Editorial: Big game ahead for Magpies

Sikeli Nabou right) with the Ranfurly Shield.

It's rough being a Magpies fan.

The Ranfurly Shield catch-and-release didn't help. It took me weeks to get over that winning Counties try.

You know the one, the try scored by the slowest Fijian to ever pull on a pair of rugby boots.

His name was Sikeli Nabou.

It irked me for a fortnight. Nabou beat a handful of defenders by running at the line at the same pace I walk to my letterbox in the morning. Despite this, somehow, with three minutes to go, he dotted down. Silence descended on McLean Park. My living room was anything but; the kids, unfortunately, were a little stunned at their Dad's outburst.

I was ashamed at the invective - and surprised.

The Magpies' relative success in recent years has spawned a more vocal fan. Couch tantrums should be seen as a healthy development.

People make a noise if they care.

Once, we Magpies fans were happy if we lost to the big unions by fewer than 60 points.

The lows of this year have been outnumbered by the highs: Winning the Shield for the first time in 44 years, the grins on my daughters' faces after witnessing live the second-half comeback against Northland, stylish form from the rookies, kicking the Wellington Lions into touch and earning a shot at the Premiership division.

Fans' blood pressure is again to be tested in the final against the Tasman Makos this Friday. Notwithstanding the year's highlights the season will be measured by this game.

Either way, I have little doubt the clash of the country's two biggest wine producing regions will produce some champagne rugby.