Former greats Mark Ellison, Brian Johnston look back at infamous 1984 Souths, Dragons final
IT has been 34 long years. The game has changed, the venue has changed, the rules have changed. But the passion and tradition between two fierce rivals remains.
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IT has been 34 long years. The game has changed, the venue has changed, the rules have changed. But the passion and tradition between two fierce rivals remains.
The Rabbitohs and Dragons have not met in a finals match since 1984 in a clash at the SCG remembered as much for an ugly brawl as Saints’ second-half comeback sparked by two tries from winger Steve “Slippery” Morris, the father of Bulldogs stars Brett and Josh Morris.
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After nearly three and a half decades, the Dragons and the Bunnies will go at it again in September, with a crowd of 50,000 expected at ANZ Stadium for Saturday night’s semi-final.
In that 1984 clash, Souths led 6-4 at halftime before losing 24-6. Two players from that day are back at their respective clubs – Souths forward Mark Ellison is the South Sydney football manager and Dragons centre Brian Johnston has returned as incoming St George Illawarra CEO.
Ellison and Johnston met up this week at the SCG for the first time since that game.
“We were a really young and inexperienced team,” Ellison said. “It was a big day for us. We had myself and Ross Harrington — we were both 19 — “Tugger” (Craig Coleman) was only a year older than us.
“Daryl Neville played, Mario (Fenech) was only a couple of years older than us. The elder statesman Ziggy Niszczot, he was our captain. Dean Rampling, Dave Boyle, it was a really young team compared to them.
“We were ahead 6-4 at halftime but “Slippery” Morris tore us apart in the second half. We just couldn’t go with them then. We played three games in six days to get there.
“We played Norths at Redfern on the Sunday, then the Raiders at the Cricket Ground on the Tuesday night and then on the Saturday we beat Manly.
“I think in the second half against Saints, we were just gassed. We just couldn’t go on. It was a tough week, the week before. They had “Sludge” (Steve Rogers) playing, Perry Haddock, Craig Young, “Slippery” Morris, Robert Stone, Graeme O’Grady, their side was a lot more experienced than we were.”
Ellison recalled the fight.
“There was a massive stink. Apparently they said the crowd was booing because they were dead against the fight, but the people I knew said the crowd was disappointed because it wasn’t shown on the big screen. They took it off.
“It started in the scrum. It was the first or second scrum. I know it went for a long time.
“I don’t think there was a player on the field that wasn’t involved.
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“It spread right across the field. It started in front of the old Paddington Hill and went right across to the other side, with Ross Harrington and Mick Beattie going at it in front of the Members’ Stand. It’s a bit different now.”
Johnston said his side prepared for a game that would be “far more intense” than a normal club round.
“We understood that it was always going to be a very physical contest.
“There weren’t as many protection mechanisms around for the players in those days. So there was going to be a good old-fashioned softening up period – which went through until halftime in that particular game.
“Tempers did flare on a number of occasions. Just near halftime, I remember peering across the field – because I was on the ground with a couple of people on top of me – and everybody was engaged with the opposition in a melee, we’ll call it.
“The crowd were going mad. It was really one of those surreal occasions when you think, ‘Am I dreaming or is this really going on?’
“I don’t know that anybody was hurt – Craig Young might have got a split lip – but everyone else might have caught a cold from all the haymakers which were thrown.
“It was an overflowing of emotions which came out in physicality on the field. It was a memorable moment which will never leave me.”