Hawker resident and Balmain Tigers tragic Reverend Jim Payne taunted Raiders fans by driving around town with a 187cm stuffed tiger, The Canberra Times reported on this day in 1989.
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A friend knitted the huge beast for Mr Payne in 1983, and it quickly became his most treasured possession.
He had been a fanatical Balmain supporter for 58 years, since his childhood matches at Birchgrove Oval.
He even admitted to seeking divine intervention to help his beloved Tigers win the Winfield Cup grand final against the Canberra Raiders that weekend.
The grand final was especially important, because it was the first time in 17 years Mr Payne could sit down and watch the game live on television.
He suffered through the agony of the Tigers' defeat to Canterbury in the 1988 grand final while at a meeting of the global executive committee of the United Bible Societies, in Budapest, Hungary.
The Reverend had lived in Canberra for the past 21 years as the national director of the Bible Society in Australia.
He grew up in Drummoyne, and predicted Balmain would win by eight or more. But the Raiders would win 19-14.
Lanie Tindale
I am City reporter at The Canberra Times. I previously covered health for the masthead, and was a trainee before that. I have written on courts, federal politics, breaking news, features and opinion. lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au.
I am City reporter at The Canberra Times. I previously covered health for the masthead, and was a trainee before that. I have written on courts, federal politics, breaking news, features and opinion. lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au.
