Warrington Wolves fan Matt Dolan's World Cup Diary - part one

11:10am Tuesday 11th November 2008

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WOLVES fan Matt Dolan gave his parents the ‘shock of their lives’ when he walked into their bedroom with a cup of coffee - in Brisbane, Australia.

Matt’s parents, Mike and Sheila, of Warrington, are in Australia for five weeks visiting their other son, Mark, daughter-in-law Sarah and their three grandchildren, Lauren, Emily and Joel, at their Brisbane home.

Matt flew out to join them at the weekend, although Mike, who attended Harry Bath’s memorial service in South Brisbane last week, and Sheila had no idea he was flying over for the family reunion.

The Dolans are Warrington Wolves mad and rugby league mad, and the trip fits in with the Rugby League World Cup taking place Down Under.

Matt has sent us his World Cup Diary so far. This is his story of a great adventure.

WENT to Brisbane Broncos league club yesterday (Sunday).

What a set up!

It’s a members only club where fans go and spend money all day on food, souvenirs and gambling. It brings masses of money into the club.

They love Alfie Langer. There’s a tribute area and his own bar - ‘Alfies bar’.

A couple of miles away is the home of the Broncos, the Suncorp Stadium.

What a stadium! It was breathtaking. It’s a 52,000 purpose-built rugby league stadium and it’s where england will beat the Kiwis on Saturday. Can’t wait.

I gave my mum and dad the shock of their lives when I walked in their room with a cup of coffee.

They were still half asleep at 7am yesterday morning. They thought they were dreaming!! They had no idea I was going.

The flights were tough. Manchester to Heathrow, Heathrow to seoul, then Seoul to Brisbane. Arrived Monday at 7am.

My sleep patterns are all over the place, wanted to go to Ireland v Fiji last night but slept all afternoon!! Watched it on the box with some XXXX!

Hopeful of seeing England train today and have a drive round to some of the league clubs.

The noise of the wildlife woke me up this morning.

The thought of the snakes, spiders and geckos coming into my basement room also worries me! See the picture of the spider I saw outside the Suncorp Stadium!

For Matt’s other World Cup diary features, click for part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven