7.45am to the boys on Grill Team on Triple M, talking about last week's win and the week ahead in the lead up to Sunday's game.
It's always a laugh when you chat with Matty, MG and Gussy Worland. They're three characters in the game and it's always a different kind of interview with them, but always one I really enjoy doing as well. Gussy is a mad Roosters Fan - and doesn't hide it at all - so I always feel like I'm just chatting with a fan and it just happens to be on-air and being broadcast to heaps of people.
After the interview I headed into Roosters HQ, as did the rest of the boys, and did the usual rounds in the office upstairs to see the crew and then hit the Video Room for our first Video session of the week.
The usual things are said and go on in these sessions, looking back at our own game, looking at the opposition and just chatting amongst the whole group with the Coaches and beginning that mental preparation for what's going to be a tough challenge this Sunday.
Lunch was next, which always pleases the guys like Jared [Waerea-Hargreaves], Sammy Moa and young Naps as well [Dylan Napa]. The one thing I learnt early on was that you never get in the way of a prop and his food, it was the same back with guys like Moz [Adrian Morley] and it's definitely still the same now!
After lunch we had a bit of a break, as a group, and some boys head home if they live close enough, others hit the table-tennis table in the Players Room, others are fans of the PlayStation and some just take it easy with a coffee or kick back and just have a chat.
We're a tight group here, and that's been a huge part of getting this far, so those 'breaks' are times that are just as important as any in your schedule each week. You've got to want to work for that guy next to you when you're out on the field and that all starts with being as close as we are as a group.
After the break we all headed down to the Allianz Stadium field and prepared for the Team Photo. It's always a laugh trying to organise 30 blokes to stand still for a couple of minutes, especially when there's so many cameras around and Jared's worrying about his hair!
After the photo it was media time, upstairs in the stands. There's obviously so much interest in the NRL these days and so much more in the Grand Final, so it's tough to get around and do it but at the same time it's fantastic that the game has the exposure it does these days and it's always exciting as well starting to chat about the week ahead and for me personally, remembering others I've had and just looking forward to what is going to be a special day this Sunday.
Finally, before I head off to bed and rest up for the big week ahead, I just wanted to thank you all for the support last Saturday and all season. The feeling of running out to a crowd like you guys is impossible to describe, you really are the best in the comp.
Keep it coming guys, we're out there for you just as much as ourselves and we hope to see plenty of Red, White and Blue this Sunday at ANZ Stadium - it's going to be a big one!
Speak tomorrow, Roosters Fans..
Mini.
