THE JOY: Tim Mortimer (left) hugs his Wentworthville teammates after beating Newtown in the 2008 NSW Cup grand final. Photo: ACTION PHOTOGRAPHICS
WHEN Daniel Mortimer earned a place in Sunday’s NSW Cup grand final with Newtown, older brother Tim was just as excited as the half-back.
Tim played for Wentworthville when they won the NSW Cup in 2008 and now Daniel is trying to bring the title back to the Mortimer family again.
Tim said having his younger brother in this year’s decider had been wonderful.
“I’ve been talking to Dan about it. I’ve been reliving it through him again,” Tim laughed.
“I’ve been remembering what it was like and the whole week.”
Tim said in 2008, the lead up to the decider was almost as exciting as the game itself.
“We’d been good all year. We weren’t confident but we were ready,” Tim said.
“I was full of excitement for the whole week. I couldn’t stop thinking about Sunday’s game.
“Playing at that stadium on grand final day and to have a TV game, that was big for me but probably not as much for Dan [who played in the 2009 NRL grand final with Parramatta].”
When Wentworthville and Tim won the 2008 grand final against Newtown they did it the hard way.
Scores were locked at 8-all after 80 minutes and the game went into golden point extra-time.
A total of 13 field goals were missed during the game before Wentworthville scored in the corner to take the game 12-8.
“We knew we were going into overtime but couldn’t think about it because either team could win at any moment,” Tim explained.
“The relief and joy I felt when we scored in the corner was amazing. I felt sorry for Newtown as well after playing so long.”
Tim, 26, said Daniel knows how to prepare for a grand final but this was still a big deal.
“He’s played in an NRL grand final before so he knows. But he’s playing for Newtown and it’s a different club with different fans. He’s got to have fun with all the boys and enjoy the week,” Tim said.
“He’s just as excited as I was.”
Adding to the excitement is Daniel will captain Newtown against Balmain on Sunday.
Grand final day will have plenty of excitement for the Mortimer clan with the Bulldogs in the NRL decider against Melbourne.
Peter Mortimer, Tim and Daniel’s father, is a Bulldogs legend who played 190 first grade games for Canterbury from 1977 to 1987 and was part of the 1980, 1984 and 1985 premiership-winning sides.
This hasn’t helped Tim in getting a ticket to Sunday’s big game though.
“I’m trying to snag a ticket. There’s too many brothers for us all to get tickets,” Tim laughed.
Sunday’s NSW Cup grand final between Newtown and Balmain will kick-off at 12pm.
