Flashback to one year ago, July of 2020, the Mandurah Storm Rugby League Club faced-off against the Ellenbrook Rabbitohs, and during the match, Chase Geary - club president Kane Geary's brother - was taken to the ground and injured, later discovering he had broken his back.
Chase had a long recovery process ahead of him and since retired from rugby league, but cemented himself as the Storm's number one supporter.
Fast-forward to July of 2021, one year since the accident and three years since the inception of the team and the Mandurah Storm's Rugby League men have scored their first ever win on the exact same ground against the same team.
Kane Geary said this year's game against the Rabbitohs on July 31 was a special one dedicated to Chase and his recovery journey.
"One year ago my brother Chase broke his back at that same ground and ended up in hospital... The coach gave a speech before the game about it," he said.
"Instead of our usual 'storm' chant, they chanted 'Chase' in the huddle before taking the field."
The Storm boys played hard against the Rabbitohs, who are a well-established team in the community Rugby League scene.
That afternoon, almost a year since his accident, Chase received the phone call he had been waiting for - it was the Storm boys, chanting his name and letting him know they had won the game.
"He is actually back in hospital, he had surgery yesterday on his back again," Kane said.
"The boys video called him after the game so he could watch the song and they sang in the changerooms after the game."
The 18-16 point win against the Rabbitohs marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Storm - who have spent years working tirelessly to establish themselves in the competition.
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
