THE LAST WORD
By Matthew Burke
Playing a game against an opposition certain things should happen in certain parts of the game, but things often don’t go to plan. From the kick off, it usually goes, catch the ball drive it forward and kick it out. On this day against Bath, they obviously hadn’t read the script.
They ran the ball from the off and we realised it was going to be one of those days. We went into the break only a couple of points down even though we didn’t have the ball. The thing was, was that I was really enjoying myself out there at Kingston Park. Running the ball when the opportunities arose and felt like we were getting somewhere and the momentum changing ever so slightly.
The second half started and we found ourselves with a turnover out wide, I got passed the ball, saw a gap close to the ruck, put a slight step on and then something happened and my left leg didn’t follow.
POP! Anterior cruciate ligament gone. And you know it yourself, straight away.
Sitting in the changing room my wife walked in and saw the look on my face of, “It's the big one”, which confirmed that I probably wouldn’t play rugby again.
For some that could be a bitter pill to swallow, but for me I can be one of those fortunate souls to say I have done okay and enjoyed my time playing a sport that was once just a hobby.
Right, enough of the sob story, let's go back to the beginning.
Walking through the doors exiting the airport in Newcastle is when it first hit us that we were a long way from home. Andrew Blades had told us many things about his time here in Newcastle. It's a little cold, a little wet, a little grey, a little windy and sometimes may snow. Well, we were treated to three of the five outcomes on our arrival.
After a 26-hour trip with two young children all we were looking for was a bed. We were otherwise treated to a visit to Kingston Park and an introduction to Rob and the coaching staff. We finally got ourselves sorted and checked into the Marriott for the first couple of days while the house we were renting was getting sorted.
For me coming to the UK to play rugby was going to be a relatively easy transition, going into a rugby team where you will come into contact with a bunch of blokes with a common goal. The more difficult scenario was outside the rugby boundaries where we needed to develop friendships and get our life sorted. Remembering you are new to town, with no family to call on, and our own young family that would need a lot of attention. The best part of that last statement is that we found great friends here in Newcastle, friends that will last a lifetime.
So, the first day at training. I forgot my boots from Australia and had to borrow a pair from our physio Marten Brewer. I got a hug from Blackie and lost the wind in my lungs, nearly got my head taken off by Shawsie and to top it off I pulled my hip flexor. Great start.
I didn’t play the first game of the season, Rob kindly gave me that one off. My start with the Falcons was against the team I finished playing. Bath.
I came on with about 20 to go and I could have scored with my first touch. Flying down the right flank, with one defender to beat, Tom May decided to cut out the ‘Aussie’ and give it to his mate Noony to score the try. Thanks mate, and to think of all the times in the future I would set you up! We won the game well but my other memory was of Wilko dropping goals from everywhere. Makes it a little more comforting when he is on your side. Just.
One of the things that stood out to me for my time at kingston Park was the support we received.
Unwavering support you could call it, and I say that because, like anything, you have to be accountable for your actions, and some of our actions were pretty ordinary on occasion. To have the support there, sometimes many and sometimes not many, meant a great deal to me, and I am sure, to the rest of the team.
I can recall the game against Wasps at Wasps when it was teeming down and the supporters were there. When we went to Italy to play ................ in the freezing cold in the velodrome, (where I was a reserve hoping not to get on!). They were there. To the Game in Paris, where an army of Toon supporters were there to cheers us on in the quarters of the Heineken Cup.
Then there was the faithful in the South Stand at Kingston Park, not taking away from the rest of the ground, but your support for me in particular was a great reason for playing at KP. It's good to be a fullback sometimes, to catch the chat in the crowd. I was amused on more than one occasion by what I heard.
There was Rob telling me about phase two. My favourite colour changed from blue to black. I could start to understand Bob and Blackie, well only just. I could start to understand Micky, well only just, and my footballing skill was certainly on the rise.
Then there was the time when Rob went off at us in the changing room at half time and kicked a full ice bucket thinking it was an empty bin. The time when I self diagnosed hypothermia in the game against wasps at KP in the wet and cold. I stood in the shower fully clothed for 20 minutes trying to thaw out only to be called a soft Aussie! The only proper tackle I made at KP against Perpignan on the line and split the bloke at the same time with me knee, and remembering a kick I took against Leeds at christmas one year wondering which way the wind was coming from, only to look up and see the snow falling giving me the right direction.
When I played at the Falcons the the only person I had to impress was myself. I wasn't playing for rep jerseys, those days had long gone, what I was playing for was to have fun and enjoy what I do well with my mates. And along the way if I could help my team mates go on to get further honours, because in some small way I had helped them, that would give me satisfaction. I hope I have been able to do the club proud, the supporters proud and they can say that M.Burke wore the black shirt with pride.
I think like any time you are moving to a new town you want to feel like a local, never an outsider, and embrace what is around you. With that we decided to buy a house and not live like renters, and it turned out to be a good party house too with traditional Australian hospitality flowing.
We had to find a local, that was the County in Gosforth, mind you Peel and Grimes had drunk most of the beer before we got there. The Favourite night out for the kids was Pizza Express up on the high street. It still gets asked ”can we can go to pizza express?” We had to do the compulsory sight seeing and then the holidays abroad. The thing is, we did these things very easily and definitely not begrudgingly, and enjoyed them immensely. We enjoyed our way of life because the people of Newcastle were very accepting and hospitable.
To finish, Kate and I were sad to leave under the circumstances because we both felt we were ready to have that last year in Newcastle and enjoy what life we had made in the North East. Fortunately for us, this week gives us both a chance to sign off, in the right way.
With that I must thank the club for the allowing me to be a part of such a great and proud rugby team. Thank the players that made my time here an enjoyable one. I hope you were proud to call me your team mate.
I was asked once, “why did you sign again?”, and the answer to that was, “not necessarily for the rugby, because that’s always going to be a part of what I do, but for the people whom we had met along the way.”
So thanks to all our mates in Newcastle who provided great laughs, great memories, sometimes sore heads but best of all great friendships. We will not forget you and your support for our time in the Toon.
|
