Former captains Brad Fittler and Ben Hornby will deliver the ANZAC Cup on to Allianz Stadium via helicopter to an Australian Army VIP for the traditional pre-match ceremony for tomorrow’s ANZAC Day blockbuster between the Roosters and Dragons.
Three hours after the 4pm ANZAC Day kick-off in Sydney, Rugby League fans in Melbourne will also have the chance to honour Australian and New Zealand service personnel both past and present in the sixth annual ANZAC Day encounter between the Storm and Warriors.
The traditional Sydney clash, now in its 12th year, has experienced strong pre-sales; as has the Melbourne match at AAMI Park with the Storm recording their highest ever pre-sale for tickets for the 7pm game. Fans wishing to attend both matches are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance through Ticketek or arrive early given the large crowds expected.
Both matches, the first NRL Telstra Premiership games played in 11 days due to the stand-alone representative weekend, will feature pre-match ceremonies honouring the ANZAC Day traditions and those who served their nation.
The Dragons and Roosters will play for the ANZAC Cup, which St George Illawarra have won eight times, including the past five successive clashes; while the Storm and Warriors will play for the Michael Moore Trophy, named in honour of Melbourne’s inaugural Football Manager. Moore tragically passed away in Auckland on the night of the opening round clash in 2000.
Hornby, whose equal record of 10 ANZAC Day matches for the Dragons is set to be surpassed tomorrow by Matt Cooper, will play a different role in the match this year, joining Roosters great Fittler to deliver the ANZAC Cup to Australian Army Warrant Officer Class One Stephen Chiesa.
The recently named Ashton Collier Spirit of ANZAC Award (Roosters-Dragons), won last year by Hornby in the match where he surpassed Norm Provan as the most capped Dragons player in history, and the ANZAC Medal (Storm-Warriors) will be awarded to the player who best typifies the ANZAC spirit in these matches.
Tickets
Please note that junior passes will not permit entry into either ANZAC Day games tomorrow due to capacity constraints. Updated information can be found at http://www.rljuniorpasses.com/
Tickets can be purchased here: Roosters v Dragons | Storm v Warriors or by calling 132 849.
SYDNEY: Roosters v Dragons, 4pm Thursday, 25 April Allianz Stadium. Buy Tickets.
1.30m Gates Open
1.45pm Holden Cup Kick-off: Roosters v Dragons
2.30pm Coin Toss by Australian Army Captain Jacob Kleinman, DSM Adjutant, School of Infantry, with Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello and Dragons captain Ben Creagh
3.30pm Pre-match Ceremony begins
- Red Beret Parachute display
- Channel 9 helicopter arrives to deliver the ANZAC Cup trophy with Roosters legend Brad Fittler and former Dragons captain Ben Hornby on board.
-VIP guest from the Australian Army, Warrant Officer Class One Stephen Chiesa will accept the ANZAC Cup
-Ferris-Ashton Tribute - Ferris was a legendary club player and former captain and coach with the Eastern Suburbs RugbyLeague Club. He served his country with the Royal Australian Navy in World War 2. He died in January this year.
Australian Army Band, including bugle player (Corporal Aaron Madden) and Anthem Singer (Angie Currington)
-Australian Army Cadet Unit (march and flags)
Parade lap in Australian Army Land Rovers, transporting former serviceman from the Dragons (Bill Collier) and Roosters (the late Ferris Ashton represented by his son Greg) and representatives of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels
-Bill Collier is the last surviving member of St George’s first premiership-winning team in 1941… a veteran of World War 2, where he served in the Special Forces.
-The legendary Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels valiantly assisted and escorted injured Australian troops down the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea during World War 2.
Kids Flag Reveal – 50 children will unveil large Australian and New Zealand flags
ANZAC Day Commemoration Service
-The Ode will be read by State President of RSL NSW, Mr Don Rowe
Corporal Aaron Madden from the Australian Army Band will perform the Last Post
- A Moment’s Silence
- The Rouse is sounded (bugler Corporal Brendon Tasker)
- National Anthem to be performed by Angie Currington (Australian Army Band).
4.10pm ANZAC Day Cup kick-off, Roosters v Dragons
4.55pm Half-time entertainment: Amber Lawrence
6.00pm Official Post-game Presentation, followed by lap of honour
Important Messages for Allianz Stadium Patrons
Given the Anzac Day activities throughout Sydney and the metro areas,pre-plan your journey to Allianz Stadium and allow adequate time to arrive ahead of kick-off
Use public transport. Regular buses to and from Allianz Stadium will operate from Central.
Arrive early to take your seat and pay tribute to those who have served and fallen when the special pre-match commemoration takes place before kick-off.
Current and former service personnel will gain free entry under the following guidelines:
• Current Service Personnel in Uniform
• Current Service Personnel with official Defence ID
• Defence Personnel with a Returned from Active Service Badge
• Ex Service Personnel wearing Medals (ex soldiers)
• RSL Members with RSL Badge
MELBOURNE: Storm v Warriors, AAMI Park, 7pm. Buy Tickets.
More Melbourne Storm Match Day info here.
The Storm will pay tribute to women in service at their traditional Anzac Day match with interviews from both Australian and New Zealand service women.
As part of the evening, which supports the Anzac Appeal and Pozierres, the pre-match entertainment will include the traditional formalities around the occasion.
Once both teams have entered the field, the ANZAC Day Commemorative Service formalities will occur as follows:
-The Ode
-The Last Post
-A Moment’s Silence
-The Rouse is sounded
An Indigenous ceremony with Welcome to Country and exchange of gifts between Aboriginal and Maori representatives will also take place pre-match.
Michael Moore Trophy
The much-coveted Michael Moore Trophy is awarded to the winning team each time Storm play the Warriors. Named in honour of Storm’s inaugural football manager who tragically passed away in Auckland on the night of the opening round clash in 2000, Michael Moore’s family will present the trophy to the winning captain. An ANZAC Medal will be awarded to the player who best typifies the ANZAC spirit during the match.
Ticketing
While the Storm have recorded their highest ever pre-sale for tickets at AAMI Park, tickets are still available. Fans wishing to attend the game are strongly encouraged to pre-purchase a reserved seat prior to the match to avoid missing out at the gates.
The General Admission allocation has been exhausted. There may be some small limited releases of General Admission tickets between now and kick-off, however patrons should not rely on this to secure a seat to tomorrow night’s blockbuster match. Storm GA members should get to the game early to get their seats or they can upgrade to a reserved seat to secure their seat for the match.
Defence Force personnel and veterans affairs card holders can get 20% off their ticket purchase when presenting the appropriate identification at the AAMI Park box office.
Profiles
COIN TOSS: Captain Jacob Kleinman, DSM - Adjutant, School of Infantry
Captain Jacob Kleinman enlisted into the Australian Army on 12 January 2006 after completing his studies at the Royal Military College Duntroon and he was appointed to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. After completing his Regimental Officer’s Basic Course at the School of Infantry, he was posted to the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, where he served as a Platoon Commander.
While at the Pig Battalion he deployed to Afghanistan on OP SLIPPER as an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team Second-in-Command, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in the 2010 Australia Day honours list for his leadership in contact with the enemy. He completed his time at 7th Battalion as a Company Executive Officer.
In 2010, he was posted to Headquarters, 1st Brigade as the Liaison Officer for the Brigade Commander. At the end of 2010 he was promoted to Captain, and again was deployed to OP SLIPPER as an Operations Officer and the Commander Combined Team Uruzgan’s Adjutant.
Upon returning he was posted to the 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment as an Operations Captain and the Second-in-Command Delta Company. In 2012, he was part of the Delta Company Rotation to Rifle Company Butterworth Malaysia.
In 2013 he was posted to the School Of Infantry and is currently the Regimental Adjutant.
DELIVERY OF ANZAC CUP: Warrant Officer Class One Stephen Chiesa, Regimental Sergeant Major - Headquarters 5 Brigade
Warrant Officer Chiesa was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in January 1979 and following Recruit Training, was allocated to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. On completion of his initial employment training posted to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.
He remained with the 1st Battalion until 1987 being employed as a Rifleman and mortar-man, before a further posting to the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment till 1991. He was then selected as an Army Recruiting Officer and posted to 3rd Army Recruiting Unit in Melbourne where he served as a Sergeant Advisor.
In 1994, he returned to the 6th Battalion, where he was employed as a Mortar fire Controller, Regimental Signals Officer, Operations Sergeant and Regimental Police Sergeant. In 1996, he was then selected to serve with the Multinational Forces and Observers in the Middle East.
In 1998, he was posted to the 10th/27th Battalion, The Royal South Australia Regiment where he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two. In 2000, he was posted the 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment as the Operations Warrant Officer and then as a Company Sergeant Major for the Battalion’s two rotations of East Timor.
In 2003, he was posted to the Pilbara Regiment where he served as a Training Warrant Officer. In 2005, he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One and took up the appointment as the Regimental Sergeant Major of 4th /3rd Battalion, The Royal New South Wales Regiment.
In 2007 he was then appointed as the RSM of North West Mobile Force and Operation Outreach, in 2009 he was appointed as the RSM of the University of New South Wales Regiment, whilst in this appointment he was posted to the Consolidated Fielding Centre Afghanistan as the command Sergeant Major.
Upon his return to Australia in 2011, he was appointed as the RSM Headquarters 5 Brigade where he is currently serving as the Regiment Sergeant Major.
The Army Band
The history of The Army Band in Sydney is almost as long as Australia’s military force itself, dating back to reports of an “exciting performance by the NSW Permanent Forces Band” in December 1871. With direct lineage recognised, it is the second longest continuous serving military unit in Australia.
The Army Band comprises ensembles from quartets to a full military band, and performs music from all genres: classics, pop, swing, modern jazz and top 40 hits. Members of The Army Band have contributed active service in theatres of conflict since the Crimean War, through two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Australian Army Cadets
The Australian Army Cadets is a personal development program for young people, conducted by the Australian Army in cooperation with the community. The AAC has been in existence in Australia for more than 100 years, with the first unit established in 1866 at St Mark’s Collegiate School in NSW.
Australian Army Land Rovers
From a simple cargo and troop carrier to armed vehicles, Land Rovers have been an Australian military vehicle for more than 50 years. Today’s Land Rovers, from the 5th Combat Service Support Battalion (an Australian Army Reserve Unit based in Sydney), are transporting former servicemen from the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons and representatives of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.
Named for both their frizzy hair and helpful role, the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels were a group of Papua New Guinean people who, during the Second World War, assisted and escorted injured Australian troops down the Kokoda Trail. They were men of great courage and spirit whose story has special significance to Australians.
ANZAC Day Commemoration Service
Teams enter the field. A traditional recitation of the Ode, the fourth stanza of the poem ‘For the fallen’ by Laurence Binyon (1869–1943) will be read, followed by the Last Post, a traditional military bugle call that signifies the end of the day’s activities. It is also sounded at military funerals to indicate that the soldier has gone to their final rest and at commemorative services such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.
A moment’s silence is included in the ANZAC Day ceremony as a sign of respect and a time for reflection, to honour the sacrifice of those who died in service to their nation and to remember all those who have served, past and present.
After the moment’s silence, the Rouse is sounded. The Rouse is a short bugle call used to call soldiers to their duties and is the call most commonly used in conjunction with the Last Post at remembrance services. The exception is the Dawn Service, when the Reveille is played.
