After the crowds had all left Accor Stadium two True Blue mates, who had fought on either side of the NRL Grand Final, found time to share a moment over a beer.
Parramatta Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Penrith Panthers lock Isaah Yeo sat down together to reminisce on the night.
Now the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues forwards can create a few more memories when they fly to Manchester in the UK, as part of the Australian Kangaroos squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
But the sting from the 28-12 loss has not yet left Campbell-Gillard.
“It sucks it really does,” he said, after losing the Grand Final to the mates he formed during his five seasons with the Panthers (2015-2019).
“It’s more like Harry Potter with Voldemort… we’re not really speaking of it by name.
“It is one of the best experiences you can obviously imagine, a Grand Final. It’s something you want to be doing – that’s our standard now of how to get there.
“If we were going to lose then you’d rather it be to them (Panthers) as they’ve been the best team for the past three years…”
Campbell-Gillard said Penrith co-captain and close friend Isaah Yeo relayed the disappointment of the Panthers losing the 2020 Grand Final to Melbourne before they bounced back to win consecutive premierships.
“After the game I sat down with ‘Yeoy’… that was something pretty special,” he said.
“He’s been in the same situation and what-not.
“We’re close mates so that took a little of the gut-wrenching out of it.
“We’re here now and there’s more exciting times ahead for us. It’s something we can both talk about in the future.”
Campbell-Gillard is a bit of an old hand at the international scene.
He played two Tests for Fiji in 2014 and played five games for Australia at the 2017 World Cup, including being part of the winning 6-0 side over England in the final.
Yeo is on debut in the Australian squad after nine seasons of NRL, including a winning State of Origin series in 2021 and two NRL Premiership rings (2021-22).
The Australian 24-man squad will make Manchester their base ahead of their first RLWC game against Fiji in Leeds on 15 October.
