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crowd that it’s a sellout. I sit down in front of my locker and try to concentrate on the game ahead. Someone stands in front of me. It’s a television reporter. He’s sticking a microphone in my face. Next to him is a cameraman with a big video camera strapped to his shoulder. He’s filming me. Standing behind the reporter and cameraman is Justice. He’s furious.
    â€œNo interviews I told you! Deadly D is off limits!” yells Justice. The reporter turns around to see a Kiwi kid with a scowl on his face.
    â€œAnd who are you?” laughs the reporter.
    Coach Griffin walks over.
    â€œI’ll tell you who he is,” says Coach Griffin, “He is welcome – you on the other hand, are not ! Now take a hike and let Deadly focus.” The reporter apologises and takes the cameraman with him.
    Justice follows them out the door.
    â€œHit the road you stinky old toads!” I hear him say as the door closes.
    Coach Griffin stands in the middle of the room. We sit in a circle around him. I nervously push my mouthguard in and out.
    â€œNo stupid stuff today guys, just keep it simple and defend our line,” Coach Griffin instructs. “This may be a trial game, but we still want to beat those Panthers!”
    â€œYeah!” yells the team.
    â€œWe have twenty-five thousand Broncos fans in the stadium, let’s give ’em what they want!” he says.
    â€œYeah!” yells the team.
    â€œAnd when Deadly D comes on, I want everyone running off him, playing support,” says Coach.
    â€œYeah!” yells the team.
    â€œAnd when you finish today,” says a voice from the corner, “autograph your jerseys and leave them for me so I can sell them on eBay!”
    â€œGET OUT, JUSTICE!” yells the entire team. Shame!

Chapter 26
    Kick Off
    The cheerleaders are waving their maroon and gold pompoms. The Broncos mascot Buck is giving high fives to the kids in the crowd. The referee blows his whistle and the Broncos kick off. Their fullback runs the ball up. He’s tackled by a wall of players. After only one minute on the clock, everyone has already worked up a sweat. I watch from the bench with the other reserves. I’m super nervous but I can’t wait to go on. Justice is in the stand behind me. Last week he offered to wash the Coach’s car in exchange for a ticket near the bench. It’s good to have my friend here.
    Seven minutes into the game, Scott Prince runs on to a Peter Wallace pass. He steps two players and throws a long pass to Corey Norman. No one can catch him. Normanruns down the sideline and scores out wide. The crowd goes wild!
    â€œTry to Corey Norman! Broncos lead four points to zero!” bellows the announcer over the microphone. Rock and roll music fills the stadium. All the players run in to congratulate him. Scott Prince gets ready to kick the conversion. The ball boy runs out and gives him the kicking tee. Mum will be getting suspicious. When the TV cameras zoom in on the reserve bench, I hang a towel over my head and bend down, pretending to tie my laces. Hopefully Mum won’t recognise me.
    The Panthers score two easy tries. Coach Griffin is furious. I can hear him on the trainer’s walkie-talkie. “Tell them to defend!” he’s saying. He says a few other words as well, but I don’t want to repeat them.
    At the half-time break, the Panthers are leading 10 points to 6. Come on Coach, put me on, I’m jumping out of my skin to get on the field!

Chapter 27
    Time to Shine
    The second half kicks off. The Panthers have the ball and their fullback is tackled close to the sideline. Ben Hannant is looking tired out there. He hasn’t had a rest yet. The Panthers bring the ball towards the middle of the field. Ben Hannant makes the tackle but he stays on the ground. The Broncos trainers run out to see if he is OK. Already players are showing signs of exhaustion. They are drinking water like thirsty