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The 2002 NRL season was the 95th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fifth to be run by the National Rugby League

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...

. The New Zealand Warriors

New 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...

won their first minor premiership and made it to the grand final for the first time, playing against foundation club 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...

who won the match and collected their first premiership in 27 years.

Pre-season

In February, 2002, the National Rugby League's Director of Legal and Business Affairs, David Gallop

David Gallop

David Gallop is an Australian sports administrator who has been the Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League since February 2002. He has also been the Secretary of the Rugby League International Federation since its inception in 1998.-Early life:...

, was appointed Chief Executive Officer

Chief executive officer

A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...

of the NRL, succeeding David Moffett

David 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:...

.

The legendary Broncos and Maroons halfback, Allan Langer

Allan Langer

Allan "Alfie" Langer AM is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s who works as an assistant coach for the Australian national team and Brisbane Broncos...

, returned from England to play his final season of professional football with the Brisbane club. In doing so he became the NRL's oldest player for the 2002 season at 36 years and 60 days.

The return of South Sydney

Following the club's departure from the NRL after the 1999 season

National Rugby League season 1999

The 1999 NRL season was the 92nd season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the second to be run by the National Rugby League. Seventeen teams competed for the NRL Premiership during the season which culminated in a grand final between the first grand final played at Stadium...

, there was a continuing push from both fans and the wider rugby league community to reinstate 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...

into the NRL competition. After two unsuccessful years of lobbying, South Sydney finally received a court ruling in their favour in 2001. On 15 March 2002, the Rabbitohs opened the NRL season with a home match against long-time rivals, the Sydney Roosters

Sydney Roosters

, losing badly, 40-6.

It turned out to be a tough year for the Rabbitohs, winning only 5 matches from 24 played.

Teams

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... 15th season Brisbane Broncos 2002 The 2002 Brisbane Broncos season was the fifteenth in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2002 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season in third position before going on to again come within one match of the grand final for the second consecutive year.- Season summary :The... Ground: Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium... Coach: Wayne Bennett Captain: 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...	Bulldogs RLFC 68th season Ground: Sydney Showground Sydney Showground (Homebush Bay) The Sydney Showground is a purpose built venue used each year for the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Located at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, it was opened in 1998, as a venue for the 2000 Summer Olympics and to replace the ageing old Sydney Showground at Moore Park... 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: Steve Price		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... 21st season Ground: Canberra 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... Coach: Matthew Elliott Captain: Simon Woolford Simon Woolford Simon Woolford is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in the National Rugby League competition for the Canberra Raiders, captaining the side before moving to the St. George Illawarra Dragons. His usual position was at hooker...		Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 38th season 2002 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season The 2002 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 36th season in the clubs history.-Season summary:In the off-season the Sharks signed former Melbourne Storm premiership-winning coach Chris Anderson, who also brought along with him the halfback involved in that premiership, Brett Kimmorley.After a... Ground: Shark Park Coach: Chris Anderson Captain: Jason Stevens Jason Stevens Jason Anthony Stevens is a former professional rugby league footballer who represented his country and state. He primarily played at prop...
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.... 5th season 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... Coach: Mark Murray Mark Murray (rugby league) Mark Murray is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia in test matches and Queensland in the State of Origin. His position of choice was halfback... Captain: Rodney Howe Rodney Howe Rodney Howe , is an Australian former rugby league footballer. He played in the forwards for the Newcastle Knights, Western Reds, Melbourne Storm, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....	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... 15th season Ground: EnergyAustralia 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... Coach: Michael Hagan Michael Hagan Michael Hagan is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He currently works as assistant coach under Mal Meninga for the record-breaking Queensland rugby league team... Captain: Andrew Johns Andrew Johns Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...		New Zealand Warriors New 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... 8th season 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: Daniel Anderson Daniel Anderson (rugby league) Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:... Captain: Stacey Jones Stacey Jones Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield... & 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...		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... 8th season 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: Murray Hurst Murray Hurst -Early life:Hurst was born in Surat on a sheep and cattle property in the south west corner of Queensland and attended Marist Brothers College at Ashgrove in Brisbane... → 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: Paul Bowman
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... 3rd season 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: Steve Menzies	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... 56th season 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... 36th season Ground: Penrith Stadium 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: Craig Gower Craig Gower Craig Gower is an Australian-Italian professional rugby footballer. He is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia, and rugby union for Italy...		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... 93rd season Ground: Aussie Stadium Coach: Craig Coleman Craig Coleman Craig Coleman is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He primarily played at halfback and remains second on the list of most first-grade games played for Souths, 208.... Captain: Adam Muir Adam Muir Adam Muir is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with the Newcastle Knights , North Sydney Bears, Northern Eagles, and the South Sydney...
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... 95th season Ground: Aussie Stadium Coach: Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series... 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 4th season Ground: Kogarah Oval & 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... Coach: 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: Trent Barrett Trent Barrett Trent Barrett is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...		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... 3rd season 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: Terry Lamb Terry Lamb Terry Lamb OAM, is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played 349 games , with Wests , and Canterbury . Lamb was known for his support of the ball-carrier - his ability to be in the right place at the right time netted him 164 tries. This earned him the moniker... Captain: Darren Senter Darren Senter Darren Senter is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Balmain Tigers and Wests Tigers. Senter primarily played in the hooker position. He captained the Tigers from 1999 until 2004.-External links:*...

The salary cap breach

In mid-2002, the Bulldogs were found guilty of serious and systemic breaches of the salary cap

Salary cap

In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...

. NRL Chief Executive David Gallop

David Gallop

described the violation as "exceptional in both its size and its deliberate and ongoing nature". The club received a $500,000 fine, and was stripped of 37 of its 41 competition points accumulated up to Round 23. The latter action was particularly harmful, as the club were poised to take the Minor Premiership and had won 17 consecutive matches (the second highest in Australian club rugby league history at the time). The deduction of the 37 competition points made it impossible for the Bulldogs to finish any higher than 15th place, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs

South Sydney Rabbitohs

had already accumulated 12 competition points by the end of Round 24.

The stripping of the Bulldogs' points also enabled 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...

to make the finals with a points differential of -170, the poorest such record of any finalist in the competition's history. As well as this, the Raiders only won one game outside of Canberra for the entire season. It also enabled the New Zealand Warriors to secure their very first minor premiership in the club's history.

Advertising

In 2002, as in 2001, the NRL

National Rugby League

's advertising was handled by Saatchi & Saatchi

Saatchi & Saatchi

Saatchi & Saatchi is a global advertising agency network with 140 offices in 80 countries and over 6,500 staff. It was founded in London in 1970 but now headquartered in New York. The parent company of the agency group was known as Saatchi & Saatchi PLC from 1976 to 1994, was listed on the London...

Sydney.

As in the previous season, there was no big budget season launch advertising campaign. The NRL focussed on stretching its marketing spending throughout the season with newspaper ads promoting individual rounds and clubs, and with simple TV ads to promote key games.

Records set in 2002

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...

won 17 games in a row and had an unbeaten run of 18 games, the most in the club's history.
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...

were deducted 37 premiership points for a gross salary cap breaches, the most points deducted in premiership history. That left the club with just four competition points attained from the two byes earlier in the season. Four more competition points followed since the salary cap scandal, all from wins in the last two rounds of the season.
New Zealand Warriors
New 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...

won the club's first Minor Premiership in its 8-year history and also made it to their first Grand Final. It must be noted that, the Warriors were not in first place almost during the entire season, only taking top spot on the ladder at the conclusion of Round 26.

Ladder

The Warriors received A$100,000 prize money for finishing the regular season as minor premiers.

234
Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD
1	New Zealand New 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...	24	17	0	7	2	688	454
38
2	Newcastle 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...	24	17	0	7	2	724	498
38
3	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...	24	16	1	7	2	672	425
37
4	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...	24	15	1	8	2	621	405
35
5	Cronulla-Sutherland Cronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...	24	15	0	9	2	653	597
34
6	Parramatta 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...	24	10	2	12	2	531	440
26
7	St George Illawarra St 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...	24	9	3	12	2	632	546
25
8	Canberra 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...	24	10	1	13	2	471	641
25
9	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...	24	10	0	14	2	503	740
24
10	Melbourne 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....	24	9	1	14	2	556	586
23
11	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...	24	8	0	16	2	496	803
20
12	Penrith 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...	24	7	0	17	2	546	654
18
13	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...	24	7	0	17	2	498	642
18
14	South Sydney 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...	24	5	0	19	2	385	817
14
15	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...	24	20	1	3	2	707	435
8¹

¹Canterbury were deducted 37 premiership points due to gross salary cap breaches.

Finals series

To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre Final Eight System

McIntyre Final Eight System

The McIntyre Final Eight System was devised by Ken McIntyre in addition to the McIntyre Four, Five and Six systems. It is a playoff system of the top 8 finishers in a competition to determine which two teams will play in the Grand Final. The teams play each other over three weeks, with two teams...

.

Coincidentally, the finalists for 2002 were almost the same as the previous season

National Rugby League season 2001

The 2001 NRL season was the 94th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fourth run by the National Rugby League. The Newcastle Knights claimed their second premiership in five seasons, defeating minor premiers Parramatta Eels in the first ever night-time grand...

, with the exception of the 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...

being replaced by Canberra

Canberra Raiders

. Had the Bulldogs not been deducted competition points, they would have become the minor premiers and completed the replication, with Canberra moving down to 9th.

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Crowd
Qualifying Finals
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 – 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...	13 September 2002	Sydney Football Stadium	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...	25,366
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...	24 – 14	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...	14 September 2002	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...	Sean Hampstead	19,115
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...	22 – 26	St George Illawarra Dragons St 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...	14 September 2002	EnergyAustralia 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...	Bill Harrigan Bill Harrigan -External links:*http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.htmlhttp://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.htmlhttp://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htmhttp://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134...	21,051
New Zealand Warriors New 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...	36 – 20	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...	15 September 2002	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...	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...	25,800
Semi Finals
St George Illawarra Dragons St 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...	24 – 40	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...	21 September 2002	Sydney Football Stadium	Bill Harrigan Bill Harrigan -External links:*http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.htmlhttp://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.htmlhttp://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htmhttp://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134...	31,783
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...	38 – 12	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...	22 September 2002	Sydney Football Stadium	Sean Hampstead	23,816
Preliminary Finals
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...	12 – 16	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...	28 September 2002	Sydney Football Stadium	Bill Harrigan Bill Harrigan -External links:*http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.htmlhttp://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.htmlhttp://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htmhttp://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134...	28,251
New Zealand Warriors New 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...	16 – 10	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...	29 September 2002	Telstra Stadium 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...	45,782
Grand Final
New Zealand Warriors New 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...	8 – 30	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...	6 October 2002	Telstra Stadium 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.htmlhttp://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.htmlhttp://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htmhttp://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134...	80,130

Grand final

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...	Position	New Zealand Warriors New 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...
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...	FB	Ivan Cleary Ivan Cleary Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success...
Brett Mullins Brett Mullins Brett Mullins is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and early 2000s. He played for the Canberra Raiders between the years 1990 and 2000. He also represented New South Wales and Australia national rugby league team during his career. He is the son of former...	WG	Justin Murphy Justin Murphy (rugby league) -Playing career:Murphy joined the Catalans Dragons club at the end of 2004 when the club was in the national French competition. He quickly established himself as one of the better players, topping the try scoring charts and helping the club become the first French team to go through a season...
Shannon Hegarty Shannon Hegarty Shannon Hegarty is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Jacksonville Axemen of the USA Rugby League...	CE	John Carlaw John Carlaw John Carlaw is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s...
Justin Hodges Justin Hodges Justin Hodges is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League...	CE	Clinton Toopi Clinton Toopi Clinton Toopi is a professional rugby footballer who is currently playing for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. His usual position is centre.-Playing career:...
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...	WG	Francis Meli Francis Meli Francis Meli is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented both New Zealand and Samoa in internationals. His usual position is on the wing....
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)	FE	Motu Tony Motu Tony Iosefo Motu Tony is a Samoan-New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and previously played for Hull and Whitehaven...
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...	HB	Stacey Jones Stacey Jones Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield... (C)
Jason Cayless Jason Cayless Jason Paul Cayless is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative prop forward, he is the younger brother of Parramatta Eels great, Nathan Cayless. He played his club football for the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2002...	PR	Jerry Seu Seu Jerry Seu Seu Jerry Seuseu is a former professional rugby league player who represented New Zealand and Samoa. His position of choice was as a prop forward...
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...	HK	PJ Marsh PJ Marsh Peter-John "PJ" Marsh is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for a number of clubs in the National Rugby League. He has also played representative rugby league for Queensland in State of Origin. He is named after his uncle, Peter John Marsh, who was killed in a car...
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...	PR	Mark Tookey Mark Tookey Mark Tookey is a rugby league coach and former professional player. He primarily played at prop...
Adrian Morley Adrian Morley Adrian Morley is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League...	SR	Ali Lauiti'iti Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for English club Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League. Both a Samoa and New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played in the National Rugby League for the Warriors...
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...	SR	Awen Guttenbeil Awen Guttenbeil Awen Guttenbeil is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. Since retiring after a playing career spanning fifteen years, he now works as a broadcaster for Sky Network Television and as a presenter on Maori TV sports show, Hyundai Code...
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...	LK	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...
Chris Flannery	Bench	Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia is a New Zealand rugby league player, he currently plays for St Helens RLFC. In 2008 Hohaia was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team.-Early years:...
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...	Bench	Logan Swann Logan Swann Logan Swann is a former professional rugby league footballer who represented his country. Swann is related to several other rugby league players, notably cousins Willie and Anthony.-Early years:...
Michael Crocker Michael Crocker Michael Crocker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the NRL...	Bench	Wairangi Koopu Wairangi Koopu Wairangi Koopu is a professional rugby league player for the Pt Chev Pirates in New Zealand. Koopu primarily plays in the second row, although he also can play in the centres.-Early years:...
Andrew Lomu Andrew Lomu Andrew Lomu is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Canberra Raiders and for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League competition...	Bench	Richard Villasanti Richard Villasanti Richard Villasanti is an Australian former professional rugby league player. Villasanti previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Wests Tigers, the Balmain Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition and also for Australia...
Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...	Coach	Daniel Anderson Daniel Anderson (rugby league) Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:...

A pre-match performance by Billy Idol

Billy Idol

William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...

was cancelled due to power outage.

First Half

In the 23rd minute, Sydney opened the scoring with a try to Shannon Hegarty with Craig Fitzgibbon converting taking Sydney to a 6-0 lead. Not long after, Ivan Cleary got New Zealand on the board with a penalty goal making the score 6-2, which remained that scoreline until halftime.

Second Half

In the 46th minute, New Zealand took the lead for the first time through a Stacey Jones try and a Ivan Cleary conversion taking the scoreline to 8-6. Approaching the 60th minute, Sydney regained the lead with Craig Wing scoring the try and Craig Fitgibbon converting another to make the score 12-8 after a spectacular 40/20 kick from Sydney captain Brad Fittler. In the last 15 minutes Craig Fitzgibbon, Chris Flannery and Bryan Fletcher scored tries for Sydney with Craig Fizgibbon converting all three to take Sydney to a 30-8 win. By winning the grand final the Roosters also received $400,000 in prize money.

30	Sydney Roosters
Tries	1 Hegarty 1 Wing 1 Fitzgibbon 1 Flannery 1 Fletcher
Goals	5/5 Fitzgibbon
Field Goals
8
Tries	1 Jones
Goals	2/2 Cleary
Field Goals

Half Time: 6 – 2

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...

ist: 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...

Referee: Bill Harrigan

Venue: Telstra Stadium, Sydney

Attendance: 80,130

Scoring timeline

23rd Minute: Sydney 6-0 (Hegarty try; Fitzgibbon goal)

29th Minute: Sydney 6-2 (Cleary goal)

46th Minute: New Zealand 8-6 (Jones try; Cleary goal)

58th Minute: Sydney 12-8 (Wing try; Fitzgibbon goal)

65th Minute: Sydney 18-8 (Fitzgibbon try; Fitzgibbon goal)

71st Minute: Sydney 24-8 (Flannery try; Fitzgibbon goal)

75th Minute: Sydney 30-8 (Fletcher try; Fitzgibbon goal)