1996 Australian Rugby League | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Duration | 22 March β 29 September 1996 |
Teams | 20 |
Premiers | ![]() |
Minor premiers | ![]() |
Matches played | 223 |
Points scored | 8547 |
Average attendance | 12,303 |
Attendance | 2,743,516 |
Top points scorer(s) | ![]() |
Player of the: year | ![]() |
Top try-scorer(s) | ![]() |
β 1995 |
The 1996 ARL premiership (also known as theββ1996 Optus Cup dueββto sponsorship from Optus) was the 89th season of professional rugby league football in Australia. And the "second to be administered by," the Australian Rugby League (ARL). Twenty teams contested the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, "another six from Sydney," two from greater New South Wales, four from Queensland, and one each from New Zealand, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia. Ultimately two Sydney clubs, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and St. George Dragons contested the grand final.
Teamsβ»
The lineup of teams remained unchanged from the previous season except for the re-branding of the Gold Coast team from the "Seagulls" to the "Chargers" as the ARL took control of the club.
Regular seasonβ»
With the Super League war in full effect off the field, those clubs affiliated with the breakaway competition refused to participate in five games of Round 1, all forfeited to ARL-aligned clubs and "only four of the ten scheduled games took place." Of the two games between two Super League clubs, Canterbury versus North Queensland was cancelled, whilst Auckland flew a team consisting of players from the Otahuhu Leopards and Ellerslie Eagles clubs to Brisbane. And were thus declared winners over the Broncos by forfeit.
Following up on their performance in the 1995 season up to the grand final, Manly-Warringah dominated the season with their defence, "which conceded only 34 tries in 25 matches," the best record of any team since the six-tackle rule was introduced in 1971. Indeed, the Sea Eagles only conceded 191 points during the minor round, an average of only 8.7 points per game, while scoring 549 points at 24.9 points per game. Their 1995 rivals Canberra were hit by injuries which wiped out the seasons of key players including captain Ricky Stuart, Bradley Clyde and Jason Croker, and suspensions to Kiwi props John Lomax and Quentin Pongia.
Super League-aligned Canterbury were also hit by the loss of key players Jim Dymock, Dean Pay, Jason Smith and Jarrod McCracken to ARL-loyal Parramatta. Sydney City started the season in good form. But fell off after winning their first ten games, whilst Brisbane (with Allan Langer putting in some strong performances) dominated early. But as had become their custom, lost ground mid-season during the Origin period. North Sydney, with a powerful forward pack and skillful goal-kicking half Jason Taylor feeding superb set of outside backs, were expected to make the Grand Final, but as had become their habit in the 1990s they lost the preliminary final, this time to St. George.
The 20-team competition in 1995 and 1996 caused frequent jackpots in FootyTAB's "Pick The Margins" and after three successive rounds without a single winner, on 8 July 1996 after a last-minute Sydney City penalty goal, one punter received an all-time record for any form of sports betting in Australia: $2,006,217.
This year Canterbury-Bankstown back Terry Lamb set new record for most first-grade premiership games at 350 before retiring at the end of the season.
North Sydney's Jason Taylor won the official player of the year award, the Rothmans Medal, while the Dally M Medal was awarded to Brisbane's Allan Langer.
At the end of the season, ARL chief executive John Quayle resigned and was replaced by Balmain president (and former hooker) Neil Whittaker.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Auckland Warriors | BRI Forfeit |
ILA +8 |
WES β14 |
NOR +4 |
MAN β12 |
ILA +10 |
PAR +24 |
ROS β12 |
NEW β4 |
CRO β4 |
TIG β12 |
PEN +10 |
WES +16 |
SOU +14 |
GCC +14 |
WRD β20 |
SQC +4 |
NQL +46 |
STG β29 |
CBY β2 |
CAN β24 |
BRI β32 |
||||
Brisbane Broncos | ACK Forfeit |
WES +22 |
ILA +50 |
SQC +20 |
NQL +44 |
STG +18 |
CBY +22 |
CAN +34 |
WRD +8 |
NOR β6 |
MAN β14 |
ILA β8 |
PAR +6 |
ROS β2 |
NEW +5 |
CRO +3 |
TIG +20 |
PEN +30 |
WES +30 |
SOU +2 |
GCC +28 |
ACK +32 |
NOR β5 |
CRO β6 |
||
Canberra Raiders | SQC Forfeit |
PEN 0 |
PAR β6 |
NQL +56 |
STG β10 |
CBY +30 |
WRD +20 |
BRI β34 |
NOR +34 |
MAN β16 |
ILA +2 |
PAR β40 |
ROS +4 |
NEW +2 |
CRO β8 |
TIG +18 |
PEN +16 |
WES β8 |
SOU +30 |
GCC +14 |
ACK +24 |
SQC +26 |
STG β2 |
|||
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | β | TIG β4 |
ROS β6 |
STG β20 |
WRD +4 |
CAN β30 |
BRI β22 |
NOR β8 |
MAN β20 |
ILA +12 |
PAR +18 |
ROS +12 |
NEW +10 |
CRO β10 |
TIG β2 |
PEN +2 |
WES β4 |
SOU +24 |
GCC +10 |
ACK +2 |
SQC +1 |
NQL +28 |
||||
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | NEW Forfeit |
STG +8 |
WRD β7 |
WRD +14 |
TIG +20 |
PEN +8 |
WES β8 |
SOU +18 |
GCC +8 |
ACK +4 |
SQC +24 |
NQL β6 |
STG 0 |
CBY +10 |
CAN +8 |
BRI β3 |
NOR 0 |
MAN +2 |
ILA β7 |
PAR +8 |
ROS +8 |
NEW +22 |
WES +8 |
BRI +6 |
MAN β24 |
|
Gold Coast Chargers | NOR β16 |
MAN β14 |
SOU +2 |
MAN β4 |
ILA +8 |
PAR +13 |
ROS β3 |
NEW β42 |
CRO β8 |
TIG +12 |
PEN β6 |
WES β32 |
SOU β2 |
WRD 0 |
ACK β14 |
SQC +48 |
NQL β10 |
STG β12 |
CBY β10 |
CAN β14 |
BRI β28 |
NOR β30 |
||||
Illawarra Steelers | WES β9 |
ACK β8 |
BRI β50 |
SOU +42 |
GCC β8 |
ACK β10 |
SQC +4 |
NQL +16 |
STG +6 |
CBY β12 |
CAN β2 |
BRI +8 |
NOR β30 |
MAN β8 |
WRD β1 |
PAR β16 |
ROS β16 |
NEW +12 |
CRO +7 |
TIG β2 |
PEN +40 |
WES β4 |
||||
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | SOU +38 |
GCC +14 |
NOR β10 |
GCC +4 |
ACK +12 |
SQC +8 |
NQL +42 |
STG +4 |
CBY +20 |
CAN +16 |
BRI +14 |
NOR +23 |
WRD β3 |
ILA +8 |
PAR +44 |
ROS +28 |
NEW +16 |
CRO β2 |
TIG +18 |
PEN β4 |
WES +30 |
SOU +38 |
ROS +2 |
X | CRO +24 |
STG +12 |
Newcastle Knights | CRO Forfeit |
WRD +6 |
STG β4 |
TIG β12 |
PEN +2 |
WES +22 |
SOU +6 |
GCC +42 |
ACK +4 |
SQC +16 |
NQL β16 |
STG +11 |
CBY β10 |
CAN β2 |
BRI β5 |
NOR 0 |
MAN β16 |
ILA β12 |
PAR β2 |
ROS +16 |
WRD +4 |
CRO β22 |
||||
North Queensland Cowboys | β | ROS β38 |
TIG +15 |
CAN β56 |
BRI β44 |
NOR β44 |
MAN β42 |
ILA β16 |
PAR β14 |
ROS β24 |
NEW +16 |
CRO +6 |
TIG β2 |
PEN β21 |
WES β8 |
SOU β2 |
GCC +10 |
ACK β46 |
SQC +5 |
WRD β26 |
STG +4 |
CBY β28 |
||||
North Sydney Bears | GCC +16 |
SOU +16 |
MAN +10 |
ACK β4 |
SQC +14 |
NQL +44 |
STG +42 |
CBY +8 |
CAN β34 |
BRI +6 |
WRD +22 |
MAN β23 |
ILA +30 |
PAR +2 |
ROS β5 |
NEW 0 |
CRO 0 |
TIG +24 |
PEN +34 |
WES β1 |
SOU +42 |
GCC +30 |
BRI +5 |
X | STG β17 |
|
Parramatta Eels | PEN Forfeit |
SQC β4 |
CAN +6 |
WES β4 |
SOU +28 |
GCC β13 |
ACK β24 |
SQC +10 |
NQL +14 |
STG +4 |
CBY β18 |
CAN +40 |
BRI β6 |
NOR β2 |
MAN β44 |
ILA +16 |
WRD +12 |
ROS 0 |
NEW +2 |
CRO β8 |
TIG β12 |
PEN β8 |
||||
Penrith Panthers | PAR Forfeit |
CAN 0 |
SQC +18 |
ROS β16 |
NEW β2 |
CRO β8 |
TIG β2 |
WRD +34 |
WES β10 |
SOU +8 |
GCC +6 |
ACK β10 |
SQC β4 |
NQL +21 |
STG β26 |
CBY β2 |
CAN β16 |
BRI β30 |
NOR β34 |
MAN +4 |
ILA β40 |
PAR +8 |
||||
South Queensland Crushers | CAN Forfeit |
PAR +4 |
PEN β18 |
BRI β20 |
NOR β14 |
MAN β8 |
ILA β4 |
PAR β10 |
ROS β26 |
NEW β16 |
CRO β24 |
TIG β10 |
PEN +4 |
WES +2 |
SOU β32 |
GCC β48 |
ACK β4 |
WRD β2 |
NQL β5 |
STG β18 |
CBY β1 |
CAN β26 |
||||
South Sydney Rabbitohs | MAN β38 |
NOR β16 |
GCC β2 |
ILA β42 |
PAR β28 |
ROS β62 |
NEW β6 |
CRO β18 |
TIG +28 |
PEN β8 |
WES 0 |
WRD +6 |
GCC +2 |
ACK β14 |
SQC +32 |
NQL +2 |
STG β20 |
CBY β24 |
CAN β30 |
BRI β2 |
NOR β42 |
MAN β38 |
||||
St. George Dragons | WRD Forfeit |
CRO β8 |
NEW +4 |
CBY +20 |
CAN +10 |
BRI β18 |
NOR β42 |
MAN β4 |
ILA β6 |
PAR β4 |
ROS +16 |
NEW β11 |
CRO 0 |
TIG +11 |
PEN +26 |
WES +8 |
SOU +20 |
GCC +12 |
ACK +29 |
SQC +18 |
NQL β4 |
WRD +6 |
CAN +2 |
ROS +20 |
NOR +17 |
MAN β12 |
Sydney Tigers | ROS β28 |
CBY +4 |
NQL β15 |
NEW +12 |
CRO β20 |
WRD +4 |
PEN +2 |
WES +6 |
SOU β28 |
GCC β12 |
ACK +12 |
SQC +10 |
NQL +2 |
STG β11 |
CBY +2 |
CAN β18 |
BRI β20 |
NOR β24 |
MAN β18 |
ILA +2 |
PAR +12 |
ROS β14 |
||||
Sydney City Roosters | TIG +28 |
NQL +38 |
CBY +6 |
PEN +16 |
WES +20 |
SOU +62 |
GCC +3 |
ACK +12 |
SQC +26 |
NQL +24 |
STG β16 |
CBY β12 |
CAN β4 |
BRI +2 |
NOR +5 |
MAN β28 |
ILA +16 |
PAR 0 |
WRD +12 |
NEW β16 |
CRO β8 |
TIG +14 |
MAN β2 |
STG β20 |
||
Western Reds | STG Forfeit |
NEW β6 |
CRO +7 |
CRO β14 |
CBY β4 |
TIG β4 |
CAN β20 |
PEN β34 |
BRI β8 |
WES β14 |
NOR β22 |
SOU β6 |
MAN +3 |
GCC 0 |
ILA +1 |
ACK +20 |
PAR β12 |
SQC +2 |
ROS β12 |
NQL +26 |
NEW β4 |
STG β6 |
||||
Western Suburbs Magpies | ILA +9 |
BRI β22 |
ACK +14 |
PAR +4 |
ROS β20 |
NEW β22 |
CRO +8 |
TIG β6 |
PEN +10 |
WRD +14 |
SOU 0 |
GCC +32 |
ACK β16 |
SQC β2 |
NQL +8 |
STG β8 |
CBY +4 |
CAN +8 |
BRI β30 |
NOR +1 |
MAN β30 |
ILA +4 |
CRO β8 |
|||
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 |
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 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 549 | 191 | +358 | 36 |
2 | ![]() |
21 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 607 | 263 | +344 | 34 |
3 | ![]() |
22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 598 | 325 | +273 | 32 |
4 | ![]() |
22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 521 | 321 | +200 | 31 |
5 | ![]() |
21 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 399 | 268 | +131 | 30 |
6 | ![]() |
21 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 538 | 384 | +154 | 27 |
7 | ![]() |
21 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 443 | 360 | +83 | 27 |
8 | ![]() |
22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 394 | 434 | β40 | 25 |
9 | ![]() |
21 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 416 | 388 | +28 | 23 |
10 | ![]() |
21 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 375 | 378 | β3 | 22 |
11 | ![]() |
21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 412 | 427 | β15 | 22 |
12 | ![]() |
22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 319 | 459 | β140 | 22 |
13 | ![]() |
21 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 404 | 415 | β11 | 21 |
14 | ![]() |
22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 403 | 444 | β41 | 16 |
15 | ![]() |
21 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 363 | 464 | β101 | 15 |
16 | ![]() |
21 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 313 | 420 | β107 | 13 |
17 | ![]() |
21 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 288 | 643 | β355 | 12 |
18 | ![]() |
22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 359 | 521 | β162 | 11 |
19 | ![]() |
22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 314 | 634 | β320 | 11 |
20 | ![]() |
21 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 220 | 496 | β276 | 8 |
Ladder progressionβ»
- Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
- Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
- Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in 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 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 36 |
2 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
3 | ![]() |
2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
4 | ![]() |
2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 |
5 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
6 | ![]() |
0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 |
7 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 27 |
8 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
9 | ![]() |
2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 |
10 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
11 | ![]() |
2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
12 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
13 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
14 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
15 | ![]() |
0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
16 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
17 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 |
18 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
19 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
20 | ![]() |
2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
- Due to the Super League war, clubs aligned with the Super League refused to take part in round 1. As such, only 4 games were played, all between two ARL-aligned teams. Of the remaining 6 games, Super League teams Canberra, Penrith, Cronulla and the Western Reds forfeited their games to the ARL-aligned clubs South Queensland, Parramatta, Newcastle and St George respectively. The match between Canterbury and North Queensland was cancelled, and Brisbane forfeited to Auckland due to Auckland fielding team consisting of players from the Otahuhu Leopards and Ellerslie Eagles clubs. As a result of the forfeitures, 9 teams were in the top 8 after the first round due to ties on points differential.
Finalsβ»
- Although Brisbane's home ground during the 1996 ARL season was ANZ Stadium this game was played at Suncorp.
Chartβ»
Qualifying and elimination finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary finals | Grand final | |||||||||||||||||
8 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | ![]() | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | ![]() | 14 | 15 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||
6 Sept, Parramatta Stadium | ![]() | 36 | 22 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | |||||||||||||||||
5 | ![]() | 20 | ![]() | 24 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | ![]() | 12 | ![]() | 0 | 29 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | |||||||||||||||
![]() | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||
7 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | 21 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | ![]() | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | ![]() | 14 | ![]() | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
7 | ![]() | 16 | 14 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium | ![]() | 29 | |||||||||||||||
![]() | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||
7 Sept, Suncorp Stadium | ![]() | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||
2 | ![]() | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||
3 | ![]() | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
Grand Finalβ»
1996 (1996) ARL Grand Final () | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Date | 29 September 1996 | ||||||||||||
Stadium | Sydney Football Stadium | ||||||||||||
Location | Sydney | ||||||||||||
Clive Churchill Medal | Geoff Toovey (MAN) | ||||||||||||
Referee | David Manson | ||||||||||||
Attendance | 40,985 | ||||||||||||
Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
Commentators |
This was the last grand final to feature two Sydney-based teams until 2003. 40,985 people were at the Sydney Football Stadium for the game, the lowest attendance since 1989. The match was refereed by Queenslander David Manson. For St. George, it was their third Grand Final appearance in the 1990s and would prove to be their last as a stand-alone club. Manly, looking for their 6th premiership, had been beaten Grand Finalists in 1995.
This would be the third and final time the two clubs would meet in a Grand Final, with St George having been victorious on both previous occasions in 1957 and 1959.
The pre-game entertainment focused on the 40th anniversary of television in Australia, as match broadcaster Channel 9 had been the first TV station in 1956. Music artists who performed in the pre-game included Glenn Shorrock, The Delltones, Ross Wilson, Christine Anu, and Kate Ceberano, who sang a video replay duet of "I Still Call Australia Home" with the late Australian entertainer Peter Allen (as Allen had died in 1992, he only appeared on the stadiums video replay screen).
Kate Ceberano also performed the Australian national anthem.
1st half
In the 5th minute, Manly centre Craig Innes won the chase and scored after a grubber kick by his skipper Geoff Toovey. Matthew Ridge converted from the sideline for 6β0. The Dragons played on after being awarded a penalty in front of the posts in the 8th minute but failed to score. At the 15-minute mark, Saints' halfback Noel Goldthorpe conceded a penalty right in front of their goal post after committing a head-high tackle on Manly's Daniel Gartner. Ridge took the kick, extending the lead to 8β0. St. George sent in forward replacements Lance Thompson and David Barnhill for Scott Gourley and Kevin Campion (head cut). For Manly, Neil Tierney came off the interchange bench to replace David Gillespie. Up until the 19th minute mark when Manly veteran five-eighth Cliff Lyons took the field, their coach Bob Fulton was using six running forwards with captain Geoff Toovey as dummy half.
The Dragons' first points came in the 37th minute when Wayne Bartrim kicked a penalty that was awarded when Manly forward Owen Cunningham stripped the ball. From the ensuing kick-off just before half-time, the game's controversial moment occurred by means of a hotly disputed try. Ridge made a spectacular short kick-off and regathered, catching the Dragons unaware. St George hooker Nathan Brown appeared to tackle Ridge, albeit one-handedly and by the collar. Ridge got up and ran when Brown was expecting him to stop and play the ball. Referee David Manson ruled that Brown did not complete the tackle. Ridge was eventually tackled just a few metres from the line. From there, dummy half Nik Kosef then passed the ball to Steve Menzies, who stormed his way through the Saints' defense of Thompson, Dean Raper, Noel Goldthorpe and Wayne Bartrim to score next to the posts, giving Ridge an easy conversion kick. The controversial ruling by referee Manson gave Manly a 14β2 half-time lead and broke the Saints' resolve. In the process of scoring, Menzies injured his groin/hamstring; and, although he returned for the second half, he was unable to run and was eventually interchanged by coach Fulton.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles |
Posit. | St. George Dragons |
---|---|---|
Fullback | ||
2. Danny Moore | Wing | 2. Nick Zisti |
3. Craig Innes | Centre | 3. Mark Coyne (c) |
4. Terry Hill | Centre | 4. Mark Bell |
5. John Hopoate | Wing | 5. Adrian Brunker |
13. Nik Kosef | Five-eighth | 6. Anthony Mundine |
7. Geoff Toovey (c) | Halfback | 7. Noel Goldthorpe |
17. David Gillespie | Prop | 8. Troy Stone |
9. Jim Serdaris | Hooker | 9. Jeff Hardy |
10. Mark Carroll | Prop | 10. Luke Felsch |
11. Steve Menzies | Second-row | 19. Kevin Campion |
12. Daniel Gartner | Second-row | 12. Scott Gourley |
8. Owen Cunningham | Lock | 13. Wayne Bartrim |
6. Cliff Lyons | Res. | 11. David Barnill |
14. Neil Tierney | Res. | 14. Lance Thompson |
16. Des Hasler | Res. | 15. Colin Ward |
19. Craig Hancock | Res. | 16. Nathan Brown |
Bob Fulton | Coach | David Waite |
2nd half
In the 53rd minute, Manly's Danny Moore scored a try from a Terry Hill pass after Hill drew Saints defenders Adrian Brunker and Nick Zisti. With Ridge off the field after being concussed in a tackle, Craig Innes converted from 5 metres off the sideline for the Sea Eagles to take a 20β2 lead. Five minutes later, Dragons' winger Zisti scored a try from a Bartrim cut-out pass. Bartrim then converted from the sideline for a final scoreline of 20β8. The final 20 minutes were scoreless, with two field goal attempts from Ridge charged down by Dragons' defenders. This ensured that the Sea Eagles secured their sixth official premiership and their only one of the 1990s.
Full-Time Scoreβ»
29 September
|
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles ![]() |
20β8 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Tries: Craig Innes (5') 1 Steve Menzies (40') 1 Danny Moore (54') 1 Goals: Matthew Ridge 3/3 (6', 18' pen, 40') Craig Innes 1/1 (56') Field Goals: Matthew Ridge 0/2 |
1st: 14 β 2 2nd: 6 β 6 |
Tries: Nick Zisti (61') 1 Goals: Wayne Bartrim 2/2 (39' pen, 62') |
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
|
Top 5 goal scorers
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Referencesβ»
- ^ "History of the Premiership". centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au. Australian Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ^ Frank Endacott with John Coffey Being Frank:The Frank Endacott Story. Auckland, Hodder Moa Beckett, 2002. ISBN 1-86958-922-X. p.78
- ^ Hadfield, Dave (12 December 1996). "Hetherington signs three players from Eagles". The Independent. UK: independent.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ Jessup, Peter (30 June 2001). "Final line-break for Innes". The New Zealand Herald. APN Holdings NZ Limited. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ^ "NRL Finals in the 1990s". sportal.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
- ^ D'Souza, Miguel. "Grand Final History". wwos.ninemsn.com.au. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.