On the grand final day of 2007, a player from the past, a player from the present, and a five-year-old known as a player of the future carried the Provan-Summons Trophy onto the stage as part of the halftime entertainment.
The former great was Jack Rayner of South Sydney. The current champion was Darren Lockyer. And it was none other than Hugo Savala, a young blond child sporting the Coogee Dolphins jersey.
In just his fifth NRL game, Savala will wear the Sydney Roosters’ No. 7 shirt against Penrith, the premiers, on Saturday night.
Teresa, his mother, described before the game how Hugo was chosen to attend the grand final alongside Rayner and Lockyer because the NRL wanted the Dolphins to be represented to commemorate the club’s five-year anniversary of losing six members in the Bali bombings.
She also recalled that Hugo, her fourth child and the second oldest, had to make several trips to Sydney Olympic Park for rehearsals during that week.
Teresa remarked, “I recall seeing Hugo’s tiny hands waving as he walked all over Jack’s feet.”
Not that long ago, the Roosters were unable to defeat Penrith.
After struggling to win for seven long years, Trent Robinson’s team suddenly has a chance to defeat the premiers twice in five weeks. If that happens, I’m calling the Penrith dynasty over.
Yes, they’re a good enough side to go on a winning streak and perhaps squeak into the top eight.
