2025 NRL Grand Final Road Trip

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It's been a tough year, 2025, health-wise, for me. I've been hospitalised, in February, with my third bout of pancreatitis (no food or water for 5 days) and again in August with a third round Atrial Fibrillation. After being out of hospital the last time for a few days, the GP rang to tell me that one of my six excisions for squamous cell cancers had been misdiagnosed and was a melanoma (on my right arm).

Starting to feel that maybe I should start "doing stuff" again - trip planning is good for the soul, I always reckon.

And feeling sorry for yourself, with the "Why me's?" is pretty ordinary.

The Broncos, at this time in August, were starting to look like a premiership side, to me anyway, so the trip to see them play in a Grand Final again emerged/ surfaced.

Why ever not? Julie was reasonably keen and found a fortnight to go on this little adventure. She added the rider that the Melbourne Storm would need to be there too. Cool, but they have no chance.

Julie was wondering why it would take 10 days or more and then I let her know that I was thinking of going by Lightning Ridge in NSW. She agreed again, but with another rider - we go by the artesian spas there and in Moree and anywhere else nearby.

Done!

We're off - our new Crosby Crosstrek. Fully loaded.

Mr Romance!

 I haven’t lost my (self-given) title.

Julie deserves a special treat so I’ve planned a romantic road trip for her!

First stop was the Romance city of NSW, Moree, where I booked us in to Cabin 14 at the Gwydir Thermal Pools caravan Park and Motel. 

Her eyes lit up when I opened the door to our cabin - in delight, I think. 

She keeps her emotions in check our Julie but I could tell that she was - “okay” with my choice! 

She perked up even more after three swims in the hot spa pools. 

What could beat that? I’ve booked us in to the Lightning Ridge Big 4 Caravan Park cabins for three days, with Saturday night dinner at the Lightning Ridge Bowls Club. Even I needed calming down after that - and the Lions won!!!!!

 The Grand Final journey to Sydney - could there be anything more romantic? 

Had a squiz at the Cathedral Cave in Wellington and hit the road again. 

Gotta love nearby Dubbo, but we couldn’t stay as Julie’s cousin, Jeff, and partner, Jo, who are also motorbike riding buddies of mine, have agreed to take in the travelling lovers for a night in Forbes. 

The wide array of “Australian” animals that we saw on the way to Forbes was outstanding. Lucky to see them “in the wild!”

Jo and Jeff are outstanding hosts and have a brilliant collection of vintage cars and mostly contemporary motor bikes, along with a garage chockers with collectibles.

Spent a great time “in the shed”.

Cook a magnificent bbq too! 

Dropped in this morning on a little country town to honour Julie’s bro, Alan, who passed away from cancer a few years ago. He was a brilliant motorcyclist (best I’ve ridden with, except for Andy C) and he used to drop into the Superb Café at Boorowa for a PLP (prelunch pie). It’s changed its name to the Boorowa Bakery but we had a PLP for Al anyway. Cheers Mate!!

Off then to yet another romantic city - Canberra! 

That’s stretching the “romance” thing so I’ll let it go for a while..

The Romantic Getaway for Julie has taken a major turn. 

I booked tickets to the NRL Grand Final in Sydney a few weeks ago hoping that the Broncos (my team) would be playing Storm (Julie’s team) and it is on!!!!!!

Off

The roof of our Lightning Ridge caravan park cabin lifted off. The tv nearly melted after my referee abuse in the first half. Julie just smiled! Her team is already in the GF. 

Obviously, Walshsie and Reyno heard my call from 600km away to “DO SOMETHING/ anything on their left side!”

We may need GF seats further apart!!

Had a ripper time in Lightning Ridge going deep underground to see a disused opal mine and the Chambers ofthe Black Hand! So worth the time and money!! Although turning off the lights down there gets the old ticker moving.

Off now to Wellington caves. 

But Mrs Romance thought that, in the way, a hike up Split Rock in the Warrumbungles would be “fun”. 

4.5km of me moaning about how steep and rough it was didn’t capture the romantic mood. Hard work but it was a great adventure. ( But surely a walk around a lake is easier).

Julie even got to drive a dirt road at 100km/hr in Crosby the Crosstrek. She was flying - fastest she’s been on dirt. She’ll be a country girl yet ( donuts next).

As always, I can tell that Julie is loving the trip because -

”The smile she keeps, she keeps for me!”

Heading home! 

Gotta start by saying that Sydney and Canberra just can’t beat Moree for romance!! ( Just my opinion)

But what a day of the NRL GF!

Got off to a top start walking our sissy-in-law’s dog, Tinsel. Missing our Millie but Tinsel was great to be with for a few days in Canberra.

Packed and loaded Crosby the Crosstrek again and off on the 3 hour drive to our hotel in Parramatta. The M7 and other toll ways make Sydney driving so much easier.

Straight on to the train to Accor Stadium, ending just outside. 

46000 people already there by 4pm to watch the Bronco Women beat the Roosters in a cracker game, ending in a big blue! Love Rugby League.

Teddy Swims (doubt that he does) was okay but the fireworks, laser lights and our wrist lights made it amazing. Telstra gave us all a wrist band that flashed multi colored multi times. It looked brilliant in the stadium. 

Reece, the plumber, was magnificent as a footballer and I’ll recover my voice and heart rate in the coming days, I hope. 

What a finish to the game and the road trip!!! 19 years between titles! 

Just a quiet, “Told youse!”

Bask in the sun, sail from island to island, and enjoy the vibrant culture of the Caribbean.