The greatest game for each year of the Sydney Football Stadium
WITH the Sydney Football Stadium poised to close it’s doors for the last time, we’ve taken a look at the greatest game played in every year since the iconic ground opened in 1988.
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AFTER 30 years and over 700 games, rugby league will grace the Sydney Football Stadium for the last time on Saturday night.
Rugby league has been played on the site where the SFS now stands since 1911 and the game made the new ground its headquarters once it opened in 1988.
For ten years all the biggest games in town — grand finals, State of Origin matches, Test matches and until 1994 every finals match — were all played at the ground.
The stadium became an icon of its era and signalled rugby league’s move into the modern age.
The SCG has a tradition and atmosphere few other grounds can match, but it’s right there in the names — the SFS was a football stadium, built for rectangular games, and it belonged to rugby league in a way the place next door never could.
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Even as the big games went west to the Olympic stadium, the SFS remained an important part of rugby league in Sydney.
It has an atmosphere and authenticity the concrete behemoth at Homebush can never match.
The Roosters — Eastern Suburbs, Sydney City — will host South Sydney in the final sporting event at the ground before it’s demolished for a newer, shinier model that we may yet grow to love. The Tricolours are the only NRL side to call the SFS their home for the duration of its existence.
South Sydney went to Homebush in 2006, the extra cash proving irresistible for a club very much on the bones of its arse at the time.. But it never felt right. It’s fitting that here, now, the Rabbitohs will help close the stadium they never should have left.
Losing the SFS as we know it is severing a link to rugby league’s past, as recent as that past may be.
So to celebrate we’ve delved into the archives to find the best game from every year of the stadium’s three decade existence. Test matches, finals, Origin games, they’re all here.
1988 — British Lions roar again
Third Ashes Test, Great Britain 26 def Australia 12
After 70 years of nip and tuck battles, Australia’s rugby league supremacy over Great Britain began in earnest in the late 1970s with sustained domination leading to a still record 15-match winning streak by the green and golds over the old rivals.
The Poms were facing a 2-0 deficit heading into the dead rubber and had been ravaged by injuries but against the odds managed their first win over Australia in a decade and their first win down under since 1974.
Henderson Gill crossed for a double, including a spectacular long-range effort, while Wigan’s Andy Gregory outpointed Peter Sterling and Wally Lewis as Ellery Hanley’s men scored a famous 26-12 win.
1989 — The greatest game ever played
Grand final, Canberra 19 def Balmain 14
Almost 30 years on, the 1989 grand final still might be the greatest game of rugby league ever played. Balmain met Canberra in the latter’s first grand final while the Tigers had gone 20 years since their last premiership.
First half tries to James Grant and Paul Sironen gave Balmain a 14-2 lead before Canberra rebounded with a try to Gary Belcher.
At 14-8, Tigers hooker Ben Elias had a field goal hit the cross bar, Mick Neil was ankle tapped with the line wide open and Wayne Pearce dropped the ball with an overlap and a try in the offing as the Raiders stayed alive.
In the final 90 seconds, Laurie Daley claimed a bomb and found John “Chicka” Ferguson, who managed to score next to the posts and force extra time. A Chris O’Sullivan field goal and a blockbusting try to unheralded replacement prop Steve Jackson sent the premiership trophy outside of Sydney for the first time as Canberra claimed their inaugural title in the greatest game the SFS ever saw.
1990 — Five star Brandy
Major Semi-final, Penrith 30 def Canberra 12
The Raiders returned to the SFS 12 months later to take on a rising Penrith side led by Greg Alexander, Royce Simmons and 18-year old Brad Fittler. It was the major semi-final with grand final berth on the line as the Panthers tried to qualify for the first time.
A tight match was locked 12-all at fulltime before Alexander totally took over, scoring a try and setting up another to set up a 30-12 victory. All told Alexander scored 22 points as Penrith advanced to their first grand final. Canberra got revenge in the big one two weeks later but this day belonged to Brandy.
1991 — Blues and Maroons go to war in the wet
State of Origin II, NSW 14 def Queensland 12
The 1991 Origin series was one of the greatest ever played, with all three matches decided by two points. After Queensland claimed the opener 6-4 at Lang Park they travelled to Sydney and took on the Blues in an mudbound battle that rippled with tension throughout.
A spectacular brawl just before halftime led to the iconic scene of Mark Geyer facing up to Wally Lewis. Geyer, playing one of the finest and most violent games of his life, was later suspended for five matches. In the final five minutes, Ricky Stuart floated a pass out for Mark McGaw to score in the corner and level the score at 12-all. Veteran centre Michael O’Connor knocked it over from the sideline in the wet to secure a famous 14-12 victory.
1992 — Steel can’t slay a Dragon
Preliminary final, St George 4 Illawarra 0
Long before they merged, the Dragons and the Steelers met in 1992’s preliminary final with a grand final against Brisbane on the line. Illawarra downed big brother two weeks before 18-16 but Saints had edged Newcastle 3-2 in a tryless struggle to stay alive.
Ricky Walford cruised over in the first half for the Dragons and that was it for the scoring. Try as they might, the Steelers just couldn’t get anything going.
Rod Wishart dropped a try-scoring chance off a Neil Piccinelli pass, Brett Rodwell had two tries disallowed on forward passes that could easily have been let go and Alan McIndoe’s last gasp effort was turned away by referee Greg McCallum.
It was the closest the Steelers would ever come to a grand final as a stand-alone club.
1993 — “He’ll run out of the stadium!”
Preliminary final, Brisbane 23 def Canterbury 16
Some of the greatest days in Broncos history came at the SFS and this win on their historic run to the 1993 premiership was right up there with any of them.
Canterbury were the minor premiers while Brisbane had snuck into the finals in fifth spot and a grand final shot at St George was in the offing.
In a pulsating, back and forth battle Brisbane took a 17-16 lead with an Allan Langer field goal in the final stages before Alan Cann notched a spectacular try to finish, beating six Bulldogs players to score under the posts and lock up a 23-16 victory.
Brisbane won their second consecutive grand final seven days later.
1994 — “That’s not a try, that’s a miracle!”
State of Origin I, Queensland 16 def NSW 12
In one of the most iconic matches in State of Origin history, Queensland rose from the canvas in the final seconds to snatch victory away from New South Wales courtesy of one of the greatest tries ever scored.
With the Blues holding a 12-4 lead with five to go Queensland’s Willie Carne scored to give them a chance. In the shadows of the fulltime siren the Maroons went for glory with a 60 metre, ten-pass movement that went across the field and back again, allowing Mark Coyne to sneak over in the corner and steal the victory.
1995 — The birth of Queenslander
State of Origin I, Queensland 2 def NSW 0
Paul Vautin’s miracle Maroons weren’t supposed to win a game in 1995 but the game they weren’t supposed to win the most was the series opener at the SFS.
With a host of debutants, no-names and a couple of grizzled hard heads, Queensland dug deep on the spirit that has served them so well and managed to grind out a 2-0 victory courtesy of a sole Wayne Bartrim penalty goal, the lowest scoring game in Origin history and the lowest scoring match ever played at the ground.
Legends were born in the gripping 80 minutes, not the least of all Billy Moore bellowing “Queenslander!” as the Maroons came down the tunnel. The war cry and image have become an iconic part of Origin lore.
1996 — Roosters steal victory with a Gee up
Round 14, Sydney City 12 def Brisbane 10
The first regular season game on our list. In a Monday night thriller, the Broncos opened the scoring through young five-eighth Darren Lockyer after he latched on to a wide ball from Glenn Lazarus after just two minutes. Sydney City replied through Peter Jorgensen, who finished off a 60 metre effort several minutes later.
Ten before halftime Broncos winger Robbie Ross knifed through the middle to score under the bar and Brisbane held a 10-4 lead until the 71st minute when Ivan Cleary knocked over a penalty.
With barely four minutes left, Andrew Walker went down the blind on halfway, giving winger Darren Junee a bit of space. Junee raced down the sideline, chipped over Willie Carne, regathered and scored one of the most spectacular tries of the decade.
Cleary’s kick was wide from touch and a draw seemed certain until Broncos prop Andrew Gee was penalised for the most obscure offence of not releasing the ball on a 20 metre tap. Cleary converted the simple shot at goal and Sydney City got up.
1997 — “Newcastle have won the grand final!”
Grand final, Newcastle 22 Manly 16
You’ve seen it a million times and it never gets old. Newcastle’s inaugural grand final win over Manly is one of the most incredible moments in Australian sporting history and helped bring the game back together after three years of Super League very nearly tore it apart.
After a scintillating attacking duel, Newcastle came back to level the scores in the final 10 minutes and had two field goal shots miss before Andrew Johns put Albert over with six seconds to go. They were dancing in the stands and the Hunter was never the same again, because *cue the Ray Warren voice* Newcastle had won the grand final.
1998 — The Paul Carige game
Preliminary final, Canterbury 32 def Parramatta 20
There are comebacks and there are comebacks and there’s the 1998 Bulldogs. Finishing in ninth spot after the regular season only a bloated finals series put the club into the playoffs. They could not stop racking up comeback wins but looked well and truly gone down 18-2 to Parramatta with 11 to go in the preliminary final.
An unforgettable revival unfolded in the first truly iconic game of the NRL era with Craig Polla-Mounter starring and Paul Carige carving his name into infamy. A series of clutch Daryl Halligan sideline conversions following three quick Canterbury tries sent the match to extra time and they eventually triumphed 32-20 to go on to the final grand final played at the SFS.
1999 — Darren Albert does it again
Round 24, Newcastle 22 def St George Illawarra 20
Both sides were in the semi-final hunt, desperate for a win to secure their place and blessed with some of the most gifted attacking footballers of the era. The Dragons shot out to a 10-0 before Andrew Johns set up two tries to give Newcastle a 12-10 halftime lead.
That’s how the scoreboard stayed until the 69th minute when the gifted, but troubled, Owen Craigie surged through the middle, chipped over the fullback and regathered to score.
Saints came back again, dotting down through Paul McGregor to narrow the gap two minutes later and taking the lead 20-18 after Nathan Brown crossed in the 76th minute.
From the short kick off the Dragons knocked on and the Knights, with Johns off the field, threw it wide to Matt Gidley who positioned Darren Albert with one of his trademark flick passes.
The grand final hero did it again, scorching down the sideline to hand Newcastle a 22-20 victory in an instant classic.
2000 — Freddy wins the clash of legends
Preliminary final, Sydney Roosters 26 def Newcastle 20
The Knights and Roosters were two of the rugby league powerhouses at the turn of the century and they had some wonderful battles in the early years of the NRL era.
The first, and maybe greatest, was the 2000 preliminary final when Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler met at the absolute height of their powers.
Newcastle lead 16-2 after Sydney City were under siege for almost the entire first half before a Fittler rev-up at halftime put the Chooks back on track.
They crossed for three tries in five minutes just after the break, including a Fittler intercept off a Johns pass, before adding another 10 minutes later to open up a 26-16 lead.
Timana Tahu pulled one back to set up a big finish but the Roosters got away with a 26-20 in a brilliant shoot out.
2001 — Knights keep Sharks in the dark
Preliminary final, Newcastle 18 def Cronulla 10
Cronulla enjoyed a sustained period of success in the late 90s and early 2000s and rose to touching distance of their first premiership when they advanced to the 2001 preliminary final against Newcastle.
Ben Kennedy and Mat Rogers traded tries early before a long-range effort from David Peachey gave Cronulla a halftime lead.
A curling Johns kick led to a try from Mark Hughes and gave the Knights a 12-10 before Kennedy sealed it with his second in the 75th minute.
The Sharks were left heartbroken while the Knights marched on to claim their second title a week later.
2002 — Welcome to intercept city
Semi-final, Sydney Roosters 38 def Newcastle 12
The last of four straight appearances on this list for the Knights was their gutsiest and bravest performance.
With Johns sidelined through injury, Newcastle were given next to no hope against the Roosters who were pushing the limits of rugby league intensity under Ricky Stuart. Kennedy scored early to claim a shock 6-0 early before Chad Robinson levelled up for the home side.
What followed was an incredible display of desire and ferocity, as both sides ripped in with no thought for self-preservation but were unable to add to the scoresheet. With 20 minutes left after Anthony Minichiello pulled off a classic try saver on Sean Rudder, Craig Fitzgibbon intercepted a pass inside his own 10 and rumbled the length of the field to the line, running 90 metres with Matt Gidley chasing him all the way.
From there the game blew open, with the Roosters snagging three more intercept tries to claim a 38-12 final scoreline that never reflected the enthralling nature of the match.
2003 — Jones breaks the Green Machine
Semi-final, Warriors 17 def Canberra 16
Canberra and New Zealand drawing over 31,000 to a match in Sydney seems impossible now but that’s just how it went in 2003 as the two out of towners put on a ripper in the second week of the finals.
The hard-nosed Raiders scored first through Simon Woolford and the Warriors replied through some Stacy Jones magic that created a try for Logan Swann. Clinton Toopi and Henry Fa’afili both crossed while Canberra could only add penalty goals.
At 16-10 Canberra grabbed an equaliser after Woolford put Davico over. With six minutes remaining the Raiders eschewed a chance at field goal as Mark McLinden slid an inch-perfect grubber through for Jason Bulgrarelli, but the rookie centre bombed a simple try.
From the ensuing possession Jones put over a field goal for a 17-16 lead the Kiwis never surrendered.
2004 — Madness on a Saturday night
Round 25, South Sydney 34 drew with Brisbane 34
The depth of South Sydney’s misery in the years following their readmission was absolute, as they sunk to the lowest point a club can reach while still existing. Five straight bottom four finishes, including three wooden spoons, and a lack of resources made their rebirth a continued struggle.
But the rough times made the good times seem all the sweeter and this unexpected and totally ludicrous 34-all draw with the Broncos was one of those. In front of a tiny crowd, the two teams put on a rugby league track meet where defence was optional and tries of the most ludicrous nature were encouraged.
Souths fullback Roy Bell, who was so light he could blow away in the wind, scored a double and neither team could end the stalemate after golden point. The result is the highest-scoring draw in premiership history.
2005 — Rise of the Tiger
Preliminary final, Wests Tigers 20 def Dragons 12
The Tigers claimed their first premiership the next week and their win over Brisbane was their most spectacular display but ask the players from that side and they’ll tell you the win over the Dragons felt like a grand final.
With the Red V heavily favoured, the Tigers burst out of the gates with a slick set play that led to a try to Benji Marshall. In front of a ravenous crowd, Dene Halatau proved the unlikely hero scoring two tries and paving a way for a 20-12 victory that put the joint venture on the road to their first grand final.
2006 — Australia’s great escape
Tri Nations final, Australia 16 def New Zealand 12
After New Zealand’s thumping victory in the Tri Nations final the year before, Australia’s rugby league supremacy was seriously under threat for the first time in almost three decades. The rematch at the SFS was one of the great Test matches, fiery, skilful and tense in equal measure.
With the scores locked at 12-all, Australia had a try disallowed after the fulltime siren and the first, and so far only, golden point match in Test history was underway. In the 87th minute Johnathan Thurston, in one of the first legendary moments of his career, split the Kiwis on his own 40 and found Darren Lockyer to score under the posts to claim the game and tournament in the most dramatic fashion possible.
2007 — Comebacks, field goals, stalemate
Round 21, Sydney Roosters 31 drew with New Zealand Warriors 31
This was one of those games that had a little bit of everything. The Roosters shot out to a 16-0 lead early but the Warriors rallied to lead 18-16 at the break. The run continued, with New Zealand taking a 30-18 lead with two more tries early in the second stanza before the Roosters produced a rally of their own.
Tries to Craig Wing and Joel Monaghan, his third of the day, levelled the scores at 30-all with four to play. Braith Anasta showed nerves of steel to bang over a field goal from 38 metres out with two minutes left and give the Chooks another lead before Michael Witt buried a reply from 30 out with 30 seconds left.
There was no more scoring but extra time was thrilling, with a Ruben Wiki trysaver on Amos Roberts and a cackling Brad Fittler in the coaches box the highlights.
2008 — Smash, crash, get the cash
Qualifying final, Brisbane 24 def Sydney Roosters 16
An old school, blood and thunder finals fixture, the fourth-placed Roosters hosted the fifth-placed Broncos to open the 2008 playoffs and the result was a mix of the brutal and brilliant. It was a hit parade throughout the 80 minutes with both sides trading hard shots with an intensity that never wavered.
In the end, Brisbane pulled off the upset 24-16 victory with the highlight being a miracle try to Denan Kemp in the second half where the speedy winger finished off an 11 pass movement to touch down.
2009 — Benji vs Hayne and there can be only one
Round 24, Parramatta 26 def Wests Tigers 18
The two surging western Sydney rivals met with six (Tigers) and five (Eels) straight wins respectively with a finals berth and the momentum of victory on the line.
What followed was a dazzling shootout between Benji Marshall and Jarryd Hayne that was every bit reminiscent of the Johns-Fittler clash years before.
Marshall set up the first with an outrageous behind-the-back pass to Blake Ayshford and the match remained tight until the final minutes when Hayne scored an incredible chip-and-chase try to secure a 26-18 victory that continued Parramatta’s unbelievable run.
2010 — The game that wouldn’t end
Qualifying final, Sydney Roosters 19 def Wests Tigers 15
In our book, this is one of the five greatest games the SFS ever hosted. The third-placed Tigers took on the sixth-placed Roosters in the first week of the finals. It had something for everyone — big hits, dazzling tries, a bit of biff and a classic finish.
Three disallowed tries to Gareth Ellis in the first 10 minutes kept the two sides close but tries to Lote Tuqiri, Beau Ryan and Blake Ayshford, plus a Robbie Farah field goal, had the Tigers in a handy spot at 15-2.
With 20 to go the Roosters rallied, Todd Carney setting up tries for Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce to level the scores in the final stages. As the Roosters worked for a late field goal in the final minute, young backrower Simon Dwyer hit Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with one of the tackles of the season, forcing the ball free.
Impossibly, the Roosters managed to win the scrum against the feed and threw the ball around looking for a desperate equaliser. From broken play, Anasta nailed a 33-metre field goal from near the sideline to send the match into extra time.
The Tigers sorely missed an injured Benji Marshall and in the end it was Shaun Kenny-Dowall who latched onto a pass from Liam Fulton and ran 60 metres to score and win the game after 99 incredible minutes.
2011 — Warriors go on a Tiger hunt
Semi-final, New Zealand Warriors 22 def Wests Tigers 20
Two of the most exciting attacking teams of the era met in the second week of the finals and fired every bullet they had. Keith Galloway, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah all crossed in the first half while the Warriors could only manage the one try to James Maloney.
The home side’s 18-6 lead was narrowed when Feleti Mateo crossed off a Shaun Johnson pass. A Tigers penalty goal extended the lead to 20-12 before Lance Hohaia scored and, in the 77th minute, Krisnan Inu took a Johnson bomb and scored a remarkable matchwinner for a 22-20 winner that sent the Kiwis to the preliminary final. The Tigers haven’t made the finals since.
2012 — “You can take me now, I have seen it all!”
Round 19, South Sydney 24 def Sydney Roosters 22
South Sydney and the Roosters were the main tenants of the Sydney Football Stadium for most of it’s existence and will play the final match there on Saturday night.
While the Rabbitohs eventually moved west to ANZ Stadium, the two old rivals always put on a show at Moore Park and few were better than this.
It was a back and forth clash the Roosters seemed to wrap up with a try to Mitchell Pearce in the 74th minute. South Sydney came from nowhere, scoring through Nathan Merritt in the 78th minute and somehow crossing again straight off the kick off after Dave Taylor put Chris McQueen away down the left and he linked up with Nathan Meritt, Issac Luke and Adam Reynolds for the rookie halfback to score next to the posts.
2013 — Battered, bruised but won’t be beaten
Qualifying final, Sydney Roosters 4 def Manly 0
One of the toughest matches ever played at the SFS took place between minor premiers Sydney Roosters and fourth-placed Manly in the first week of the 2013 semi-finals. The Chooks opened the scoring with a try to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck early on and neither team crossed again.
It was a mighty defensive effort from the Roosters, who seemingly turned away countless attacking raids while Manly refused to give an inch. The 4-0 victory was hailed as an instant classic.
2014 — The greatest comeback that never was
Semi-final, Sydney Roosters 31 def North Queensland 30
It was a classic of a different sort 12 months later when the Roosters hosted North Queensland. The home side raced out to a 30-0 lead in even time as they looked to work out the kinks from their shock loss to Penrith the week before.
But the Cowboys, inspired by Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott, climbed off the deck and narrowed the gap to 30-12 at the break before three quick second half tries, including an effort from Scott where he pushed through the very heart of the Chooks’ defence, had things level in the 55th minute.
A Maloney field goal with five to play put the Roosters back up and North Queensland had a winning try controversially denied in the final minute which allowed the Tricolours to escape with a 31-30 victory as the Cowboys fell just short of pulling off the biggest comeback in premiership history.
2015 — Roosters survive the dogfight
Round 21, Sydney Roosters 38 def Canterbury 28
A classic points shootout between two Sydney rivals, with Canterbury coming back after trailing 22-0 after as many minutes to narrow the gap to 22-16 at halftime with Kane Evans’ big hit on Sam Kasiano the highlight of a brilliant and brutal half.
Trent Hodkinson’s solo try levelled the scores after the break before Corey Thompson scored his second of the day to give Canterbury an unlikely lead.
Blake Ferguson then crossed in the corner with 10 to go and the Roosters snatched the lead in the 74th minute after Sam Perrett was too lackadaisical cleaning up a Mitchell Pearce kick.
Michael Jennings was on the spot for the try before Jackson Hastings grabbed one in garbage time to wrap up a wild Friday night and a 38-28 win to the Roosters.
2016 — Baby chooks can’t catch Saints
Round 8, St George Illawarra 20 def Sydney Roosters 18
The Anzac Day clash between the Roosters and Dragons started up in 2002 and fast became one of the best days on the rugby league calendar. It feels like more than a regular season match, even when the two teams aren’t at their best.
This one was a hard-nosed, physical affair with St George Illawarra opening up an 18-0 lead at halftime.
But the Roosters came back with debutant Ryan Matterson setting up a tries for Latrell Mitchell and Jake Friend before grabbing one himself in the 74th minute.
A penalty goal earlier in the second half was all that separated the two and the Dragons took a hard-fought 20-18 victory.
2017 — Mitchell Pearce comes up golden
Round 8, Sydney Roosters 13 def St George Illawarra 12
It was another ripper 12 months later, with the Dragons and Roosters again going right down to the wire. Joel Thompson beat four Roosters to open the scoring after 20 minutes but lost five-eighth Gareth Widdop to injury.
Blake Ferguson crossed 10 after the break before Mitchell Pearce scored a bizarre try under the posts to hand the Chooks a 10-6 lead which was extended to 12-6 through a penalty.
In the 77th minute Nene Macdonald claimed a rebounded kick from Cam McInnes and trampled four defenders to score in the corner.
Josh Dugan nailed the kick from the sideline to force extra time and Pearce kicked the winning field goal, his first successful drop goal in six years, for a brilliant 13-12 triumph.