It’s the moment an entire city stood still.
With scores locked and mere seconds remaining in the 1997 grand final, Andrew Johns has a shot at field goal charged down.
The ball ends up in the hands of a young winger by the name of Darren Albert.
“The tears of joy and the way everyone was after that game just shows how much it meant to everybody.”
What happened next took the breath away from rugby league fans nation-wide and sent the city of Newcastle into a party which lasted weeks.
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“I kind of looked around because I was playing the ball, so I looked over to Matty because I knew he was off to the left waiting for another shot at field goal,” Albert told the Our Town Our Team Podcast.
“I’ve looked over there and the ball didn’t arrive, and by the time I looked back, Joey was already at the line.
“It was one of those crazy, freaky moments where they had enough defenders there, but this gap just opened up out of nowhere.”
The vision of Albert storming through the hole and scoring virtually untouched has become one of the most replayed moments in rugby league history, thrusting his name into rugby league folklore almost automatically.
However, according to the man himself, it all could’ve ended very differently.
“Joey was searching to pass it to someone,” he said.
“I think Hughsey often says he’s dirty he didn’t pass it to him down the sideline.
“I’m pretty happy it went that way.
“He’s still harbouring it 20 years later.”
The ensuing celebrations saw Albert mauled by his 12 ecstatic teammates, realising they had won one of the most dramatic grand finals of all time.
“I had about six blokes jump on me; you turn around thinking what just happened?” Albert said.
“The tears of joy and the way everyone was after that game just shows how much it meant to everybody.”
The moment still lives as a special memory for Albert and his family.
“My family were there, my mum, dad and sister, so they were watching on,” he said.
“It was a special moment, and when we were doing the walk around the ground I kind of spotted them then.”
And as for the premiership ring?
“It’s in a locked safe in a safe spot.”
