1986 Sydney Grand Final Review
Matthew O'Neill
Flashback to Sydney's only tryless grand final.
Compiled by: Matthew O'Neill.
Source: http://rleague.com/moments/1986sgfinal.htm
Comments from Canterbury-Bankstown fan Matthew O'Neill
As a nine-year-old getting right into the footy at that stage, I
still remember the 1986 grand final like it was yesterday. While I
can't remember every little thing that happened in the match, I do
remember it was one of the best ever grand finals and despite
knowing the Bulldogs winning in 1984 and 1985, the loss hurt and
still does and to this day. I've never watched a full tape of the
game since the day it was played, despite it being on par with the
1989 grand final as a classic encounter. I've seen many highlights
packages of the grand final and it was a very special match. Just
those last few seconds were very painful when Mark Bugden was
brought down inches from the line when he should have passed to ball
to Steve Mortimer.
Parramatta deserved victory, they were the better side and played
more enterprising football. Canterbury was a one-man show through
the mighty Steve Mortimer. He was sensational in defeat and his
personal duel with arch-rival Peter Sterling was a classic
confrontation. Both champion halfbacks played two of their finest
ever matches but so good was the defence, neither side managed to
score a try.
The 1986 grand final was pure Rugby League and it was where points
had to be earned and every point was like a pot of gold. There may
have been no tries scored but that was because the defence from
Parramatta and Canterbury was some of the best seen in Rugby League
history. I can still feel the tension from watching the 1986 grand
final in my lounge room as a youngster barracking for the Bulldogs.
I was on the edge of my seat and the whole day is something I'll
never forget. The grand final day started with the local donut truck
that went around our area selling blue and white donuts and settling
down to watch the big game next to my father who in 1986 was a
Parramatta supporter before I converted him over and a next door
neighbour. I remember both sides being introduced, I still remember
visibly when Terry Lamb was introduced to the crowd and then the
wait for captain Steve Mortimer to be introduced. Then the game got
under way, it was tense, it was tough and I was on the edge and
finally at finally the hurt of Canterbury losing was something that
shattered me as a youngster.
Parramatta went into half time leading 2-0 through a penalty goal to
Michael Cronin. Earlier in the half, the Eels had a try disallowed
to Brett Kenny. Seeing replays of the try, I always thought it was a
clear knock-on but after seeing another angle some 13-years later,
it looked a try to me. Just after half time, Parramatta bombed a
certain try when Grothe made a break down the sideline but to
stopped in cover by Steve Mortimer, he managed to pass to Kenny who
had Mark Laurie unmarked but was stopped just short of the line by
Andrew Farrar but still put the ball down over the line and was
correctly penalised for a double movement.
Not much later, captain Steve Mortimer sparked the Bulldogs into
action with a great run from dummy half, as he came to the Sterling
in the last line of defence, he chipped over the top but was taken
out of play by Sterling. Terry Lamb levelled the scores at 2-all
before Cronin edged the Eels in front with 17 minutes to go.
Canterbury lifted after Cronin's 2nd goal but were halted with 14
minutes to go when Phil Sigsworth was wrongly sent-off for an
alleged high tackle on Brett Kenny, following through a Steve
Mortimer grubber kick.
Canterbury piled pressure on Parramatta in the final 10 minutes but
could not crack the grand defence of the Eels. With three minutes to
go, a Canterbury played was held off the ball 35m out from the line
and right on touch. Lamb had a difficult penalty and the breeze
pushed the ball to the right. Then Canterbury got the ball right on
the Eels line with seconds to go but Bugden took the ball from dummy
half and was tackled. Steve Mortimer was screaming for the ball, he
was adamant Canterbury would have scored.
The Bulldogs went within one tackle and a few centimetres short of
victory. That is Rugby League, that what makes our game so special.
As a Canterbury fan, I'm still hurting to this day that they lost
such a game but proud of Canterbury for helping to make the 1986
grand final such a great and special match.
Parramatta were sensational in victory. They toughed it out with the
Bulldogs and after physical maulings from the Canterbury forward
pack in 1984-85, the Eels won revenge on them in 1986. Ray Price and
Michael Cronin called it a day from Rugby League, it was a very
touching moment when both champions were hoisted above by their
team-mates as full-time at the same time. Steve Mortimer was in my
view by far the best player on the ground, he kept Canterbury in the
match but his great rival Peter Sterling also had a great game and
with Parramatta winning, he deserved the Clive Churchill Medal as it
really should go to the best performer in the winning side. I can
also recall Price, hooker Michael Moseley and fullback Paul Taylor
having outstanding games for the Eels.
It was a special grand final, one to remember, a great battle
between the two super power clubs of 1980's decade where they won
four premierships each in a ten-year period. As I can't remember
every fine print detail of the grand final, I've also attached a
copy of the match report from the 1986 Big League Annual where it
was written by Peter Peters who in 1986 was part of the very
successful decibel duo combination with Greg Hartley on Sydney radio
station 2GB.
Match Report from 1986 Big League Annual
Written by: Peter Peters.
Parramatta ended Canterbury's reign as Winfield Cup Rugby League
premiers when they beat the Bulldogs at their own game in a tense,
dour grand final.
The 4-2 Eels victory was charged with emotion and high drama as the
two League heavyweights slogged out the game's first tryless grand
final since the big game was introduced in 1954. Champions in 1981,
1982 and 1983, the Eels won the 1986 crown on sheer courage, team
spirit and some large doses of Lady Luck when it mattered.
But the 1986 grand final will always be remembered as the final
curtain for two of the Eels favourite sons, Michael Cronin and
captain Ray Price. Both the champion warriors announced their
retirement at the end of the match. Cronin, after missing two
sitters early in the grand final, later kicked two penalty goals in
the swirling, near gale conditions. His second penalty goal, 23
minutes into the second half, is one Cronin and Parramatta fans will
never forget. It brought up his 2,000th grade point and turned out
to be a match winner.
Cronin and Price remained on the ground long after their team-mates
had gone to the dressing rooms to start victory celebrations. They
didn't refuse one request for a press, radio or television
interview. Both remained professional to their bootlaces to the
glorious end. Cronin was lucky he made the kickoff. He was stuck in
fog of the jammed F6 freeway (Wollongong to Sydney road) before a
Department of Main Roads officer directed him through a traffic jam.
Cronin missed two early easy attempts at goal and it wasn't until
the final minute of the first half that points were posted in the
match. The best side side won the title, capping a great year for
Parramatta.
Brett Kenny crossed the line twice but had both efforts disallowed
by referee Mick Stone. The first occasion, 18 minutes into the game,
Stone ruled that Kenny had lost the ball after going high to grab a
bouncing kick from Peter Sterling. Then, three minutes into the
second half, Stone ruled that Kenny had made a double movement out
wide after an Eric Grothe bust.
Canterbury played for the last 14 minutes with 12 men. Stone waved
fullback Phil Sigsworth from the field after an alleged high tackle
on Brett Kenny. Terry Lamb had a slim chance to send the match into
extra time for Canterbury when he took a penalty kick from out wide
with only three minutes to play. After looking on target, the wind
took the ball well wide of the posts and the champs from the
previous two seasons had to be content with runner-up medals. "I
know just know how Lamb feels," said Michael Cronin after the match.
Cronin himself missed several kicks in the 1977 grand final which
would have given the Eels their first title.
Canterbury refused to concede defeat with one-man short and were
attacking strongly when the full-time hooter sounded. Hooker Mark
Bugden had gone within centimetres of the line and was cut down in a
superb tackle by his opposition Michael Moseley.
Peter Sterling was named the inaugural winner of the Clive Churchill
Medal for the best and fairest player in the grand final. The award
could have gone to one of three or four players. Brett Kenny was
again superb when it mattered and prop Terry Leabeater had a mighty
match up front.
Canterbury captain Steve Mortimer was brilliant in both attack and
defence and by far his team's best performer. Parramatta coach John
Monie paid Mortimer a high tribute after the match. "If we didn't
have Sterling, then I would go for Mortimer - he's a wonderful
player," Monie said.
Match Statistics
PARRAMATTA EELS 4
Goals: Cronin 2 from 4.
Team: Paul Taylor, Mick Delroy (replaced by Tony Chalmers), Michael
Cronin, Steve Ella, Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Ray
Price (c), John Muggleton (replaced by Peter Wynn), Mark Laurie,
Terry Leabeater, Michael Moseley, Geoff Bugden.
defeated CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS 2.
Goals: Lamb 1 from 2.
Team: Phil Sigsworth, Andrew Farrar, Michael Hagan, Chris Mortimer,
Steve O'Brien, Terry Lamb, Steve Mortimer (c), Paul Langmack, Steve
Folkes (replaced by David Boyd), Paul Dunn, Peter Kelly, Mark
Bugden, Peter Tunks (replaced by Geoff Robinson).
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground. Crowd: 45,843 (capacity).
Date: Sunday September 28, 1986.
Referee: Michael Stone. Pen: Parramatta 13-8. Scrums: Canterbury
7-5.
Clive Churchill Medal: Peter Sterling (Parramatta).
paul
<mat...@rleague.com> wrote:
>Price and Cronin's grand exit - 1986
>Flashback to Sydney's only tryless grand final.
>Compiled by: Matthew O'Neill.
>Source: http://rleague.com/moments/1986sgfinal.htm
>
>Comments from Canterbury-Bankstown fan Matthew O'Neill
>As a nine-year-old getting right into the footy at that stage, I
>still remember the 1986 grand final like it was yesterday. While I
>can't remember every little thing that happened in the match, I do
>remember it was one of the best ever grand finals and despite
>knowing the Bulldogs winning in 1984 and 1985, the loss hurt and
>still does and to this day. I've never watched a full tape of the
>game since the day it was played, despite it being on par with the
>1989 grand final as a classic encounter. I've seen many highlights
>packages of the grand final and it was a very special match. Just
>those last few seconds were very painful when Mark Bugden was
>brought down inches from the line when he should have passed to ball
>to Steve Mortimer.
>
It's funny, but I watched this match too (on TV) , and yes it was
tough and uncompromising and incredibly exciting in the closing
minutes, but I always think of it amongst the worst of grand finals as
a spectacle. Lots of mistakes, brought about no doubt by the
uncompromising defence of both sides. The Dogs were quite ordinary in
attack in the first half, but grew more dominant as the match went
on, and I considered them to have been a little unlucky in the end,
with the way they dominated the final quarter of the game. But
Parramatta did somehow keep them out.
Also a premiership decided solely on penalties leaves me a little
cold.
>Parramatta deserved victory, they were the better side and played
>more enterprising football. Canterbury was a one-man show through
>the mighty Steve Mortimer.
The Canterbury forwards certainly did a mountain of work, although it
is true that Mortimer was their creator in attack.
(snip to save bandwidth)
>Parramatta went into half time leading 2-0 through a penalty goal to
>Michael Cronin. Earlier in the half, the Eels had a try disallowed
>to Brett Kenny. Seeing replays of the try, I always thought it was a
>clear knock-on but after seeing another angle some 13-years later,
>it looked a try to me.
I thought it was a pretty straightforward double movement.
(snip)
Excellent post. Keep these up.
>
paul x is the spam filter
Matthew O'Neill
>
> It's funny, but I watched this match too (on TV) , and yes it was
> tough and uncompromising and incredibly exciting in the closing
> minutes, but I always think of it amongst the worst of grand finals as
> a spectacle. Lots of mistakes, brought about no doubt by the
> uncompromising defence of both sides. The Dogs were quite ordinary in
> attack in the first half, but grew more dominant as the match went
> on, and I considered them to have been a little unlucky in the end,
> with the way they dominated the final quarter of the game. But
> Parramatta did somehow keep them out.
Mortimer and Sterling are two of the all-time greats. They both
produced their best but the defence was too good. No lotteries.
> Also a premiership decided solely on penalties leaves me a little
> cold.
Would have been nice to seen a try but the defence was way too good.
> >Parramatta deserved victory, they were the better side and played
> >more enterprising football. Canterbury was a one-man show through
> >the mighty Steve Mortimer.
>
> The Canterbury forwards certainly did a mountain of work, although it
> is true that Mortimer was their creator in attack.
I still think it was a one-man show. Steve rose to the occasion,
others were a tad disappointing. Lamb and Langmack who starred in
the final against Balmain didn't have their best games. Kelly's sin
bin was a farce.
I found Warren Ryan's comments in a book not long ago and he sure
ripped into Stone saying he was flooded with the Price-Cronin
emotion.
> >Parramatta went into half time leading 2-0 through a penalty goal to
> >Michael Cronin. Earlier in the half, the Eels had a try disallowed
> >to Brett Kenny. Seeing replays of the try, I always thought it was a
> >clear knock-on but after seeing another angle some 13-years later,
> >it looked a try to me.
>
> I thought it was a pretty straightforward double movement.
Kenny had two disallowed. The double movement one was a great
decision by Stone but that was in the 2nd half. Farrar made the
tackle IIRC.
But the 1st half was from a Sterling kick, Kenny appeared to knock
it on but the Footy Show showed a snip from the game many years
later and I said instantly it was a try.
> Excellent post. Keep these up.
My pleasure. I'll keep them firing in despite the gutter tactics of
others are employing to whipe these out.
Regards,
Matthew.
ICQ 1444514
Dion Williams
Matthew O'Neill wrote:
> It's funny, but I watched this match too (on TV) , and yes it was
> tough and uncompromising and incredibly exciting in the closing
> minutes, but I always think of it amongst the worst of grand finals as
> a spectacle.
No doubt from a conventional point of view it was. But for every 1989,
or 1999, there have to be games like 1986 that showcase top-level RL as
the pure strategic contest that professionalism can offer. Physical
chess it was, but no less worthy for that IMO.
Lots of mistakes, brought about no doubt by the
> uncompromising defence of both sides. The Dogs were quite ordinary in
> attack in the first half, but grew more dominant as the match went
> on, and I considered them to have been a little unlucky in the end,
> with the way they dominated the final quarter of the game. But
> Parramatta did somehow keep them out.
It seemed like their attacking and defensive resolve actually got
stronger after Sigsworth was sent off, playing like a thirteen man team
with only twelve. No doubt though in that last attacking raid inside the
last minute an extra set of hands might have been all that was needed to
breach the Eels' defence on their own line. Peter Sterling said in an
interview a while ago how he still watches the last ten minutes of this
game in a state of nervous terror. I'm not surprised.
> >Parramatta went into half time leading 2-0 through a penalty goal to
> >Michael Cronin. Earlier in the half, the Eels had a try disallowed
> >to Brett Kenny. Seeing replays of the try, I always thought it was a
> >clear knock-on but after seeing another angle some 13-years later,
> >it looked a try to me.
>
> I thought it was a pretty straightforward double movement.
The one I remember better was the second disallowed try to Kenny where
he jumped to take the ball over the line after Sterling had kicked
through. I still believe he lost control of it as his elbow hit the
ground but several replays couldn't confirm it for certain.
Dion
Matthew O'Neill
>
> No doubt from a conventional point of view it was. But for every 1989,
> or 1999, there have to be games like 1986 that showcase top-level RL as
> the pure strategic contest that professionalism can offer. Physical
> chess it was, but no less worthy for that IMO.
Nothing ever wrong with a game based on science and defence.
> It seemed like their attacking and defensive resolve actually got
> stronger after Sigsworth was sent off, playing like a thirteen man team
> with only twelve. No doubt though in that last attacking raid inside the
> last minute an extra set of hands might have been all that was needed to
> breach the Eels' defence on their own line. Peter Sterling said in an
> interview a while ago how he still watches the last ten minutes of this
> game in a state of nervous terror. I'm not surprised.
Sterlo also said on a net chat one night his remaining hairs stand
up thinking about that game.
I remember Mortimer's face after the game. He was shattered, he
played his heart out that day, he did Canterbury so proud and to
come so close was a terrible feeling. He took it hard, I'll have to
capture the image of it.
Mortimer (1986), Pearce (1989), Jack (1989), Geyer (1990) and
Thompson (1999) are the worst pictures to look at. It shows what a
tough game Rugby League is and how cruel it can be during the good
times. The year before in 1985, Mortimer was in tears of joy after
beating Queensland and Geyer in 1991 was uncontrollable in joy.
> The one I remember better was the second disallowed try to Kenny where
> he jumped to take the ball over the line after Sterling had kicked
> through. I still believe he lost control of it as his elbow hit the
> ground but several replays couldn't confirm it for certain.
Kenny had two tries disallowed, one in the first half and one in the
second half.
The first one was a kick by Sterling where Kenny appeared to knock
it on but one camera angle shows it was a try. The second one was a
break from Grothe but it was a double movement as Farrar made a
great tackle on him.
Parramatta are the only team to win a grand final without scoring a
try and to consider the Eels in the 1980's were a flamboyant side,
it's a great feat.
Regards,
Matthew.
ICQ 1444514
Nippo
for Peter Kelly dropping the knees into the back more than once.
It epitomises the *cancer* that was Warren Ryan in the 80's
You know - defence is the best form of attack.
Rugby League's darkest days : 84-86.
Warren Ryan!!!!
Nippo
Matthew O'Neill <mat...@rleague.com> wrote in message
news:38F67DA3...@rleague.com...
Matthew O'Neill
>
> I remember it as the most boring grand final ever &
> for Peter Kelly dropping the knees into the back more than once.
> It epitomises the *cancer* that was Warren Ryan in the 80's
> You know - defence is the best form of attack.
> Rugby League's darkest days : 84-86.
> Warren Ryan!!!!
I've got videos of many Bulldog matches. The football they played
wasn't boring. It was hard and tough no doubting that but never
boring. If you want to see boring, look at the 2000 Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs of 84-86 played percentages and brought science and
tactics into the game.
With Terry Lamb in the side, the Bulldogs forward domination
prospered because Lamb would always be on the shoulder of a forward
in support play. And Steve Mortimer always had a rabbit in his hat
and produced that mighty Mortimer Magic that made him the best
halfback to lace a boot.
Bulldogs mid-80's or Bulldogs 2000, I know which side played way
more exciting football.
Regards,
Matthew.
ICQ 1444514
David Lander
final score is 40-38.
As much as I hate the Dogs. I do respect the way they played during the
80's. I keep on watching tapes of the 1980's and everytime I see The
Original Guru in action it is amazing how much he son is like him. I know it
isn't fair to Grothe snr or jnr comparing the two but if you have seen both
in action it is near impossible not to.
"Matthew O'Neill" <mat...@rleague.com> wrote in message
news:38F6C11F...@rleague.com...
> Nippo wrote:
> >
> > I remember it as the most boring grand final ever &
> > for Peter Kelly dropping the knees into the back more than once.
> > It epitomises the *cancer* that was Warren Ryan in the 80's
> > You know - defence is the best form of attack.
> > Rugby League's darkest days : 84-86.
> > Warren Ryan!!!!
>
alan lambert
by reliving the 1998 semi between the same two teams.
This was a shocking loss. The Dogs were caned 9-3 in the penalties in the
first half, by Mick Stone and had one player sent to the sin bin (Peter
Kelly) and later had Phil Sigsworth sent off.
However, the bigger injustice was Sterling get the Churchill medal. Steve
Mortimer was just brilliant that day.
The only highlight of the game, was Peter Kelly continually smashing Ray
Price.
Matthew O'Neill <mat...@rleague.com> wrote in message
news:38F67DA3...@rleague.com...