OPINION: As a young sports journalist working in Canberra in the early 1990s, the first person I ever interviewed was an American trick golfer named 'Wedgy' Winchester.
He could hit balls 150 metres down the fairway with one arm tied behind his back, standing on one leg and blindfolded.
The second was a no-nonsense young Kiwi rugby league player named Quentin Pongia.
- Former Warriors prop Quentin Pongia dead aged 48
- Ricky Stuart 'hurt' after failing to win for Pongia
I'd like to say he had an immediate impact on me, but I was so nervous about doing a good story on my first outing to Raiders training (while also being a diehard fan), that I can't remember what we talked about.
My recollections of our second meeting - some 17 years later - are much clearer. I was head of radio sport for the ABC at the time and making one of my many visits back to Canberra from Sydney.
The Raiders were playing the Roosters on a chilly afternoon in May and walking out of the commentary box, I literally ran into Quentin Pongia, who was working as an assistant coach with his old club.
I introduced myself and former captain Alan Tongue, who was working for the ABC, joined us for a footy chat. We discussed 1994 and the Raiders charge to their last premiership.
In '94, Canberra had an incredible team. Get a load of this backline - Stuart, Daley, Meninga, Wiki, Nagas, Nadruku and Mullins.
Try that with today's NRL salary cap.
But while the backs stole all the glory, the forwards got them there. Leading the way, at prop, were two Kiwis - John Lomax and Pongia.
Wainuiomata's Lomax missed the Grand Final due to a suspension the week before, leaving West Coast hard man Pongia the most experienced front rower that day for the men in green.
He did the hard work, carting the ball up all day, while his front-row partner, replacement Paul Osborne, became the hero, setting up two tries against the Bulldogs.
But no Canberra fan will ever forget Pongia's efforts in the 36-12 victory - and nor will Tim Sheens.
The former Raiders coach put it bluntly this week, saying they wouldn't have won in 1994 without Pongia. Star forward Glenn Lazarus had moved to the Broncos in '93 and Sheens told Channel Nine: "Pongia saved us.
"We could have really struggled, but from day one, 'Q' was a colossus. He was so competitive on the field that he gave us that hard edge."
I wish more Kiwis knew how good Pongia was. He was a pioneer at the Raiders, alongside men like Brent Todd, Lomax, Sean Hoppe and another premiership winner, Ruben Wiki.
Last year, in a Newshub opinion piece, I picked Pongia just behind Wiki as my greatest Kiwi to ever play for Canberra.
His death at 48 from cancer is terribly sad. He leaves behind a young daughter, and some wonderful memories for rugby league fans, particularly in Canberra.
I messaged Paul Osborne to say how tragic Pongia's passing was. Osborne, whose son also recently passed away, knows pain and how to best express it.
He said simply: "Life is short. Hug your loved ones and keep them close."
Craig Norenbergs is a Newshub sports reporter (and Canberra Raiders devotee)
