Top 10 Most Memorable Grand Finals - Number 3
March 27th 2011 06:48
Top 10 Most Memorable Grand Finals
Number 3
1997: Newcastle Knights verses Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
On the Super League side, it was the Brisbane Broncos that dominated. They took the only ever Super League Premiership against the Cronulla Sharks and also won the World Club Challenge against the Hunter Mariners.
But despite the Broncos’ winning ways and some of the unique changes that Super League adopted, in the hearts and minds of many Rugby League fans the true Premiership was that of the ARL. After all, the ARL was the traditional competition that had existed since 1908. It featured many of the traditional clubs that had shaped the illustrious history of the code.
Not only that, the Super League Grand Final was played one week prior to that of the ARL decider, allowing fans to focus their attention upon the big game; adding greatly to the spectacle.
Like they had done in the two seasons prior, it was the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles that dominated; finishing as Minor Premiers behind Newcastle, Parramatta and North Sydney. Coached by Bob Fulton, Manly enjoyed the likes of Geoff Toovey, Terry Hill, David Gillsepie, Mark Carroll, Nik Kosef, Cliff Lyons and Steve Menzies, among others, in a stellar line up.
For the Knights, it had already been an ultra successful year after finishing second in the regular season. Up until that point, the Knights had performed well since their inception in 1988, but were not considered to be a serious Premiership threat. Their roster boasted a young and talented side, but when compared to more established sides such as Manly, their chances were viewed as minimal.
In hindsight however, they had a stellar line up. The Knights possessed talent that would go on to be some of the greatest players in the code. With the likes of Robbie O’Davis, Darren Albert, Adam MacDougall, Owen Craigie, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, Tony Butterfield, Paul Harragon, Adam Muir and Marc Glanville the Knights had as good a team you could put on paper as any.
Irrespective of their somewhat dormant talents, the Knights still faced an uphill battle when facing the reigning Premiers in the Sea Eagles. Not only had Manly beaten them two weeks earlier in the Major Qualifying Final, the Sea Eagles had put the sword to the Knights in the previous ten encounters between the teams, for an impressive winning streak.
As always with Grand Finals however, statistics equated to nothing on that big day in September.
From even before kick-off, the game promised fireworks as Manly and Newcastle were already fierce opponents. In particular, the rivalry between Manly’s Mark Carroll and Newcastle captain Paul Harragon now lives in Rugby League folklore. It did not take long for the two big behemoths to clash.
In only the second minute, the two came together after Carroll instantly reacted to a shot placed on Manly captain Geoff Toovey by Harragon. In their on-going battle alone, the stage was set for an explosive and unpredictable match-up.
In keeping with the expectations of the day, Manly showed their class in scoring first with a try to John Hopoate. In celebrating, Hopoate got into Robbie O’Davis’ face and mocked the Knights fullback in a move that ultimately would leave the Manly winger red-faced later in the day. O’Davis would have his revenge and the last laugh.
Manly did not have it all their way though, when in the 13th minute Geoff Toovey was steamrolled and left the field with a concussion. He was replaced by the wily legend Cliff Lyons and the Sea Eagles went on to score another try with a thrilling left-hand side movement that started 55-metres out.
Two tries down, Newcastle entered the scoring with a penalty goal and then a scintillating try by Robbie O’Davis who was beginning to wind up for a stellar performance. Manly hit back in the 38th minute as Cliff Lyons injected himself into the play, sending fullback Shannon Nevin over to score on the back of a Paul Harragon mistake for a 16-8 halftime lead.
After the break, Geoff Toovey attracted punishment again when he was stomped on by Adam MacDougall in a sickening incident. Manly did not relent though and went within inches of scoring and securing the Premiership when Steve Menzies charged towards the line, only to be repelled by Knights replacement Troy Fletcher.
The try-saving effort proved pivotal as the Knights were the next to score through a penalty goal by Andrew Johns, bringing the Novocastrians within one converted try. By this stage however, Manly had adopted a conservative approach in holding on to their lead which proved detrimental.
With less than 20 minutes to go, Manly were awarded a penalty 32 metres out after a swinging arm by Harragon. The option to kick, taken by the Sea Eagles, was poor in hindsight as Nevin missed in the swirling breeze. Catching the attempt, Newcastle winger Darren Albert returned the ball with a 40 metre run as the tide surely began to turn.
Despite Manly mounting some pressure over the next ten minutes, the Knights held firm and resisted the Sea Eagles’ fleeting attempts. Feeding off the pressure, the Knights began to roll over Manly and the hopes of the coal city intensified.
Again it was Robbie O’Davis who injected his magic into the contest, spinning determinedly through the scurrying Manly defence to score under the posts with five minutes remaining. As Andrew Johns converted, the scores drew level and the possibility of a Newcastle victory seemed plausible for the first time in the game.
In true Grand Final spirit, the contest looked set to go to extra time. After three years of the Super League War and the devastation bequeathed upon Rugby League, the 1997 season was set for a grandstand finish.
The true tale of courage from the day belonged to Andrew Johns. Only a week earlier, the legendary Knights half-back had suffered damaged ribs and a perforated lung. Upon checking himself out of hospital however, Johns insisted on playing and turned in a memorable performance.
Despite showing clear signs to distress, he came to the sideline and had begun making his way up the tunnel when he received a message from Newcastle coach Malcolm Reilly. The former Sea Eagle and British international ordered his half-back onto the field in a move that proved vital to the Knights chances.
Hiding his distress on the field, Johns stood at dummy-half with only seconds left on the clock. With Newcastle heavily on the attack and the Manly defence scattered, his brother Matthew shouted for the ball to be thrown in-field for a field goal attempt. Showing his greatness and foresight in the most dramatic way, Andrew resisted his brother’s urgings and instead scurried to the blind side from dummy-half.
In a move that mystified most of his team-mates, the play also mystified the Sea Eagles defence as he stood in a tackle and sent a timely pass to charging winger Darren Albert.
What transpired is an image that has been replayed over and over since, as Albert scurried through a gaping hole and continued untouched to score under the posts. The try created scenes of euphoria as the coal city erupted and Albert’s fellow Knights players converged upon him in celebration. The scene prompted broadcaster Ray Warren to famously proclaim; ‘Newcastle - have won - the Grand Final!’
In a play that shattered the Manly faithful, the Albert try is surely one of the most memorable moments in all Rugby League history, let alone Grand Finals. Furthermore, Newcastle’s come-from-behind win was undoubtedly inspirational and a true Rugby League fairytale. The victory was a massive morale boost for the Newcastle district, who had been suffering after the BHP steelworks had announced its closure earlier in the year.
More importantly, the epic battle between the Knights and Sea Eagles is said to be the ‘game that saved the game’. Rugby League Week went on to say that it had given the code a ‘kiss of life’ as 25,000 people in Newcastle took to the street in celebration.
Ultimately it was a turning point in three years of struggle for Rugby League. It prompted the governing bodies of the ARL and Super League to come together and strike a peace deal which saw the establishment of the NRL.
Newcastle would go on to win another Premiership in 2001, but their historic first Premiership victory in 1997 will never be forgotten.
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