Sean Maloney: Why tortured commentator 'let rip' in this iconic moment
Updated . First published at
Morgan Turinui and I sometimes joke 'it's the hope that kills you' following a Wallabies game.
Last second home loss to Argentina after a piece of Mark Nawaqanitawase magic? Tick.
Lead England handsomely at the SCG then get run over in a series decider? Yep, seen it.
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Come back from SEVENTEEN down versus New Zealand before a ref from France awards an unheard of penalty which leads to an All Blacks win?
That shit-show still costs me sleep.
There's been others, like Dunedin last year, but my therapist says denying the trauma is part of the healing.
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Sean Maloney and Justin Harrison on Rugby Heaven. Stan
Folks, it's as simple as this.
Like you, each of us who commentate for Stan Sport and Nine are fans of the game first. We live it, we love it.
Justin Harrison speaks about a 'golden thread' linking us all and he's right.
Max Jorgensen of Australia celebrates scoring. Getty
So, when Max Jorgensen sped away for the match winner at Twickenham in the 84th minute, we, like you, afforded ourselves the chance to really enjoy the moment.
Before we get to that five pointer though, we've got to go back to the start.
Michael Hooper, who was with Morgs and I in commentary from the studio floor in Sydney, gave wonderful context ahead of the match.
Michael Hooper on Between Two Posts. Stan
Hoops was the last Aussie captain to taste victory at the venue way back in 2015.
He spoke about how hard it is to win in London, the crowd, the way England rise.
He laid out the challenges succinctly and he was right as the home side raced to a 15-3 lead.
Despite the deficit, the Test centurion wasn't troubled.
He calmly explained how the possession and field position would turn. The Wallabies would be OK.
Conversely, I'd snapped three ballpoint pens in frustration and Morgs had already fly kicked an empty coffee cup to the far corner of the box. Hoops was right of course.
The Wallabies eventually worked themselves to a 10-point lead before the insanity of the closing stages.
When Andrew Kellaway tore upfield for the go ahead try, the two ex-Wallabies next to me were riding him home like a Melbourne Cup jockey.
When AK stuck his nose across the line to make it 35-30, there was a look of sheer relief on Hoops' face.
He thought 'correct weight.' Time to collect the winnings.
Not Morgs though. He knew what was coming. He's also got a therapist.
With a scary degree of certainty, England crashed over via Maro Itoje in the 78th minute.
I remember saying 'there'll be time for the restart' the second the scored to make it 37-35.
One more beautiful restart.
Ironically, Itoje, who was supposed to be the match winner, grassed the ensuing kick which presented the Wallabies their chance.
They'd lost 10 of their last 11 against England.
They'd won just a single game through the Rugby Championship.
They had a 21-year-old debutant at outside centre who had never played a game of professional union.
They had a 20-year-old on the wing and an inside centre, Len Ikitau, that Eddie Jones didn't think good enough for the Rugby World Cup last year.
Evidently they also had a lot of self belief.
It can be hard commentating off tube. Without a wide, camera one feed you are at the mercy of the local director.
If they're zoomed in, you've got no perspective.
So, like you, when Jorgensen took that sublime flick from Ikitau, I thought there were defenders everywhere.
Len Ikitau of Australia passes the ball under pressure from Ollie Sleightholme of England. Getty
Then the camera cut… and there was nobody.
Thank you local director. Thank you Max Jorgensen.
As a play-by-play caller it's advisable not to fight the crowd effects when a home side scores, or when it's two teams at a neutral venue.
However, when it's 80,000 falling silent at Twickenham and it's Australia winning one of the best Test matches of all-time, all bets are off.
Australia's Harry Wilson lifts the Ella-Mobbs Trophy following a late victory. Getty
That's why I let this one rip in the call.
"It's one of the greatest moments in Wallabies history and it belongs to Jorgensen."
Everything about it was beautiful.
Max Jorgensen of Australia celebrates as he scores his winning try. Getty
The venue, the quality of the opponent, the size of the crowd, the next generation swan diving its way to a brighter future for the game.
The moment and the comeback brought a tear and a hug from Morgs with Hoops also 'bringing it in for the real thing.'
For once, the hope didn't kill us. It just made us all overwhelmingly happy.
