National Rugby League season 2000
Encyclopedia
The 2000 NRL season was the 93rd season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the third to be run by the National Rugby League
. Fourteen teams competed from February till August for the NRL Premiership, culminating in a grand final
between the Brisbane Broncos
and the Sydney Roosters
.
who replaced Neil Whittaker in late 1999.
The season began in early February to accommodate the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games which were to be held during September and required the use of Stadium Australia, the grand final venue. The grand final was scheduled for late August, the first grand final in that month since 1963. The capacity of Stadium Australia for the grand final was limited due to preparations for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, which would take place just nineteen days later.
Throughout the month of February, mandatory breaks in play at the 20th and 60th minute of the game were implemented to allow players to rehydrate themselves. Due to concerns over the summer heat, the Brisbane
and North Queensland
clubs played their first four games away from home.
The Cowboys were stripped of two competition points after it was later revealed that they unwittingly used a fourteenth player for three minutes in their 26-18 win against the Parramatta Eels
, due to an error in interchanging players.
Melbourne Storm
players Stephen Kearney
and Marcus Bai
ended the career of West Tigers captain Jarrod McCracken
with a spear tackle. Kearney was suspended for 8 matches and Bai for 2 matches. The two men were also sued by McCraken, who won a six-figure damages bill.
The Canberra Raiders
and the West Tigers became the first teams to play a premiership game in the snow. It occurred at Bruce Stadium on the 18th May and it is the only premiership game played in these conditions.
(formed by the merging of the Balmain Tigers
and Western Suburbs Magpies
) and Northern Eagles
(formed by the merging of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
and North Sydney Bears
) in the National Rugby League. In addition, the South Sydney Rabbitohs
were excluded from the competition, thereby completing the NRL's rationalisation process from 20 teams in 1998
to 14 in 2000.
For the 2000 season, the Canterbury Bulldogs
changed their name once again, this time to the geographically indistinct "Bulldogs" and the Auckland Warriors were re-branded the New Zealand Warriors at the end of the season.
in 1995 the NRL used a major recording star in its promotional campaign and accessed a media budget that saw the launch ad shown regularly throughout the season. Sydney advertising agency VCD in the last of their four year tenure on the NRL account shot an ad with Tom Jones
performing on stage alongside hi-kicking female dancers, the 1993 Salt-N-Pepa
hit Whatta Man
with lyrics re-worked as "What A Game".
beat 2nd placed Sydney Roosters
32-8 at the SFS. It was nearly a similar story for Minor Premiers' the Brisbane Broncos
when they came from 20-6 down at halftime to win 34-20 against 8th placed Cronulla Sharks
in the 4th Qualifying Final at QSAC. Sydney also made a famous comeback when they came from 16-2 down at halftime to win 26-20 against the Newcastle Knights
in the 1st Preliminary Final at the SFS to earn a spot in the Grand Final against Brisbane.
The Brisbane Broncos
were favourites heading into the match with the Sydney Roosters
as underdogs. Brisbane were premiership favourites for most of the season after leading the competition every round since Round 4. It was their fifth Grand Final in nine years, while it was the first Grand Final appearance for the Roosters in twenty years.
Shane Webcke went into the match with a broken arm.
First Half
Sydney were unlucky not to have an early lead only 3 minutes in when Shannon Hegarty got over the line but good cover defence by Brisbane fullback Darren Lockyer stopped them from scoring. The Broncos opened the scoring with a penalty goal to Michael De Vere to make it 2-0 at the 12th minute. Four minutes later, Lote Tuqiri scored the first try of the Grand Final which was converted by Michael De Vere to make it 8-0 in Brisbane's favour. Michael De Vere extended his side's lead out to 10-0 in the 27th minute. The Roosters opened their scoring in the 35th minute with a penalty goal to Luke Phillips to make it 10-2 and it remained that scoreline until halftime.
Second Half
In the first minute of play after the break, Broncos five-eighth Ben Ikin got hit late with a high shot and went to the bench missing twenty minutes of the second half. Brisbane had a chance to go ten in front with a penalty goal but missed marginally. However the Broncos extended their lead to 14-2 when Wendell Sailor scored in the 55th but the conversion was unsuccessful by Michael De Vere. Craig Fitzgibbon got Sydney's first try of the match in the 70th minute to give the Roosters a glimmer of hope but the conversion was unsuccessful making the score 14-6.
Clive Churchill Medal
: Darren Lockyer (Brisbane)
When They Scored
12th Minute: Brisbane 2-0 (De Vere goal)
16th Minute: Brisbane 8-0 (Tuqiri try; De Vere goal)
27th Minute: Brisbane 10-0 (De Vere goal)
35th Minute: Brisbane 10-2 (Phillips goal)
53rd Minute: Brisbane 14-2 (Sailor try)
71st Minute: Brisbane 14-6 (Fitzgibbon try)
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. Fourteen teams competed from February till August for the NRL Premiership, culminating in a grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
between the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
.
Season summary
The 2000 National Rugby League season started with a new CEO in rugby union's David MoffettDavid Moffett
David Moffett is an executive businessman who was notably the Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union from 2002 until 2005 and Australia's National Rugby League from 1999 until 2001.-Biography:...
who replaced Neil Whittaker in late 1999.
The season began in early February to accommodate the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games which were to be held during September and required the use of Stadium Australia, the grand final venue. The grand final was scheduled for late August, the first grand final in that month since 1963. The capacity of Stadium Australia for the grand final was limited due to preparations for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, which would take place just nineteen days later.
Throughout the month of February, mandatory breaks in play at the 20th and 60th minute of the game were implemented to allow players to rehydrate themselves. Due to concerns over the summer heat, the Brisbane
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and North Queensland
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
clubs played their first four games away from home.
The Cowboys were stripped of two competition points after it was later revealed that they unwittingly used a fourteenth player for three minutes in their 26-18 win against the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
, due to an error in interchanging players.
Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
players Stephen Kearney
Stephen Kearney
Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team...
and Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai is a Papua New Guinean former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a winger, he played his final season in 2006 for English Super League team Bradford Bulls. He is the only man to win the World Club Challenge with three different clubs...
ended the career of West Tigers captain Jarrod McCracken
Jarrod McCracken
Jarrod McCracken is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s. He is a former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team and is the son of New Zealand rugby league international, Ken McCracken...
with a spear tackle. Kearney was suspended for 8 matches and Bai for 2 matches. The two men were also sued by McCraken, who won a six-figure damages bill.
The Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
and the West Tigers became the first teams to play a premiership game in the snow. It occurred at Bruce Stadium on the 18th May and it is the only premiership game played in these conditions.
Teams
The season saw the debut of the Wests TigersWests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
(formed by the merging of the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
and Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
) and Northern Eagles
Northern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
(formed by the merging of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
and North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
) in the National Rugby League. In addition, the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
were excluded from the competition, thereby completing the NRL's rationalisation process from 20 teams in 1998
National Rugby League season 1998
The 1998 NRL season was the 91st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the inaugural season of the newly formed National Rugby League. After the Australian Rugby League and Super League organisations ran separate competitions parallel to each other in 1997, they joined to...
to 14 in 2000.
For the 2000 season, the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
changed their name once again, this time to the geographically indistinct "Bulldogs" and the Auckland Warriors were re-branded the New Zealand Warriors at the end of the season.
Auckland Warriors Ground: Ericsson Stadium Mt Smart Stadium Mt Smart Stadium, formerly Ericsson Stadium, is a stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the home ground of National Rugby League team, the New Zealand Warriors... Coach: Mark Graham Mark Graham (rugby league) Mark Kerry Graham is a New Zealand retired rugby league footballer and coach. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.-Playing career:An Otahahu junior, Graham... Captain: John Simon John Simon (rugby league) John "Jack" Simon is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. His club career was spent with the Illawarra Steelers, Easts, Parramatta, Auckland and Wests Tigers. Simon also represented for Australia and for New South Wales in Origin... |
Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...  Brisbane Broncos 2000 The 2000 Brisbane Broncos season was the thirteenth in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2000 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season 1st to claim the minor premiership before going on to win the grand final, their fifth title in the last nine years.-Season summary:Brisbane... Ground: ANZ Stadium Coach: Wayne Bennett Captain: Kevin Walters Kevin Walters Kevin David Walters is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently the assistant coach for NRL club Melbourne Storm. He joined them from French club Catalans Dragons of Europe's Super League as their head coach. Before that he was head coach of the... |
Bulldogs Ground: Stadium Australia Coach: Steve Folkes Steve Folkes Steve Folkes is a former Australian rugby league test footballer and former coach of the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League... Captain: Darren Britt Darren Britt Darren Britt is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Canterbury Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition.... |
Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...  Ground: Bruce Stadium Coach: Mal Meninga Mal Meninga Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century... Captain: Laurie Daley Laurie Daley Laurie Daley OA is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of Indigenous Australian descent. He represented Australia on 26 occasions and has since been named as one of the nation's finest players of the 20th century... |
| Cronulla Sharks Cronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...  Ground: Shark Park Coach: John Lang John Lang (rugby league) John Lang is an Australian former rugby league football coach and player. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative hooker, he played his club football in Brisbane with the Eastern Suburbs Tigers and in Sydney with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters... Captain: Andrew Ettinghausen |
Melbourne Storm Melbourne Storm The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....  Ground: Olympic Park Stadium Olympic Park Stadium Olympic Park Stadium was a multi-purpose outdoor stadium located on Olympic Boulevard in inner Melbourne. The stadium was built as an athletics training venue for the 1956 Olympics, a short distance from the MCG, which served as the Olympic Stadium... & Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne Cricket Ground The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light... Coach: Chris Anderson Captain: Robbie Kearns Robbie Kearns Robbie Kearns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer in the National Rugby League competition whose senior career began with the Cronulla Sharks. He represented New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia in international matches. His position of choice was at Prop Forward... |
Newcastle Knights Newcastle Knights The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...  Ground: Marathon Stadium Coach: Warren Ryan Warren Ryan Warren Ryan is former rugby league football coach and player from Sydney, Australia. He is considered as one of the most influential coaches in recent times. Ryan also played 1st Grade Rugby League for the St George Dragons and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.... Captain: Tony Butterfield Tony Butterfield Tony Butterfield is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. A New South Wales State of Origin representative prop-forward, he started his club football career with the Penrith Panthers but played the vast majority of it with the Newcastle Knights, with whom he won the... |
North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...  Ground: Dairy Farmers Stadium Dairy Farmers Stadium The Willows Sports Complex, currently known as Dairy Farmers Stadium due to sponsorship rights, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has historically been used mainly for rugby league, and is the home ground of the National Rugby League club the North... Coach: Tim Sheens Tim Sheens Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos... Captain: Noel Goldthorpe Noel Goldthorpe Noel Goldthorpe is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s. He played most of his career in the halves for the St George Dragons... / Tim Brasher Tim Brasher Tim Brasher is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who played primarily as fullback. He began his career for Balmain Tigers, where he played the majority of his career. He then moved to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for two seasons, before finishing his career with a... |
| Northern Eagles Northern Eagles The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...  Ground: Brookvale Oval Brookvale Oval Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Warringah Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team... & NorthPower Stadium Coach: Peter Sharp Peter Sharp Peter Sharp is an Australian professional rugby league coach. He is currently the assistant coach of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Australia's National Rugby League.... Captain: Geoff Toovey Geoff Toovey Geoffrey "Geoff" Toovey is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional player of the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He was educated at Davidson High School... |
Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...  Ground: Parramatta Stadium Parramatta Stadium Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels... Coach: Brian Smith Brian Smith (rugby league) Brian Smith is an Australian coach and former player of rugby league football. He is the current head coach at the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. Smith played for St. George and South Sydney Rabbitohs , appearing in a total of 31 first grade games... Captain: Nathan Cayless Nathan Cayless Nathan Frederick Cayless is a retired New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer, who was a long-time captain the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. His position of choice was prop forward. He is also a former captain of the New Zealand national team, whom he led to... |
Penrith Panthers Penrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...  Ground: Penrith Stadium Penrith Stadium Penrith Stadium is a rugby league and soccer stadium located on Mulgoa Road, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.The 22,500 seat venue is the home ground for the Penrith Panthers who play in the National Rugby League... Coach: Royce Simmons Royce Simmons Royce Simmons is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player, currently the head coach of St Helens RLFC in the European Super League... Captain: Steve Carter Steve Carter (rugby league) Steve Carter is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin representative five-eighth, in Australia he played for and captained the Penrith Panthers, with whom he won the 1991 NSWRL Premiership... |
Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...  Ground: Sydney Football Stadium Coach: Graham Murray Graham Murray Graham Murray is an Australian rugby league player and coach. Murray is currently the High Performance Unit Director of Coaching at the Newcastle Knights.-Playing career:... Captain: Brad Fittler Brad Fittler Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales... |
St. George Illawarra Dragons Ground: WIN Stadium WIN Stadium Wollongong Showground is a rectangular multi-purpose stadium located in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium was officially opened in 1911. From 1982 until 1998 it played host to every home match for the Illawarra Steelers NRL team... & Sydney Football Stadium Coach: David Waite David Waite David Waite is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He has also coached Great Britain in the Rugby League Tri-Nations.Waite holds a British passport, courtesy of his father being born in Leicester.... & Andrew Farrar Andrew Farrar Andrew Farrar is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies, Wigan Warriors and Illawarra Steelers. Farrar also played for New South Wales in the State of Origin on several occasions and played for Australia in the 1988... Captain: Craig Smith Craig Smith (rugby league born 1971) Craig Smith is a former professional rugby league footballer. He formerly played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Illawarra Steelers, St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Newcastle Knights as well as representing New Zealand and Queensland... |
Wests Tigers Wests Tigers The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...  Ground: Campbelltown Stadium Campbelltown Stadium Campbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a rugby league stadium in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. It is the full time home ground for the Western Suburbs Magpies District Rugby League Football Club and is one of three home grounds for the Wests Tigers... & Leichhardt Oval Leichhardt Oval Leichhardt Oval is a football stadium in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia. It is a home ground for the Wests Tigers rugby league team. The stadium has a nominal capacity of 20,000, with recorded highest crowd figures of 23,000 in the 1981 KB Tooth final South Sydney Rabbitohs versus... Coach: Wayne Pearce Wayne Pearce Wayne John Pearce OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. An athletic Lock Forward for the Balmain Tigers, he was affectionately known as 'Junior'... Captain: Jarrod McCracken Jarrod McCracken Jarrod McCracken is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s. He is a former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team and is the son of New Zealand rugby league international, Ken McCracken... |
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For the first time since farewelling Tina TurnerTina Turner
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in 1995 the NRL used a major recording star in its promotional campaign and accessed a media budget that saw the launch ad shown regularly throughout the season. Sydney advertising agency VCD in the last of their four year tenure on the NRL account shot an ad with Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
performing on stage alongside hi-kicking female dancers, the 1993 Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, that was formed in 1985. The group, consisting of Cheryl "Salt" Renee James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper, was one of the first all-female rap crews....
hit Whatta Man
Whatta Man
"Whatta Man" is a 1994 single by Salt-n-Pepa and En Vogue from Salt-N-Pepa's 1993 album Very Necessary. It was issued by Next Plateau/London Records and produced by Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor. It also appears on En Vogue's Runaway Love EP...
with lyrics re-worked as "What A Game".
Records set in 2000
- Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
club record for their biggest ever win and most points in a game : 70-10 over St. George Illawarra Dragons in round 5. - Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
club record for their biggest ever loss : 50-4 loss to St. George Illawarra Dragons in round 18. - St. George Illawarra Dragons club record for their biggest ever win : 50-4 over Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in round 18. - North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
scored their first ever 50 points in a game: 50-10 over Northern EaglesNorthern EaglesThe Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
in round 8.
Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  BrisbaneBrisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... |
26 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 696 | 388 | 38 |
| 2 |  Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
26 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 601 | 520 | 32 |
| 3 |  NewcastleNewcastle Knights The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 686 | 532 | 31 |
| 4 |  CanberraCanberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... |
26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 506 | 479 | 30 |
| 5 |  PenrithPenrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan... |
26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 573 | 562 | 30 |
| 6 |  MelbourneMelbourne Storm The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria.... |
26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 672 | 529 | 29 |
| 7 |  ParramattaParramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 476 | 456 | 29 |
| 8 |  CronullaCronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales... |
26 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 570 | 463 | 26 |
| 9 |  St George IllawarraSt George Illawarra Dragons The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the... |
26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 576 | 656 | |
| 24 | ||||||||
| 10 |  Wests TigersWests Tigers The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs... |
26 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 519 | 642 | |
| 24 | ||||||||
| 11 |  BulldogsCanterbury Bulldogs The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions... |
26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 469 | 553 | |
| 21 | ||||||||
| 12 |  Northern EaglesNorthern Eagles The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000... |
26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 476 | 628 | |
| 18 | ||||||||
| 13 |  AucklandNew Zealand Warriors The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia... |
26 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 426 | 662 | |
| 18 | ||||||||
| 14 |  North QueenslandNorth Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 436 | 612 | |
| 12 | ||||||||
- North Queensland were stripped of 2 competition points due to a breach of the interchange rule in one game.
Finals
The biggest upset of the 2000 Finals series was in the 3rd Qualifying Final when 7th placed Parramatta EelsParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
beat 2nd placed Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
32-8 at the SFS. It was nearly a similar story for Minor Premiers' the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
when they came from 20-6 down at halftime to win 34-20 against 8th placed Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
in the 4th Qualifying Final at QSAC. Sydney also made a famous comeback when they came from 16-2 down at halftime to win 26-20 against the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in the 1st Preliminary Final at the SFS to earn a spot in the Grand Final against Brisbane.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
| Qualifying Finals | ||||||||
| Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... |
34–16 | Penrith Panthers Penrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan... |
4 August 2000 | Bruce Stadium Canberra Stadium Canberra Stadium is a facility primarily used for rugby league and rugby union games, located adjacent to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the capital of Australia... |
Steve Clark Steve Clark (referee) Steve Clark is a former Australian professional referee in the National Rugby League competition.- NRL career :Clark made his first grade debut in the match between Parramatta Eels and the Newcastle Knights, at Parramatta Stadium on 31 May 1992. In 2007 Clark reached the 300 first grade game... |
18,479 | ||
| Newcastle Knights Newcastle Knights The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
30–16 | Melbourne Storm Melbourne Storm The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria.... |
5 August 2000 | Marathon Stadium EnergyAustralia Stadium Newcastle International Sports Centre is a multi-purpose sports stadium located in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home ground of the Newcastle Knights and the Newcastle United Jets teams. It is owned by the New South Wales government and administered by the Hunter Region... |
Tim Mander Tim Mander Tim Mander is a former leading Australian rugby league referee. Mander controlled the National Rugby League grand final in 2004 and 2005... |
20,597 | ||
| Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
8–32 | Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
5 August 2000 | Sydney Football Stadium Aussie Stadium Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988, to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league, rugby union and football for major matches and domestic competition... |
Bill Harrigan Bill Harrigan -External links:**http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.html*http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.html*http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htm*http://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134... |
21,377 | ||
| Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... |
34–20 | Cronulla Sharks Cronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales... |
6 August 2000 | ANZ Stadium Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre , more commonly known by its former names ANZ Stadium or QE II, is a major sporting facility on the south side of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia... |
Paul Simpkins Paul Simpkins Paul Simpkins is a retired Australian professional rugby league referee, officiating in the Australian first-grade competition, National Rugby League. In addition to regularly working the NRL, Simpkins also officiated at the annual State of Origin tournament between Queensland and New South Wales... |
25,831 | ||
| Semi Finals | ||||||||
| Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
28–10 | Penrith Panthers Penrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan... |
12 August 2000 | Sydney Football Stadium Aussie Stadium Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988, to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league, rugby union and football for major matches and domestic competition... |
Bill Harrigan Bill Harrigan -External links:**http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.html*http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.html*http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htm*http://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134... |
25,746 | ||
| Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... |
10–38 | Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
13 August 2000 | Sydney Football Stadium Aussie Stadium Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988, to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league, rugby union and football for major matches and domestic competition... |
Tim Mander Tim Mander Tim Mander is a former leading Australian rugby league referee. Mander controlled the National Rugby League grand final in 2004 and 2005... |
16,441 | ||
| Preliminary Finals | ||||||||
| Newcastle Knights Newcastle Knights The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership... |
20–26 | Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
19 August 2000 | Sydney Football Stadium Aussie Stadium Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988, to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league, rugby union and football for major matches and domestic competition... |
Bill Harrigan Bill Harrigan -External links:**http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.html*http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.html*http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htm*http://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134... |
33,727 | ||
| Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... |
16–10 | Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
20 August 2000 | Stadium Australia Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... |
Tim Mander Tim Mander Tim Mander is a former leading Australian rugby league referee. Mander controlled the National Rugby League grand final in 2004 and 2005... |
31,087 | ||
| Grand Final | ||||||||
| Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two... |
14–6 | Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
27 August 2000 | Stadium Australia Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay... |
Bill Harrigan Bill Harrigan -External links:**http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.html*http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.html*http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htm*http://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134... |
94,277 | ||
Grand Final
| Brisbane | Position | Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Lockyer Darren Lockyer Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011... |
FB | Luke Phillips Luke Phillips Luke Phillips is an Australian professional rugby league football referee and former player. A goal-kicking fullback, he played for National Rugby League clubs the Sydney Roosters , Canberra Raiders, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys... |
| Lote Tuqiri | WG | Matt Sing Matt Sing Matthew Charles Sing is an Australian semi-retired professional rugby league footballer for the Central Comets in the Queensland Cup. His first grade career spanned much of the 1990s and 2000s... |
| Tonie Carroll Tonie Carroll Tonie Carroll is retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and New Zealand international representative utility, he played for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL... |
CE | Shannon Hegarty Shannon Hegarty Shannon Hegarty is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Jacksonville Axemen of the USA Rugby League... |
| Michael De Vere Michael De Vere Michael De Vere is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He represented Australia in four tests and New South Wales in five State of Origin matches... |
CE | Ryan Cross Ryan Cross Ryan Cross is a Rugby Union football player for Racing Metro 92 after signing from USA Perpignan in the French Top 14. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition, the Western Force and the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby.-Early career:Son of former rugby... |
| Wendell Sailor Wendell Sailor Wendell Jermaine Sailor is an Australian former professional rugby football player who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union – a dual code international. He is an Australian Torres Strait Islander.Sailor's large frame and bullocking style changed the way wingers played rugby... |
WG | Anthony Minichiello Anthony Minichiello Anthony Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who, to date, has played his entire career for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. He plays at fullback and on the Wing. Minichiello has represented New South Wales and Australia... |
| Ben Ikin Ben Ikin Benjamin Ikin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and former commentator for the Nine Network now employed by One HD... |
FE | Brad Fittler Brad Fittler Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales... (c) |
| Kevin Walters Kevin Walters Kevin David Walters is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently the assistant coach for NRL club Melbourne Storm. He joined them from French club Catalans Dragons of Europe's Super League as their head coach. Before that he was head coach of the... (c) |
HB | Adrian Lam Adrian Lam Adrian Lam is an Australian rugby league football coach and former international player. He is the head coach of the under 20 St George Dragons squad National Rugby League team he signed with them in 2010 and will combine with coaching legend Wayne Bennett.He is a former Papua New Guinea rugby... |
| Shane Webcke Shane Webcke Shane Webcke is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, who spent his entire top-grade career playing for the Brisbane Broncos. His position of choice was at prop forward and at his peak he was renowned as the best front rower in the world... |
PR | Ian Rubin Ian Rubin Ian Rubin is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s. He played the majority of his professional career for both the Sydney clubs in the National Rugby League the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs... |
| Luke Priddis Luke Priddis Luke Priddis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s... |
HK | Simon Bonetti Simon Bonetti Simon Bonetti is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Sydney Roosters... |
| Dane Carlaw Dane Carlaw Dane Carlaw is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He currently plays for the Brisbane Broncos in Australia's National Rugby League after spending three years in the European Super League competition playing for French side Catalans Dragons.-Early years:While attending Padua... |
PR | Peter Cusack Peter Cusack (rugby league) Peter Cusack is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with Hull in the European Super League. His position of choice is at prop... |
| Gorden Tallis Gorden Tallis Gorden James Tallis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played from 1992 to 2004. He captained Australia and Queensland as well as the Brisbane Broncos club, with whom he won three premierships and one Clive Churchill Medal... |
SR | Bryan Fletcher Bryan Fletcher Bryan Fletcher is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative second-row-forward, he played his club football in Australia with the Sydney Roosters then the South Sydney Rabbitohs... |
| Brad Thorn Brad Thorn Bradley Carnegie Thorn is a professional rugby union player. He has in the past represented Australia at rugby league, and currently represents New Zealand in union... |
SR | Craig Fitzgibbon Craig Fitzgibbon Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and... |
| Kevin Campion Kevin Campion Kevin Campion is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. His positions of choice were in the second row and at lock. Kevin is the younger brother of Australian radio personality Paul Campion... |
LK | Luke Ricketson Luke Ricketson Luke Ricketson is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and Ireland international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative back-rower, he played his entire club football career for the Sydney Roosters of the NRL... |
| Shaun Berrigan Shaun Berrigan Shaun Berrigan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Canberra Raiders of the NRL. Brother of fellow professional, Barry, Shaun has also played for the Brisbane Broncos, Hull and the New Zealand Warriors... |
Bench | Craig Wing Craig Wing Craig Wing is an Australian rugby union player. He currently plays rugby union in Japan. A former rugby league player for New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international utility player, Wing played for South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters.-South Sydney Rabbitohs:Craig Wing was a... |
| Ashley Harrison Ashley Harrison Ashley Harrison is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the NRL... |
Bench | Shane Rigon Shane Rigon Shane Rigon, educated at Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham, is a rugby league footballer who plays for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Rigon made his debut in the top grade in 1996 for the Roosters against the Eels and had a winning premiership with the Bradford Bulls in the European Super... |
| Michael Hancock Michael Hancock (rugby league) Michael John "Mick" Hancock is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative winger, he played in the Brisbane Broncos' 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grand final victories... |
Bench | Dallas Hood Dallas Hood Dallas Hood is a professional rugby league footballer who at club level has played for Sydney Roosters, and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, playing at , i.e. number 8 or 10.-External links:**... |
| Harvey Howard Harvey Howard Harvey Howard is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain, and England international representative , he played club football in England for Widnes, Leeds, Bradford and Wigan, and in Australia for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters, Western Suburbs... |
Bench | David Solomona David Solomona David Joseph Solomona is a professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League. He is regularly amongst the top off-loaders in the competition. Solomona also attended St... |
| Wayne Bennett | Coach | Graham Murray Graham Murray Graham Murray is an Australian rugby league player and coach. Murray is currently the High Performance Unit Director of Coaching at the Newcastle Knights.-Playing career:... |
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
were favourites heading into the match with the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
as underdogs. Brisbane were premiership favourites for most of the season after leading the competition every round since Round 4. It was their fifth Grand Final in nine years, while it was the first Grand Final appearance for the Roosters in twenty years.
Shane Webcke went into the match with a broken arm.
First Half
Sydney were unlucky not to have an early lead only 3 minutes in when Shannon Hegarty got over the line but good cover defence by Brisbane fullback Darren Lockyer stopped them from scoring. The Broncos opened the scoring with a penalty goal to Michael De Vere to make it 2-0 at the 12th minute. Four minutes later, Lote Tuqiri scored the first try of the Grand Final which was converted by Michael De Vere to make it 8-0 in Brisbane's favour. Michael De Vere extended his side's lead out to 10-0 in the 27th minute. The Roosters opened their scoring in the 35th minute with a penalty goal to Luke Phillips to make it 10-2 and it remained that scoreline until halftime.
Second Half
In the first minute of play after the break, Broncos five-eighth Ben Ikin got hit late with a high shot and went to the bench missing twenty minutes of the second half. Brisbane had a chance to go ten in front with a penalty goal but missed marginally. However the Broncos extended their lead to 14-2 when Wendell Sailor scored in the 55th but the conversion was unsuccessful by Michael De Vere. Craig Fitzgibbon got Sydney's first try of the match in the 70th minute to give the Roosters a glimmer of hope but the conversion was unsuccessful making the score 14-6.
| 14 | Brisbane Broncos |
|---|---|
| Tries | Tuqiri, Sailor |
| Goals | De Vere 3/5 |
| Field Goals | |
| 6 | Sydney Roosters |
| Tries | Fitzgibbon |
| Goals | Phillips 1/1, Fitzgibbon 0/1 |
| Field Goals | |
Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
: Darren Lockyer (Brisbane)
When They Scored
12th Minute: Brisbane 2-0 (De Vere goal)
16th Minute: Brisbane 8-0 (Tuqiri try; De Vere goal)
27th Minute: Brisbane 10-0 (De Vere goal)
35th Minute: Brisbane 10-2 (Phillips goal)
53rd Minute: Brisbane 14-2 (Sailor try)
71st Minute: Brisbane 14-6 (Fitzgibbon try)