NRL 2024: 30 most dramatic grand final moments since 1975 ranked | Bulldog’s Bite
From projectiles thrown at referees, to blatant forward passes, DEAN RITCHIE has seen it all in grand finals. Now, 50 years after falling in love with rugby league, he ranks the 30 most dramatic moments.
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From Cronin to Cleary, Burgess to ‘Beaver’, Benji to ‘Bubba’, Hunt to Hanley.
This will be the 35th grand final I have covered and 50th decider I’ve watched since falling in love with rugby league back in 1975.
I have seen and reported on all the major grand final moments during that time – the controversy, theatre, heartbreak and euphoria. Here are the most dramatic, bizarre and memorable moments, in order, I have seen in grand finals.
30 – 1977: Touch judge Brian Barry is hit in the groin by a projectile – believed to be an apple – thrown by a fan from the SCG Hill. Barry is taken from the field and replaced briefly by Ray O’Donnell, who runs the line in civvies comprising trousers, cardigan and a tie.
29 – 2002: Warriors forward Richard Villasanti hammers Brad Fittler, who is on the ground, with a headfirst hit, causing a bloody head wound to the Roosters champion. Moments later, Roosters forward Adrian Morley gets square with a bone-rattler on Villasanti.
28 – 2021: Souths five-eighth Cody Walker throws an all-or-nothing intercept pass with Stephen Crichton swooping to score a decisive try in Penrith’s 14-12 win.
27 – 1986: Mick Cronin kicks two penalty goals in Parramatta’s dour 4-2 win over Canterbury, rugby league’s first try-less grand final.
26 – 2016: Forward Andrew Fifita displays amazing power to push through four Melbourne defenders to score a solo try which helps Cronulla to the club’s maiden premiership.
25 – 2008: Playing his final game for Manly, Steve ‘Beaver’ Menzies returns to the field late to score a try in the Sea Eagles’ epic 40-0 win over Melbourne, sending teammates and fans into raptures.
24 – 1996: With two minutes remaining in the first half, Manly’s Mathew Ridge appears to be tackled by St George players but is told to play-on by referee David Manson with teammate Steve Menzies controversially scoring seconds later.
23 – 1984: Ferocious and fierce, Canterbury’s menacing Dogs of War forward pack help claim the 1984 grand final against Parramatta before winning a second title the following year against St George.
22 – 2007: While contesting a bomb in the first minute of the second half, Manly fullback Brett Stewart is knocked out after a collision with Melbourne’s Mick Crocker and Billy Slater. Stewart is taken from the field and does not return.
21 – 1978: Manly plays six finals games to claim a grand final replay win over Cronulla in a remarkable show of courage and guts.
20 – 2013: Roosters five-eighth James Maloney throws a blatant forward pass to Anthony Minichiello, which is missed by match officials, resulting in a matchwinning try to Shaun Kenny-Dowall against Manly.
19 – 1991: Penrith icon Royce Simmons scores two tries against Canberra in the club’s first grand final triumph. Simmons promises to have a beer with everyone in Penrith, later claiming he came up two short.
18 – 1980: Winger Steve ‘Bubba’ Gearin miraculously catches a Greg Brentnall bomb on the full to score a try which gives the Ted Glossop-coached Canterbury an 18-4 win over Easts.
17 – 1981: Genius five-eighth Brett Kenny throws a dummy and runs 67 metres to score and seal Parramatta’s first grand final with jubilant fans later burning down the to-be-demolished Cumberland Oval grandstand.
16 – 1994: Canterbury’s fate is all but sealed in the opening five seconds when prop Martin Bella fumbles a bouncing ball from the kick-off. Canberra scores moments later to record a 36-12 win.
15 – 2012: Bulldogs forward James Graham is accused of biting Melbourne star Billy Slater. Graham vehemently denies the charge but is later suspended for 12 games.
14 – 1977: St George lock Rod Reddy somehow remains on the field despite being cautioned five times inside the opening 44 minutes by referee Gary Cook for foul play.
13 – 2023: Halfback Nathan Cleary conjures a miracle win for Penrith in a final 20 minute masterclass after Brisbane led 24-8.
12 – 1999: St George Illawarra’s Jamie Ainscough hits Melbourne winger Craig Smith around the head, resulting in a penalty try which gives the Storm a come-from-behind victory in the club’s second season.
11 – 2018: Showing extraordinary bravery, Cooper Cronk plays with a broken scapula to guide his Sydney Roosters to a 21-6 win over Melbourne.
10 – 2003: Panthers lock Scott Sattler produces a tackle-for-the-ages on runaway Roosters winger Todd Byrne to inspire Penrith to an 18-6 win.
9 – 1997: Andrew Johns sneaks up the short side before turning the ball back inside to send winger Darren Albert over for a try in the dying seconds to give Newcastle a famous 22-16 win over Manly.
8 – 2019: With the scores locked 8-all, referee Ben Cummins controversially reverses a ‘six again’ on-field call for Canberra. From the next set, the Sydney Roosters score to claim a 14-8 win.
7 – 1976: With a try looming in the SCG’s Paddington Hill corner, Parramatta winger Neville Glover drops a pass from centre John Moran, enabling Manly to scrape home 13-10.
6 – 1988: Balmain star Ellery Hanley is escorted from the field after being whacked by Canterbury’s Terry Lamb, a high shot which goes unnoticed by match officials. The Bulldogs win 24-12.
5 – 2015: Shattered Broncos halfback Ben Hunt drops the ball from the golden point kick-off, all but gifting North Queensland’s Johnathan Thurston a grand final-winning field goal.
4 – 1989: With the scores locked 14-all and just two minutes of regulation time left, Ben Elias’ potentially matchwinning field goal crashes into the crossbar to deny Balmain with Canberra’s Steve Jackson scoring the game-sealing try in extra time.
3 – 2005: Benji Marshall produces a miracle behind-the-back flick pass to winger Pat Richards, who scores in Wests Tigers’ 30-16 win over North Queensland.
2 – 2014: Sam Burgess has his cheekbone smashed in a tackle-one collision with Canterbury’s James Graham. Burgess courageously stars in the Rabbitohs’ first premiership win in 43 years.
1 – 1975: Graeme Langlands sadly limps from the field injured wearing his infamous white boots during St George’s 38-0 loss to Easts. ‘Changa’ was jabbed with a pre-game painkiller but rather than deaden the injury, the injection numbed his entire leg.
DOG TREATS
Watch for Melbourne to use the height advantage of their wingers in Sunday’s grand final.
Storm tall timber Xavier Coates stands 194cm with Will Warbrick at 193 cm.
That compares to Penrith’s Brian To’o (officially 182 cm but closer to 175cm) and Sunia Turuva, who stand 181cms.
That’s a decisive 31cms advantage in the air.
“There can be an advantage in being a taller winger but the Roosters had two tall wingers in Dom Young and Daniel Tupou (against Penrith in week one of the finals). Brian and Sunia have handled tall wingers all season and seasons gone by so I don’t see it as a major problem,” said Panthers legend, Greg Alexander.
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Former Canberra grand final prop Brent Todd was spotted playing golf and enjoying a few beers in Bali with former first grade champions Mark Graham and Steve Walters.
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We told you a few weeks ago that former Test star Dale Shearer wanted to sell his 1987 Manly World Club Challenge blazer.
It seems ‘Rowdy’ is continuing his spring clean-out by asking whether anyone would be interested in his Gold Coast Seagulls blazer from the early 1990s.
“Still has the tag on it,” Shearer said.
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The IRL has announced The Honourable Geoff Bellew, SC, as its head of judiciary.
Bellew is the current NRL judiciary chairman, former chairman of Manly and Northern Eagles and an ex-NRL director.
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New Dolphins head coach Kristian Woolf is expected to stand down as Tonga coach after the looming Pacific Championships.
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Manly godfather Ken Arthurson celebrated its 95th birthday on Tuesday. Aside from his multiple achievements as an administrator, Arthurson played in the Sea Eagles’ 1951 grand final side. He was spotted catching up with Peter Peters, Max Krilich, John Quayle and Colin Love while in Sydney this week.
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Former Roosters fullback Joe Reaiche has died aged 66. He played 25 first grade games for Easts, Souths and Canterbury between 1978 and 1983.
Reaiche was in London when he died.
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English club Hull KR wants to retitle a road in honour of a former player who helped Manly win the 1976 grand final.
The club’s home, Craven Park, is located on Poorhouse Lane but Hull City Council has been asked to rename it Phil Lowe Way.
Lowe, who died in March aged 74, scored a try in the Sea Eagles’ 13-10 win over Parramatta in the ’76 decider. The council will meet on November 12.
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Originally published as NRL 2024: 30 most dramatic grand final moments since 1975 ranked | Bulldog’s Bite
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