Chook Pen, Sydney Football Stadium

The atmosphere, at dedicated square-pitch football stadiums like the SFS with a near capacity crowd is great - much better than anything I’ve ever experienced at Telstra stadium (2002 Grand Final not included).

I remember fondly, round 3, 2004, against the Canterbury Bulldogs (the game with the infamous riot incident), a near capacity crowd of 35,000 at the height of Coffs Harbour scandal. I knew it was would be a corker of a game, I invited some work mates, one of whom was a southern lad and had never been to a Rugby League game before. And what an introduction! With 5000 people in the Chook Pen chanting “No means no!” at the Bulldogs, and in the second half, when they knew they were beaten, some Bulldogs fans starting a massive, rolling brawl in the bay next to ours - and at the final siren the sweet, sweet, score - Roosters 35, Bulldogs 0.

And I still have a clear memory of the preliminary final 2002, again a near capacity crowd against the Broncos. Most Easts fans knew it was our year that season, we started an incredible run just before the finals stringing the most amazingly tough wins together. I knew we had something special when in round 4 that year the Andrew Johns led Newcastle Knights couldn't get over the top of a depleted, one-half reserve grade, one-quarter Jersey Flegg, Easts side. By half time Johns had this look of desperation in his eyes, unsure of himself without the commanding lead on the scoreboard. Although in the second half the Knights came over us to eventually win, I knew then we had something special in the team. How it makes up for the bitter memories, like the galling 2001 Monday night loss after an inept display to lowly Penrith in the miserably cold drizzle in front of a crowd of only 4000.

Fast forward to the 2002 preliminary final - the Grand Final qualifier - against the Brisbane Broncos. This was the game we had to win if we were to break the 17 year drought of Grand Final triumphs, the last time we won having been 1975.Such was the pent up emotion of that year with Brian the Rooster revving up the chooks and putting the infamous hex on the Broncos, and Shannon the Cannon going ballistic, revving us up for the do-or-die 80 minutes ahead, I wept before Easts ran onto the pitch.

The final at Telstra Stadium was almost an anti-climax, although it wasn't until the 60th minute we knew we had the trophy in hand. The mobile chook pen went off when our bloodied but unbowed captain, Freddy Fittler, raised his hands in triumph to us all after they had scored the match winning try. The scenes back in Spring St Bondi Junction after the game when the players returned in victorious celebration on the top of an open double decker bus, outside the leagues club, were unforgettable.

I will miss it greatly. I am sad to have to leave Sydney, some things I know I won't miss, but others, like an Easts home game every fortnight in winter, I don't know how I will cope without.