DeeGan
30-09-05, 11:16 AM
"THAT'S OUR BOY" cry the Gold Coast faithful ;)
Laffranchi carries on Blocker's legacy
By Peter Kogoy
September 30, 2005
ANTHONY Laffranchi in many ways is a small chip off the old 'Blocker', but he is determined to achieve the one thing to elude his hero Steve Roach when he plays in the grand final at Telstra Stadium on Sunday night.
Roach was the skilled enforcer of the Balmain team that lost the 1988 grand final, to Canterbury, and the 1989 decider, to Canberra in an extra-time thriller - arguably the greatest grand final ever played.
Laffranchi, who is built for the faster pace of the modern game at 184cm and a tick over 100kg, is unlikely to reach the heights Roach achieved in his career, but he will become a Tigers icon in his own right if he can lead his lightweight forwards to victory against North Queensland.
Then there will be a double celebration for the prop when he marries partner Peita-Lee Roby in Wollongong next Friday.
Laffranchi finds any comparison to Roach or Western Suburbs hardman of a generation before, Noel 'Ned' Kelly, as unfair.
The game has moved on from the softening-up period of those eras, when football sometimes resembled gang warfare in shoulder pads, but one thing stays true: big games are won in the forwards.
"I never saw Kelly play, but Blocker was one of my heroes growing up in the bush," Laffranchi said.
"While Blocker personified the spirit that has been instilled in all of us under (coach) Tim Sheens, the pace of the game has quickened a great deal since Blocker gave it away.
"I don't think anyone in the team who will run out on Sunday night is one bit surprised that we made through to the grand final. But it will mean nothing if we don't show up and play to 100 per cent of our ability. None of us are going out thinking this is going to be an easy game."
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Laffranchi, or 'Boof' to his mates around the club, knows he and John Skandalis will concede 18kg to North Queensland counterparts Paul Rauhihi and Shane Tronc on Sunday.
But where the Cowboys have size on their side, the Tigers have agility and the ball-playing nous of hooker Robbie Farah at dummy-half.
"To be a part of the first Wests Tigers team to make (the grand final) is a great experience," Laffranchi said.
"I don't think it is a fluke that we are here. We went into the start of the season with a goal in mind, and confident that we would make it.
"While confidence is a funny thing, we also respect our opponents. They didn't get to the grand final by being an average side. It's also the Cowboys' first shot at a premiership and we're approaching this game giving them the respect they deserve.
"Parramatta put on 50 points against the Cowboys earlier in the year (round 9) and got smacked 29-0 last weekend.
"The key point Tim Sheens has drummed into us this week has been to respect the opposition.
"North Queensland showed against the Eels that we won't be able to relax for a second, and that we've got to match them man for man right across the park."
The Murwillumbah colt moved to Sydney in 2001 and spent time with Wests Magpies in premier league before making his debut for the joint-venture club against the Sharks in the last game of the season.
Laffranchi concedes he took a while to settle into the pace of the premiership.
But he's blossomed under Sheens this year, having played in all but one game to take his tally of first-grade appearances for the Tigers to 81.
He has a year to run on his present deal with the club before he heads home as an inaugural Gold Coast Titan in 2007.
"To win a premiership on Sunday night would not just be great for the Balmain supporters, but the people out in Campbelltown who have come out and supported us since the clubs merged."
The Laffranchi family is in Sydney for the grand final and will stay on next week for the wedding.
Proud mum Fay was happy to discuss the impending nuptials with The Australian while Laffranchi wanted to focus on the biggest game of his life.
"As it turns out, the timing of the wedding couldn't be better," Fay said.
"The two met through football, and Anthony and Pieta-Lee had set the wedding date ages ago.
"The two families will be sitting together at the stadium on Sunday night and we've got all our fingers crossed that the Tigers win.
"Instead of heading home after the game, we'll now stay in Sydney a few extra days for the wedding and reception in Wollongong."
The Australian
Laffranchi carries on Blocker's legacy
By Peter Kogoy
September 30, 2005
ANTHONY Laffranchi in many ways is a small chip off the old 'Blocker', but he is determined to achieve the one thing to elude his hero Steve Roach when he plays in the grand final at Telstra Stadium on Sunday night.
Roach was the skilled enforcer of the Balmain team that lost the 1988 grand final, to Canterbury, and the 1989 decider, to Canberra in an extra-time thriller - arguably the greatest grand final ever played.
Laffranchi, who is built for the faster pace of the modern game at 184cm and a tick over 100kg, is unlikely to reach the heights Roach achieved in his career, but he will become a Tigers icon in his own right if he can lead his lightweight forwards to victory against North Queensland.
Then there will be a double celebration for the prop when he marries partner Peita-Lee Roby in Wollongong next Friday.
Laffranchi finds any comparison to Roach or Western Suburbs hardman of a generation before, Noel 'Ned' Kelly, as unfair.
The game has moved on from the softening-up period of those eras, when football sometimes resembled gang warfare in shoulder pads, but one thing stays true: big games are won in the forwards.
"I never saw Kelly play, but Blocker was one of my heroes growing up in the bush," Laffranchi said.
"While Blocker personified the spirit that has been instilled in all of us under (coach) Tim Sheens, the pace of the game has quickened a great deal since Blocker gave it away.
"I don't think anyone in the team who will run out on Sunday night is one bit surprised that we made through to the grand final. But it will mean nothing if we don't show up and play to 100 per cent of our ability. None of us are going out thinking this is going to be an easy game."
Advertisement:
Laffranchi, or 'Boof' to his mates around the club, knows he and John Skandalis will concede 18kg to North Queensland counterparts Paul Rauhihi and Shane Tronc on Sunday.
But where the Cowboys have size on their side, the Tigers have agility and the ball-playing nous of hooker Robbie Farah at dummy-half.
"To be a part of the first Wests Tigers team to make (the grand final) is a great experience," Laffranchi said.
"I don't think it is a fluke that we are here. We went into the start of the season with a goal in mind, and confident that we would make it.
"While confidence is a funny thing, we also respect our opponents. They didn't get to the grand final by being an average side. It's also the Cowboys' first shot at a premiership and we're approaching this game giving them the respect they deserve.
"Parramatta put on 50 points against the Cowboys earlier in the year (round 9) and got smacked 29-0 last weekend.
"The key point Tim Sheens has drummed into us this week has been to respect the opposition.
"North Queensland showed against the Eels that we won't be able to relax for a second, and that we've got to match them man for man right across the park."
The Murwillumbah colt moved to Sydney in 2001 and spent time with Wests Magpies in premier league before making his debut for the joint-venture club against the Sharks in the last game of the season.
Laffranchi concedes he took a while to settle into the pace of the premiership.
But he's blossomed under Sheens this year, having played in all but one game to take his tally of first-grade appearances for the Tigers to 81.
He has a year to run on his present deal with the club before he heads home as an inaugural Gold Coast Titan in 2007.
"To win a premiership on Sunday night would not just be great for the Balmain supporters, but the people out in Campbelltown who have come out and supported us since the clubs merged."
The Laffranchi family is in Sydney for the grand final and will stay on next week for the wedding.
Proud mum Fay was happy to discuss the impending nuptials with The Australian while Laffranchi wanted to focus on the biggest game of his life.
"As it turns out, the timing of the wedding couldn't be better," Fay said.
"The two met through football, and Anthony and Pieta-Lee had set the wedding date ages ago.
"The two families will be sitting together at the stadium on Sunday night and we've got all our fingers crossed that the Tigers win.
"Instead of heading home after the game, we'll now stay in Sydney a few extra days for the wedding and reception in Wollongong."
The Australian