1977 New South Wales Rugby Football League | |
---|---|
Duration | March 19 β September 24, 1977 |
Teams | 12 |
Premiers | ![]() |
Minor premiers | ![]() |
Matches played | 139 |
Points scored | 4346 |
Attendance | 1440765 |
Top points scorer(s) | ![]() |
Player of the: year | ![]() |
Top try-scorer(s) | ![]() |
The 1977 NSWRFL season was theββ70th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. Twelve clubs, "including six of 1908's foundation teams." And another six from around Sydney competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the "season," which culminated in a grand final between the St. George and "Parramatta clubs." NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1977 Amco Cup.
Season summaryβ»
During the pre-season Parramatta forward Graham Olling made headlines when he became the first rugby league playerββto admitββto taking anabolic steroids, which at the time were not illegal in the sport.
Another stir was created at the start of the season by, Newtown's recruitment of professional American football player, Manfred Moore. The club's first match of the season at Henson Park attracted the likes of Paul Hogan, Jeannie Little and John Laws who witnessed the American score Newtown's first try.
Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, with Parramatta top of the table for much of the season before finishing the home and away fixtures on top of the table. The final five were rounded out by St. George, "Eastern Suburbs," Balmain and Manly. Cronulla-Sutherland had been in contention for a finals spot before fading late in the season.
The 1977 season's Rothmans Medal, as well as Rugby League Week's player of the year award, was awarded to Parramatta centre Mick Cronin.
Teamsβ»
Regular seasonβ»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF | GFR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balmain Tigers | EAS +4 |
SOU β2 |
CRO +10 |
WES +11 |
NOR +19 |
PEN 0 |
STG β9 |
PAR β2 |
CBY +7 |
MAN +16 |
EAS 0 |
SOU +4 |
CRO β8 |
NEW +17 |
WES +26 |
NOR +9 |
PEN +10 |
STG β4 |
PAR β20 |
NEW +31 |
CBY +17 |
MAN β7 |
MAN +8 |
EAS β24 |
|||
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | CRO β2 |
NOR 0 |
STG +10 |
NEW +18 |
MAN +1 |
SOU +1 |
WES β3 |
PEN +11 |
BAL β7 |
EAS β7 |
CRO +23 |
NOR β5 |
STG β3 |
PAR β8 |
NEW +21 |
MAN +5 |
SOU +18 |
WES β7 |
PEN +2 |
PAR β5 |
BAL β17 |
EAS β2 |
|||||
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | CBY +2 |
EAS β11 |
BAL β10 |
NOR +5 |
STG +12 |
NEW +27 |
MAN +6 |
SOU +1 |
PEN β1 |
PAR β7 |
CBY β23 |
EAS β4 |
BAL +8 |
WES +11 |
NOR β6 |
STG β5 |
NEW +33 |
MAN β4 |
SOU +14 |
WES +37 |
PEN +31 |
PAR +5 |
|||||
Eastern Suburbs Roosters | BAL β4 |
CRO +11 |
NOR +36 |
STG β4 |
NEW +39 |
MAN +20 |
SOU +11 |
WES β8 |
PAR β7 |
CBY +7 |
BAL 0 |
CRO +4 |
NOR +18 |
PEN +15 |
STG β13 |
NEW +13 |
MAN +12 |
SOU +13 |
WES +11 |
PEN +17 |
PAR β8 |
CBY +2 |
STG β5 |
BAL +24 |
PAR β8 |
||
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | SOU +18 |
WES +7 |
PEN +24 |
PAR β9 |
CBY β1 |
EAS β20 |
CRO β6 |
NOR +14 |
NEW +5 |
BAL β16 |
SOU +4 |
WES +11 |
PEN +5 |
STG +18 |
PAR +2 |
CBY β5 |
EAS β12 |
CRO +4 |
NOR +2 |
STG β17 |
NEW +48 |
BAL +7 |
BAL β8 |
||||
Newtown Jets | WES +7 |
PEN β11 |
PAR β11 |
CBY β18 |
EAS β39 |
CRO β27 |
NOR β5 |
STG β15 |
MAN β5 |
SOU β13 |
WES β1 |
PEN β16 |
PAR β9 |
BAL β17 |
CBY β21 |
EAS β13 |
CRO β33 |
NOR β23 |
STG β14 |
BAL β31 |
MAN β48 |
SOU +13 |
|||||
North Sydney Bears | PAR β3 |
CBY 0 |
EAS β36 |
CRO β5 |
BAL β19 |
STG β17 |
NEW +5 |
MAN β14 |
WES +1 |
PEN +4 |
PAR β2 |
CBY +5 |
EAS β18 |
SOU +19 |
CRO +6 |
BAL β9 |
STG β15 |
NEW +23 |
MAN β2 |
SOU +16 |
WES +40 |
PEN +8 |
|||||
Parramatta Eels | NOR +3 |
STG β13 |
NEW +11 |
MAN +9 |
SOU +18 |
WES +8 |
PEN +19 |
BAL +2 |
EAS +7 |
CRO +7 |
NOR +2 |
STG +1 |
NEW +9 |
CBY +8 |
MAN β2 |
SOU +1 |
WES +31 |
PEN +19 |
BAL +20 |
CBY +5 |
EAS +8 |
CRO β5 |
X | STG β5 |
EAS +8 |
STG 0 |
STG β22 |
Penrith Panthers | STG β4 |
NEW +11 |
MAN β24 |
SOU β10 |
WES β8 |
BAL 0 |
PAR β19 |
CBY β11 |
CRO +1 |
NOR β4 |
STG +17 |
NEW +16 |
MAN β5 |
EAS β15 |
SOU +41 |
WES +12 |
BAL β10 |
PAR β19 |
CBY β2 |
EAS β17 |
CRO β31 |
NOR β8 |
|||||
South Sydney Rabbitohs | MAN β18 |
BAL +2 |
WES β29 |
PEN +10 |
PAR β18 |
CBY β1 |
EAS β11 |
CRO β1 |
STG β5 |
NEW +13 |
MAN β4 |
BAL β4 |
WES β19 |
NOR β19 |
PEN β41 |
PAR β1 |
CBY β18 |
EAS β13 |
CRO β14 |
NOR β16 |
STG β9 |
NEW β13 |
|||||
St. George Dragons | PEN +4 |
PAR +13 |
CBY β10 |
EAS +4 |
CRO β12 |
NOR +17 |
BAL +9 |
NEW +15 |
SOU +5 |
WES +8 |
PEN β17 |
PAR β1 |
CBY +3 |
MAN β18 |
EAS +13 |
CRO +5 |
NOR +15 |
BAL +4 |
NEW +14 |
MAN +17 |
SOU +9 |
WES +45 |
EAS +5 |
PAR +5 |
X | PAR 0 |
PAR +22 |
Western Suburbs Magpies | NEW β7 |
MAN β7 |
SOU +29 |
BAL β11 |
PEN +8 |
PAR β8 |
CBY +3 |
EAS +8 |
NOR β1 |
STG β8 |
NEW +1 |
MAN β11 |
SOU +19 |
CRO β11 |
BAL β26 |
PEN β12 |
PAR β31 |
CBY +7 |
EAS β11 |
CRO β37 |
NOR β40 |
STG β45 |
|||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF | GFR |
Bold β Home game
X β Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin
Ladderβ»
Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 448 | 280 | +168 | 38 |
2 | ![]() |
22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 402 | 260 | +142 | 34 |
3 | ![]() |
22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 392 | 207 | +185 | 31 |
4 | ![]() |
22 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 417 | 288 | +129 | 28 |
5 | ![]() |
22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 352 | 269 | +83 | 28 |
6 | ![]() |
22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 433 | 312 | +121 | 26 |
7 | ![]() |
22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 283 | 239 | +44 | 21 |
8 | ![]() |
22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 377 | 390 | -13 | 21 |
9 | ![]() |
22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 247 | 438 | -191 | 14 |
10 | ![]() |
22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 319 | 408 | -89 | 13 |
11 | ![]() |
22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 250 | 479 | -229 | 6 |
12 | ![]() |
22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 254 | 604 | -350 | 4 |
Ladder progressionβ»
- Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5.
- Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
- Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 38 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
3 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 31 |
4 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 |
5 | ![]() |
2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 |
6 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 |
7 | ![]() |
0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
8 | ![]() |
0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 |
9 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
10 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
11 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
12 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Finalsβ»
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
Qualifying Finals | ||||||||
![]() |
19β14 | ![]() |
27 August 1977 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Jack Danzey | 28,288 | ||
![]() |
23β15 | ![]() |
28 August 1977 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 20,716 | ||
Semi-finals | ||||||||
![]() |
5β10 | ![]() |
3 September 1977 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Jack Danzey | 29,794 | ||
![]() |
26β2 | ![]() |
4 September 1977 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 23,785 | ||
Preliminary final | ||||||||
![]() |
13β5 | ![]() |
10 September 1977 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 39,095 | ||
Grand finals | ||||||||
![]() |
9β9 | ![]() |
17 September 1977 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 65,959 | ||
![]() |
22β0 | ![]() |
24 September 1977 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 47,828 |
Chartβ»
* - Indicates only the replay match. And not the match ending in a draw.
Grand finalβ»
St. George | Position | Parramatta |
---|---|---|
FB | 18. Phil Mann | |
2. Stephen Butler | WG | 2. Jim Porter |
3. Graham Quinn | CE | 3. Mick Cronin |
4. Robert Finch | CE | 4. Ed Sulkowicz |
5. John Chapman | WG | 5. Graeme Atkins |
6. Rod McGregor | FE | |
7. Mark Shulman | HB | 7. John Kolc |
13. Bruce Starkey | PR | 13. Graham Olling |
12. Steve Edge (c) | HK | 12. Ron Hilditch |
11. Craig Young | PR | 14. John Baker |
10. Robert Stone | SR | 10. Geoff Gerard |
9. John Jansen | SR | 9. Ray Higgs (c) |
8. Rod Reddy | LK | 8. Ray Price |
14. Tony Quirk | Res. | 6. John Peard |
17. John Bailey | Res. | 11. Denis Fitzgerald |
Harry Bath | Coach | Terry Fearnley |
Parramatta boasted an experienced team, making their second consecutive Grand final appearance. The young St. George side dubbed "Bath's Babes", were able to draw on the experience and wiles of their coach Harry Bath, and as the day of the decider approached the betting market narrowed.
A crowd of 66,000 flocked to the Sydney Cricket Ground to see an enthusiastic St. George side come out with all guns blazing. Dragons lock forward βRocketβ Rod Reddy, initially dominated proceedings with his brutal defensive play.
In attack, diminutive Dragons halfback Mark Shulman made inroads and they went ahead 4β0 with two penalty goals to Ted Goodwin. Just before half time, "Lord Ted" scored a miraculous try when he burst through and chipped ahead from halfway. Confronting his opposite fullback Phil Mann, Goodwin kicked again. A foot race followed with cover defenders Graeme Atkins and Ed Sulkowicz joining. The ball trickled towards the dead-ball line but Goodwin got there first, hitting the ground hard and knocking himself out in the process. He had run 50 yards (46 m) and beat every defender to score a breathtaking individual try. John Chapman converted and Goodwin unsteady on his feet for the rest of the half had given his side a handy 9β0 lead going into the break.
The second half began like the first, with uncompromising defence. Reddy was targeting Parramatta's champion lock, Ray Price. But in the process gave away a number of penalties. Goodwin was felled in an off the ball incident early after the break and took no further part. Mick Cronin slotted three pressure goals to make it 9β6 and the older Eels were well positioned for a comeback against a tiring Dragons defence.
With 10 minutes to run, Parramatta pounced when Cronin drew three defenders and found Price in support who stepped through and gave a final pass to Sulkowicz who scored the equaliser out wide. Now Parramatta had the chance to snatch victory through Mick Croninβs conversion attempt. A prolific goalkicker throughout his career, Cronin had an opportunity which young players dream of β to kick his team to premiership glory. However, the ball sailed to the right of the uprights and moments later the full-time scoreboard read 9β9. For the first time in history, a New South Wales Rugby Football League Grand final was forced into 20 minutes extra time.
Parramatta took command of the restart and looked strong. The Eels almost scored when prop Graham Olling found space near the line. But he failed to pass to his unmarked front rower partner Ron Hilditch. St. George then lifted a notch, grafted out some territory towards the Eels' end and began to think of field goals. Shulman and Chapman both made unsuccessful attempts before reserve Tony Quirk had a third attempt from close range. Quirk's kick initially looked on target but the ball bounced off the post and into the arms of St. George's hooker, Steve Edge. He grounded the ball over the line but was ruled offside by referee Gary Cook.
With one minute left Cook awarded a penalty to the Dragons within kicking range. In a final twist, Chapman's attempt went the same way as Cronin's earlier kick and after 100 minutes of Grand final play, the scores were still locked at 9β9. The players initially appeared confused, then began shaking hands. The ground announcer advised that a replay would be, required.
Greenwood's reference described the match as βthe game of the centuryβ. This is: a bold claim but it was undoubtedly a brave effort by both sides and a ground-breaking match in Australian rugby league history.
St. George 9 (Tries: Goodwin. Goals: Goodwin 2, Chapman.)
Parramatta 9 (Tries: Sulkowicz. Goals: Cronin
Grand final replayβ»
St. George | Position | Parramatta |
---|---|---|
FB | ||
2. Stephen Butler | WG | 2. Jim Porter |
3. Graham Quinn | CE | 3. Mick Cronin |
4. Robert Finch | CE | 4. Ed Sulkowicz |
5. John Chapman | WG | 5. Graeme Atkins |
6. Rod McGregor | FE | 6. John Peard |
17. John Bailey | HB | 7. John Kolc |
13. Bruce Starkey | PR | 13. Graham Olling |
12. Steve Edge (c) | HK | 12. Ron Hilditch |
11. Craig Young | PR | 14. John Baker |
10. Robert Stone | SR | 10. Geoff Gerard |
9. John Jansen | SR | 9. Ray Higgs(c) |
8.Rod Reddy | LK | 8. Ray Price |
20. Barry Beath | Reserve | 11. Denis Fitzgerald |
Harry Bath | Coach | Terry Fearnley |
From the first match, the Dragons had lost halfback Mark Shulman, who suffered a kneeing in the back by Parramatta skipper Ray Higgs, although otherwise their team had come through unscathed. The Parramatta camp had players showing multiple cuts, bruises and bite marks with Ray Price in particular looking like he had been used as a punching bag.
Although a grand final replay had not occurred in the Australian game, the young Dragons were able to draw on the experience of "the Old Fox", Harry Bath who had played in the drawn 1953β54 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in England, and whose Warrington side won the replay in front of a then record crowd of over 102,000. The 1977 VFL grand final played the same day, also finished as a draw and would need to be replayed.
With a strong breeze at their backs, St George began the match in a determined fashion and were soon in front 7β0 when John Jansen scored following great forward charge by tireless front rower Bruce Starkey; the final pass, though was at least a metre forward.
Twelve minutes into the second half, St George furthered their lead with a penalty goal to Ted Goodwin. Led by Steve Edge, Craig Young and Robert Stone, with the ruthlessness of Rod Reddy and the experience of veteran Barry Beath, the strong Dragons forward pack laid a good foundation and as the match wore on their backline took advantage. Robert Finch and Graham Quinn began to find room in the centres, and the halves John Bailey and Rod McGregor started to outpace their older opposition. A field goal from Goodwin took the score to 10β0 and then after Parramatta were found offside, Goodwin kicked another penalty goal.
An incident occurred when touch judge Brian Barry was hit by a projectile from the crowd and collapsed. He had to be replaced by a referees' official, Ray O'Donnell, who was wearing normal street attire. For the remainder of the match top referee Jack Danzey acted as touch judge on the eastern side.
Late in the match, Robert Stone found the ball and ran 30 metres to score a rare forward's try right in front of the St. George faithful who, as per the club's tradition, had massed in the Sheridan Stand. With a scoreline of 17β0 the Dragons had the game but then, following wonderful display of backing up, Saints were awarded a penalty try by referee Gary Cook when John Bailey was taken out by the tired defence. After Goodwin's final conversion and 180 minutes of bone-crushing football, St George were declared the 1977 champions, winning their club's 14th premiership 22β0.
It was a fitting farewell for the stalwart Dragons second rower Barry Beath, the last Dragon to retire who had been involved as a player in their unbeaten eleven-year run of the mid 50s to 60s. Beath is credited with the unusual statistic of winning a premiership in his first season (1966) and his last (1977), but none in ten seasons between.
St. George 22 (Tries: Jansen, Stone, Bailey. Goals: Goodwin 6. Field Goal: Goodwin)
Parramatta 0
Player statisticsβ»
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
|
Top 5 goal scorers
|
Referencesβ»
- ^ Curtin, Jennie (11 July 1998). "Simply the Best". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Rothfield, Phil (2010-08-23). "Buzz names his top 10 NRL chokers". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
- ^ "Form over five years". The Sun-Herald. 19 March 1978. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
External linksβ»
- 1977 Tied Rugby League Grand final at eraofthebiff.com
- 1977 Grand final Replay at eraofthebiff.com
- Results:1971-80 at rabbitohs.com.au
- 1977 J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup at rleague.com
- NSWRFL season 1977 at rugbyleagueproject.org
- St. George 1977 season at showroom.com.au
- Greenwood, Geoff. Australian Rugby League's Greatest Games.
- Rugby League Tables β Season 1977 The World of Rugby League
- When an American bled for Newtown β article at leaguehq.com.au