From Benji Marshall’s flick pass in the 2005 decider to Sam Burgess’ heroics with a broken cheekbone in 2014 and Johnthan Thurston’s extra time field goal in 2015, Grand Finals in the NRL era have had it all.
Since the NRL era began in 1998, there has been no shortage of memorable moments in the decider from match winning tries to match turning try-saving tackles.
Read on for the top 10 Grand Final moments from the NRL era.
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10. 2013: SBW PERFORMANCE
Sonny Bill Williams shocked the rugby league world when he returned from rugby union in 2013 to help guide the Roosters all the way to the Grand Final. However, things were not going to script for Williams or the Tri-colours as Manly shot out to a 18-8 lead with half an hour to play. But Williams helped inspire a combeack with a game high 156 run metres, five tackle busts, three offloads, a linebreak, a linebreak assist and 26 tackles in a tireless display from the back-rower. The Roosters scored three unanswered tries to Aiden Guerra, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Michael Jennings to steal the premiership from under Manly’s noses. Daly Cherry-Evans may have won the Clive Churchill medal, but many experts believe Williams was far more deserving for inspiring the second half fightback, but clinching the Roosters’ first title in 11 years was just reward.
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9. 2021: CHRICHTON INTERCEPT AS PANTHERS BREAK DROUGHT
The Panthers were red hot favourites for the 2021 title, but with 13 minutes to play the scores were locked at 8-8 with Souths on the attack and with an overlap down the left-hand-side. Souths playmaker Cody Walker went for a cutout pass to try and put Alex Johnston away for a try that would have given Souths a 12-8 lead with a kick to come. However, Stephen Crichton had other ideas and leapt high in the air to pluck Walker’s pass out of the sky and race away to score a match turning try. The sight of Nathan Cleary giving it to a clearly frustrated Walker as Crichton streaked away showed just how important the moment was to the result. Souths scored a late try to Johnston, but Adam Reynolds missed the sideline conversion at the Panthers held on for a drought-breaking first title in 18 years.
8. 2016: FIFITA’S TRY AS SHARKS BREAK DROUGHT
Jack Gibson famously said, “waiting for the Sharks to win a premiership is like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt.” It took a brilliant individual try form Andrew Fifita to finally snap Cronulla’s premiership drought in a nail-biting 14-12 win over the Storm in the 2016 decider. The Storm led 12-8 with 10 minutes to play before a rampaging Fifita carried five Storm players over in a herculean run to the line to dot down under the posts. James Maloney kicked the conversion to give the Sharks a two-point lead and despite the Storm throwing everything but the kitchen sink at them in the final stages, the Sharks held on to secure their first ever premiership title. Luke Lewis was a deserved winner of the Clive Churchill Medal, but many experts and fans believe Fifita was the rightful man-of-the-match. It matters little as Fifita will always be remembered for the try that snapped the Sharks’ 50-year title drought since their inception in 1967.
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7. 1999: STORM’S PENALTY TRY
The Dragons were red hot favourites for the title and led 14-0 at halftime as victory looked to be a formality before the Storm mounted a stirring comeback. Tries to Tony Martin and Ben Roarty got the Storm to within striking distance trailing 18-14 with five minutes to play. The Storm forced a goal line dropout, with halfback Brett Kimmorley then launching a bomb to Craig Smith’s wing. But Dragons centre Jamie Ainscough, anticipating a Melbourne try, caught Smith in a head-high tackle over the try-line, knocking him unconscious and causing him to knock the ball on. Referee Bill Harrigan eventually ruled a penalty try with Matt Geyer given a penalty from under the posts to give the Storm a 20-18 lead. The site of skipper Glenn Lazarus celebrating the Storm’s maiden premiership in just their second year with a cartwheel sticks strong in the memory bank, but the crucial penalty try that decided the result will never be forgotten.
6. 2018: CRONK PLAYS WITH BROKEN SHOULDER
Roosters coach Trent Robinson labelled Cooper Cronk’s grand final exploits “the toughest thing I’ve seen from an individual” after it was revealed the champion halfback played the 2018 decider with a broken scapula. Cronk suffered the debilitating shoulder injury in the preliminary final and was doubtful to even play before coming onto the field in jersey No.23 just before kick-off. Cronk was immensely brave in defence, but he proved the perfect decoy in attack allowing halves partner Luke Keary to star on his way to a Clive Churchill medal winning performance. The Roosters cruised to a 21-6 victory and Cronk was given an early mark to sit on the bench and soak up the final minutes of his side’s Grand Final victory with Robinson in awe at his side. Cronk may have been overshadowed by Keary, but his toughness inspired his side to a convincing victory in the first of back-to-back titles in his two years at the club. Robinson said Cronk had painkilling injections pre-game and at halftime. “It’s the toughest thing I’ve seen from an individual to go out there and play like that with a fracture like it was. It was incredible. Strong man,” Robinson said.
5. 2003: SATTLER TACKLE
Very few players in rugby league are remembered for a single tackle, but that is exactly what happened to Scott Sattler after his try-saving chase-down of Roosters winger Todd Byrne in the 2003 decider. Sattler had long and decorated career spanning 203 games, but his heroics in the Panthers’ 18-6 Grand Final win over the Roosters will never be forgotten. With the heavily favoured Roosters mounting a comeback Byrne broke free down the left touchline, but Sattler ran across in cover and mowed him down before dragging him over the sideline in a textbook tackle. It proved a pivotal moment and Penrith rode the wave of emotion surrounding the heroic tackle all the way to victory and a first title since their inaugural trophy in 1991. And Sattler joined his father John who won a title with a broken jaw for Souths, in Grand Final folklore.
4. 2014: BURGESS’ BROKEN JAW
With the first tackle of the 2014 decider Souths lock Sam Burgess shattered his cheekbone in a head clash with Bulldogs skipper James Graham. However, not only did Burgess not come off the field he played the entire game to lead Souths to a drought-breaking first premiership in 43 years. Burgess finished with 207 metres from 22 runs to go with two tackle busts, three offloads and 31 tackles in a performance that brought back memories of John Sattler leading Souths to a premiership with a broken jaw. And who could forget Greg Inglis sealing the win with a brilliant long-range try and trademark goanna celebration as the party began early. But Burgess was a worthy winner of the Clive Churchill Medal for inspiring the 30-6 victory in a performance that has gone down in folklore.
3. 2019: RAIDERS SIX AGAIN
Ricky Stuart doesn’t forgive at the best of times and he’ll never forgive the NRL for this absolute howler. In the 71st minute with the scores locked at 8-8, Roosters fullback James Tedesco appeared to drop a bomb and referee Ben Cummins called ‘six again’ as the ball found its way to Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson. But on the advice of assistant referee Gerard Sutton and touch judge Chris Butler, Cummins then changed his call back to fifth tackle. Hodgson passed to Emre Guler who then offloaded to Jack Wighton and the Raiders No. 6 took the tackle. Wighton was then dumbfounded when told to hand the ball over and protested that he’d seen Cummins motion six again. But it fell on deaf ears and on the ensuing set, Tedesco finished off a length-of-the-field try that proved the difference as the Roosters won it 14-8.
2. 2005: BENJI’S FLICK PASS
Wests Tigers whiz kid Benji Marshall took the NRL by storm in 2005 with such stunning creativity in attack that it ignited a new generation of rugby league fans. The Tigers charged into the grand final against the Cowboys and with the scores locked at 6-6 in the 35th minute, Marshall produced a moment that will live in NRL folklore for eternity. The star No.6 took the ball just five metres from his own line and quickly beat three defenders before racing down-field. Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen came across in the cover defence and in a split-second decision, Marshall delivered a perfect behind-the-back flick pass to his winger Pat Richards who scored one of the most iconic tries in grand final history as the Tigers surged home to a 30-16 maiden premiership win.
1. 2015: THURSTON FIELD GOAL
It was arguably the greatest grand final of all time, not just the in NRL era. The Broncos led 16-12 with 15 seconds left in the game when the ball landed in the hands of Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston on fifth tackle and 20 metres from the tryline. Thurston bounced off two defenders then threw it to No.6 Michael Morgan who skipped across the field, somehow drew in three defenders and then threw a miraculous one-hand flick pass to winger Kyle Feldt who scored in the corner. But the drama wasn’t done yet. Thurston lined up the sideline conversion and just as it looked to be bending back in, the ball crashed into the posts. Still, the drama wasn’t done yet. The Cowboys kicked off golden point extra time and Broncos halfback Ben Hunt dropped the biggest catch of his career. After the ensuing scrum on the 10-metre line, Thurston aborted field goal attempts on the first and third tackles before booting his club into the history books on the fourth to win it 17-16 and deliver North Queensland’s first premiership.
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11. 2004: ANDREW RYAN TRY-SAVING TACKLE
The Bulldogs trailed 13-6 at halftime, but two second half tries to Matt Utai and Hasem El Masri saw them lead 16-13. But with one minute left Roosters forward Michael Crocker made a break on the Bulldogs’ 40-meter line, but was tackled by stand in Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan, causing Croker to spill the ball. The desperate tackle from Ryan ended the match to give the Bulldogs their eighth premiership and first since 1995.
12. 2008: MANLY THRASH STORM 40-0
In a rematch of the 2007 Grand Final won 34-8 by the Storm, Manly ensured the perfect revenge with a stunning 40-0 thrashing of Melbourne in the 2008 decider. Playing in his 349th and final game, Manly legend Steve Menzies scored a memorable try in the 73rd minute to put the icing on the cake of the Sea Eagles’ first premiership in 12 years.
13. 2010: WAYNE DELIVERS DRAGONS TITLE
The Roosters led 8-6 at halftime in the Grand Final, before Wayne Bennett walked into the sheds and asked his players, “When are we going to start playing like St George Illawarra?” The Dragons came out in the second half scoring four tries to nil to blow the Roosters away and clinch a drought-breaking first title in 31 years.
14. 2009: FUI FUI MOI MOI TRY
The Storm led 10-0 at halftime and 22-10 with 10 minutes to play, before a stunning solo try from Fui Fui Moi Moi in the 72nd minute gave the Eels hope of a late comeback. A Greg Inglis field goal sealed a 23-16 victory for Melbourne as the Eels’ premiership drought continued, but Moi Moi’s try would go on Grand Final highlight reels for years to come.
15. 2002: STACEY JONES TRY
The Warriors may have been convincingly beaten in their maiden Grand Final appearance 30-8 by a Brad Fittler inspired Roosters side, but they took the lead at 8-6 early in the second half thanks to a stunning solo try from halfback Stacey Jones. The brilliant No.7 caught the ball deep behind the advantage line before stepping, jinking and weaving past multiple Roosters defenders to score one of the great individual tries in a decider.
