New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1978
Encyclopedia
The 1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership
was the seventy-first season of Sydney
's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final
between the Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs that was drawn and had to be re-played. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1978 Amco Cup
.
Mick Cronin
set a new record for most points scored by an individual in Australian club rugby league history with his tally of 282 points from 25 games in 1978. This record would stand for another twenty years. He also broke Arthur Oxford
's 1920 record for consecutive goals with 26 in a row.
The 1978 season's Rothmans Medal
list was Parramatta
centre Mick Cronin
. Rugby League Week
gave their player of the year award to Parramatta forward Geoff Gerard
.
The 1978 season was also the last in the playing career of future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
inductee, Ron Coote
.
The second week of finals saw Manly come from 13-3 behind Parramatta to draw 13-all in the semi-final requiring a mid-week replay. Again in that match Parramatta led (11-2 this time), before Manly stormed home with three late tries in ten minutes to win 17-11.
Manly then had to back up a few days later to play a fresh Wests side in the Preliminary Final. Thus far the Magpies had only played one final to Manly's three. Wests had two tries disallowed by referee Greg Hartley
. Manly coach Frank Stanton
somehow coaxed a courageous effort out of his exhausted players and on field, five-eighth Alan Thompson was inspirational as they triumphed 14-7 and reached the Grand Final.
In the Grand Final, Cronulla went to a 9-4 lead in the second half before Manly came back to hit the front 11-9. A Steve Rogers penalty squared it at 11-all but he then missed a desperate late field-goal attempt and at full time the scores remained locked. For the second consecutive season the weary Grand Finalists were required to play a mid-week rematch three days later.
Manly 11 (Tries: Mooney. Goals: Eadie.)
Cronulla 11 (Tries: Edmonds. Goals: Rogers 4.)
The Tuesday rematch in front of 33,500 was Manly's sixth game in twenty-four days. It was the second Grand Final in a row to end up going into a mid-week replay with the 1977 Grand Final also needing a re-match to decide the Premiers.
In the first half Cronulla had no answer to Graham Eadie's blind-side bursts. His display completely routed the hapless Sharks and Manly went to the break holding a 15-0 lead.
The only points in the second half came from a field goal by Eadie.
In the replay, as throughout their extraordinary finals campaign, Manly were inspired by the leadership of captain Max Krilich and coach Frank Stanton, their iron-man Terry Randall, their cool five eighth Alan Thompson and classy fullback Graham Eadie.
As of the 2007 NRL season
no player since Eadie has scored the combination of a try, a goal and a field-goal in a Grand Final
.
The refereeing of Greg "Hollywood" Hartley in the replay attracted criticism from coaches Roy Masters, Jack Gibson
and Terry Fearnley
, all of whom appealed to the NSWRFL to prohibit Hartley from refereeing their clubs' matches the following season.
Manly-Warringah 16 (Tries: Gartner 2, Eadie. Goals: Eadie 3. Field Goal: Eadie.)
Cronulla-Sutherland 0
Man-of-the-match: Graham Eadie
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
was the seventy-first season of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated 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 Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs that was drawn and had to be re-played. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1978 Amco Cup
1978 Amco Cup
-Format:The competition was again played as a straight knock-out, but some teams received byes through to the second, third or even fourth round.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Quarter finals:-Semi finals:-Final:-Sources:...
.
Season summary
This season video citing was introduced for incidents of foul play that are not detected on the field. Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, resulting in a top five of Western Suburbs, Cronulla-Sutherland, Manly-Warringah, Parramatta and Canterbury-Bankstown who battled it out in the finals.Mick Cronin
Mick Cronin (rugby league)
Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982...
set a new record for most points scored by an individual in Australian club rugby league history with his tally of 282 points from 25 games in 1978. This record would stand for another twenty years. He also broke Arthur Oxford
Arthur Oxford
Arthur Oxford was an Australian rugby league footballer, a state and national representative whose club career was played with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 1915 to 1929....
's 1920 record for consecutive goals with 26 in a row.
The 1978 season's Rothmans Medal
Rothmans Medal
The Rothmans Medal was the premier individual award in both the New South Wales Rugby League and Brisbane Rugby League competitions, and later in the Australian Rugby League, which was given to the player voted by referees as the best and fairest in those competitions for that year.The award was...
list was 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...
centre Mick Cronin
Mick Cronin (rugby league)
Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982...
. Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week is the second highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, behind major competitor Big League...
gave their player of the year award to Parramatta forward Geoff Gerard
Geoff Gerard
Geoff Gerard is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with Sydney clubs Parramatta, Manly-Warringah and Penrith, and also spent time with Engish clubs...
.
The 1978 season was also the last in the playing career of future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame
The Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at rugby league, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game who are Australian...
inductee, Ron Coote
Ron Coote
Ron Coote AM is an Australian former representative rugby league player whose club career was played with the South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs, both of whom he won premierships with. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century...
.
Teams
| 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...  Ground: 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: Ron Willey Ron Willey Ron Willey was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative for the Australian national side. Post-playing, Willey had a long and successful first grade and State representative coaching career.-Club career:... Captain: Trevor Ryan |
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Ground: Belmore Sports Ground Belmore Sports Ground Belmore Sports Ground, formerly known as Belmore Oval, is a multi-purpose stadium in Belmore, New South Wales, Australia. The park covers and from 1951 has contained the Belmore Bowling Recreation Club green. It is close to Belmore railway station.... Coach: Ted Glossop Ted Glossop Ted Glossop was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the St. George Dragons then went on to become a first-grade coach with Cronulla-Sutherland, Canterbury-Bankstown and St. George.... Captain: George Peponis George Peponis Dr George Peponis is a former rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side. He was the first player born outside Australia to captain the Australian rugby league team... |
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 1978 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season The 1978 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks season was the 12th in the club's history. They competed in the NSWRFL's 1978 Premiership and finished 2nd . They then went on to reach the grand final against Manly-Warringah, which had to be replayed and was ultimately lost. The Sharks also competed in the 1978... Ground: Endeavour Field Coach: Norm Provan Norm Provan Norm "Sticks" Provan is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. A giant of a man, he was a second-row forward with the St. George Dragons during their 11-year consecutive premiership-winning run from 1956 to 1966... Captain: Greg Pierce Greg Pierce Greg Pierce is an Australian rugby league identity - a former player and coach and a current administrator. He played at Lock forward for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League competition and for Australian national side... |
Eastern Suburbs 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 Sports Ground Sydney Sports Ground The Sydney Sports Ground was a Stadium and Dirt track racing venue in Sydney, New South Wales. The ground was located where the car park of the Sydney Football Stadium currently sits. The ground had two main grandstands and was surrounded by a grass covered hill, giving it a capacity of more than... Captain-Coach: Arthur Beetson Arthur Beetson Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best... |
| 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...  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... Coach: Frank Stanton Frank Stanton (rugby league) Frank "Biscuits" Stanton is an Australian former rugby league player and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles... Captain: Terry Randall Terry Randall Terry "Igor" Randall is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played for the Manly-Warringah club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. He also represented New South Wales and Australia... |
Newtown Jets Newtown Jets The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...  Ground: Henson Park Coach: John Raper Captain: Barry Wood Barry Wood Barry Wood is an English former cricketer, who played twelve Tests for England as an opening batsman, as well as thirteen One Day Internationals... |
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...  Ground: North Sydney Oval North Sydney Oval -Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground... Captain-Coach: Bill Hamilton |
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: Cumberland Oval Coach: Terry Fearnley Terry Fearnley Terry Fearnley is an Australian former rugby league footballer and later coach. He was a long serving member of the NSWRFL's Eastern Suburbs team & , playing 144 matches for them at a bleak period in that club's existence. Injury kept him out of the 1960 grand final, one of the few successful... Captain: Ray Price |
| 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 Park Coach: Don Parish Don Parish Don W. Parish is an Australian former rugby league football player and coach. A goal-kicking fullback or three-quarter, he represented Australia and New South Wales, and played club football in the NSWRFL Premiership for Western Suburbs.-Playing career:... Captain: Ken Wilson Ken Wilson Ken Wilson, Kenneth Wilson or Kenny Wilson may refer to:*Ken Wilson , American sports broadcaster*Ken Wilson , Canadian minor hockey league general manager and owner... |
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...  Ground: Redfern Oval Redfern Oval Redfern Oval is a football ground located in Sydney suburb of Redfern, New South Wales. The South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Football Club played at Redfern Oval between 1948 and 1987... Coach: Jack Gibson Jack Gibson (rugby league) Jack Arthur Gibson OAM was an Australian rugby league identity – a player, commentator and most notably a coach... Captain: Paul Sait Paul Sait Paul Sait was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. A versatile Centre or running forward of the 1970s for the South Sydney Rabbitohs... →Darrell Bampton |
St. George Dragons St. George Dragons The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...  Ground: Kogarah Oval Coach: Harry Bath Harry Bath Harry Bath , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach who rose to prominence in the mid-Twentieth Century... Captain: Steve Edge Steve Edge (rugby league) Steve Edge is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. A New South Wales Blues representative hooker he played in the St... |
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...  Ground: Lidcombe Oval Lidcombe Oval Lidcombe Oval is a playing field in the Western Sydney suburb of Lidcombe, and is part of Wyatt Park. Situated in Church Street, on the northern side of the railway line, it has a capacity of more than 20,000 and is used mainly for football matches of various codes... Coach: Roy Masters Captain: Tom Raudonikis |
Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Western SuburbsWestern 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... |
22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 426 | 288 | 33 |
| 2 |  Cronulla-SutherlandCronulla Sharks The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales... |
22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 418 | 261 | 30 |
| 3 | Manly-Warringah 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... |
22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 427 | 287 | 30 |
| 4 |  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... |
22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 525 | 306 | 28 |
| 5 |  Canterbury-BankstownCanterbury 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... |
22 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 307 | 273 | 28 |
| 6 |  Eastern SuburbsSydney 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... |
22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 377 | 280 | 26 |
| 7 |  South SydneySouth 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... |
22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 298 | 300 | |
| 25 | ||||||||
| 8 |  St. GeorgeSt. George Dragons The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,... |
22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 367 | 354 | 21 |
| 9 |  BalmainBalmain 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... |
22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 337 | 344 | |
| 19 | ||||||||
| 10 | 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... |
22 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 206 | 463 | |
| 10 | ||||||||
| 11 |  North SydneyNorth 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... |
22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 325 | 439 | |
| 9 | ||||||||
| 12 |  Newtown JetsNewtown Jets The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season... |
22 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 199 | 577 | |
| 5 | ||||||||
Finals
Manly had finished the regular season in the relatively strong position of equal second with Cronulla, three points behind minor premiers Wests. However after Cronulla beat Manly 17-12 in the preliminary final, every game from that point was a sudden-death fixture for the Sea-Eagles.The second week of finals saw Manly come from 13-3 behind Parramatta to draw 13-all in the semi-final requiring a mid-week replay. Again in that match Parramatta led (11-2 this time), before Manly stormed home with three late tries in ten minutes to win 17-11.
Manly then had to back up a few days later to play a fresh Wests side in the Preliminary Final. Thus far the Magpies had only played one final to Manly's three. Wests had two tries disallowed by referee Greg Hartley
Greg Hartley
Greg Hartley is an Australian former referee in the New South Wales Rugby Football League competitions of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Hartley has been described as "perhaps the most colourful and controversial referee in football history"....
. Manly coach Frank Stanton
Frank Stanton (rugby league)
Frank "Biscuits" Stanton is an Australian former rugby league player and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles...
somehow coaxed a courageous effort out of his exhausted players and on field, five-eighth Alan Thompson was inspirational as they triumphed 14-7 and reached the Grand Final.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
| Qualifying Finals | ||||||||
| 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... |
17-12 | Manly-Warringah 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... |
26 August 1978 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Jack Danzey | 17,718 | ||
| 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... |
22-15 | Canterbury-Bankstown 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... |
27 August 1978 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Greg Hartley | 24,967 | ||
| Semi Finals | ||||||||
| Western Suburbs 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... |
10-14 | 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... |
2 September 1978 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Jack Danzey | 22,789 | ||
| Manly-Warringah 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... |
13-13 | 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... |
3 September 1978 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Greg Hartley | 30,850 | ||
| Manly-Warringah 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... |
17-11 | 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... |
6 September 1978 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Greg Hartley | 42,678 | ||
| Preliminary Final | ||||||||
| Western Suburbs 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... |
7-14 | Manly-Warringah 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... |
9 September 1978 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Greg Hartley | 27,345 | ||
| Grand Final | ||||||||
| 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... |
11-11 | Manly-Warringah 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... |
16 September 1978 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Greg Hartley | 51,510 | ||
| Grand Final re-play | ||||||||
| 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... |
0-16 | Manly-Warringah 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... |
19 September 1978 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Greg Hartley | 33,552 | ||
Grand Final
| Manly-Warringah | Position | Cronulla-Sutherland |
|---|---|---|
| Graham Eadie Graham Eadie Graham "Wombat" Eadie , is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s who has been named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century... |
FB | Mick Mullane Mick Mullane Mick Mullane, Jr. is an Australian former rugby league player, who was a member of the Cronulla Sharks rugby league team. Mullane played fullback, and played in the 1978 grand final.... |
| Tom Mooney Tom Mooney (rugby league) Tom Mooney is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s. He played in Sydney's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership as a winger for the Manly-Warringah and South Sydney clubs.... |
WG | Rick Bourke Rick Bourke Rick Bourke was an Australian rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Bourke played 10 seasons for Cronulla at fullback including scoring their only try in the 1973 grand final.... |
| Russell Gartner | CE | Steve Rogers (c) |
| Stephen Knight Stephen Knight (rugby) Stephen Oliver "Steve" Knight is a former representative Australian rugby league and rugby union footballer - a dual code international. He played as a winger or centre.-Rugby union:... |
CE | Dave Chamberlin |
| Simon Booth Simon Booth Simon Booth born 9 December 1971 in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England is a former rugby league player. He played for St Helens in the European Super League as a .-External links:*... |
WG | Steve Edmonds |
| Alan Thompson Alan Thompson (rugby league) Alan Thompson is a former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He primarily played at five-eighth.... |
FE | Barry Andrews |
| Steve Martin Steve Martin (rugby league) Steve Martin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative player at both state and international levels and played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Balmain Tigers... |
HB | Steve Hansard |
| Ian Thomson | PR | Paul Khan Paul Khan Paul Khan is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a state representative for both New South Wales and Queensland with his first grade club career played with the Cronulla Sharks.... |
| Max Krilich Max Krilich Max Krilich is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a hooker for the Australia national team, playing in 13 Tests from 1978 to 1983 and as captain on 10 consecutive occasions in 1982 and 1983... (c) |
HK | John McMartin |
| John Harvey John Harvey (rugby league) John Harvey is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s and coach of the 1990s. He played for Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs and coached the Gold Coast Seagulls and Salford City Reds... |
PR | Gary Stares |
| Bruce Walker Bruce Walker (rugby league) Bruce Walker is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian Kangaroos and Queensland State of Origin representative second-row or lock forward, he played club football in Brisbane with Eastern Suburbs before moving to Sydney to play with Norths and later... |
SR | Steve Kneen Steve Kneen Steve Kneen is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership competition. He was also selected on the 1978 tour to Britain with the Australian side but did not play in a Test... |
| Terry Randall Terry Randall Terry "Igor" Randall is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played for the Manly-Warringah club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. He also represented New South Wales and Australia... |
SR | Eric Archer |
| Ian Martin | LK | John Glossop John Glossop John Collings Taswell Glossop was an English-born naval officer best known for captaining the Australian cruiser during the Battle of Cocos in which the German cruiser was sunk.-External Links:* at Australian Dictionary of Biography... |
| Reserve | Rowland Beckett Rowland Beckett Rowland Beckett was an Australian rugby league player for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership competition; his position of choice was at hooker.... |
|
| Frank Stanton Frank Stanton (rugby league) Frank "Biscuits" Stanton is an Australian former rugby league player and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles... |
Coach | Norm Provan Norm Provan Norm "Sticks" Provan is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. A giant of a man, he was a second-row forward with the St. George Dragons during their 11-year consecutive premiership-winning run from 1956 to 1966... |
In the Grand Final, Cronulla went to a 9-4 lead in the second half before Manly came back to hit the front 11-9. A Steve Rogers penalty squared it at 11-all but he then missed a desperate late field-goal attempt and at full time the scores remained locked. For the second consecutive season the weary Grand Finalists were required to play a mid-week rematch three days later.
Manly 11 (Tries: Mooney. Goals: Eadie.)
Cronulla 11 (Tries: Edmonds. Goals: Rogers 4.)
Grand Final Replay
| Manly-Warringah | Position | Cronulla-Sutherland |
|---|---|---|
| Graham Eadie Graham Eadie Graham "Wombat" Eadie , is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s who has been named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century... |
FB | Rick Bourke Rick Bourke Rick Bourke was an Australian rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Bourke played 10 seasons for Cronulla at fullback including scoring their only try in the 1973 grand final.... |
| Tom Mooney Tom Mooney (rugby league) Tom Mooney is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s. He played in Sydney's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership as a winger for the Manly-Warringah and South Sydney clubs.... |
WG | Chris Gardner |
| Stephen Knight Stephen Knight (rugby) Stephen Oliver "Steve" Knight is a former representative Australian rugby league and rugby union footballer - a dual code international. He played as a winger or centre.-Rugby union:... |
CE | Steve Rogers (c) |
| Russell Gartner | CE | Dave Chamberlin |
| Simon Booth Simon Booth Simon Booth born 9 December 1971 in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England is a former rugby league player. He played for St Helens in the European Super League as a .-External links:*... |
WG | Steve Edmonds |
| Alan Thompson Alan Thompson (rugby league) Alan Thompson is a former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He primarily played at five-eighth.... |
FE | Martin Raftery |
| Steve Martin Steve Martin (rugby league) Steve Martin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative player at both state and international levels and played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Balmain Tigers... |
HB | Steve Hansard |
| Ian Thomson | PR | Paul Khan Paul Khan Paul Khan is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a state representative for both New South Wales and Queensland with his first grade club career played with the Cronulla Sharks.... |
| Max Krilich Max Krilich Max Krilich is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a hooker for the Australia national team, playing in 13 Tests from 1978 to 1983 and as captain on 10 consecutive occasions in 1982 and 1983... (c) |
HK | Rowland Beckett Rowland Beckett Rowland Beckett was an Australian rugby league player for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership competition; his position of choice was at hooker.... |
| John Harvey John Harvey (rugby league) John Harvey is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s and coach of the 1990s. He played for Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs and coached the Gold Coast Seagulls and Salford City Reds... |
PR | Peter Ryan Peter Ryan (rugby league) Peter Ryan is an Australian former rugby league and rugby union footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played ten seasons with the Brisbane Broncos and finished his career playing rugby union for the ACT Brumbies.Ryan attended Downlands... |
| Bruce Walker Bruce Walker (rugby league) Bruce Walker is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian Kangaroos and Queensland State of Origin representative second-row or lock forward, he played club football in Brisbane with Eastern Suburbs before moving to Sydney to play with Norths and later... |
SR | Steve Kneen Steve Kneen Steve Kneen is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership competition. He was also selected on the 1978 tour to Britain with the Australian side but did not play in a Test... |
| Terry Randall Terry Randall Terry "Igor" Randall is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played for the Manly-Warringah club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. He also represented New South Wales and Australia... |
SR | Eric Archer |
| Ian Martin | LK | John Glossop John Glossop John Collings Taswell Glossop was an English-born naval officer best known for captaining the Australian cruiser during the Battle of Cocos in which the German cruiser was sunk.-External Links:* at Australian Dictionary of Biography... |
| Ray Branighan Ray Branighan Ray Branighan is an Australian former rugby league player, a star winger and Centre of the 1970s for the South Sydney Rabbitohs , the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Australian national representative side.-Souths club career:... |
Reserve | |
| Wayne Springall | Reserve | |
| Frank Stanton Frank Stanton (rugby league) Frank "Biscuits" Stanton is an Australian former rugby league player and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles... |
Coach | Norm Provan Norm Provan Norm "Sticks" Provan is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. A giant of a man, he was a second-row forward with the St. George Dragons during their 11-year consecutive premiership-winning run from 1956 to 1966... |
The Tuesday rematch in front of 33,500 was Manly's sixth game in twenty-four days. It was the second Grand Final in a row to end up going into a mid-week replay with the 1977 Grand Final also needing a re-match to decide the Premiers.
In the first half Cronulla had no answer to Graham Eadie's blind-side bursts. His display completely routed the hapless Sharks and Manly went to the break holding a 15-0 lead.
The only points in the second half came from a field goal by Eadie.
In the replay, as throughout their extraordinary finals campaign, Manly were inspired by the leadership of captain Max Krilich and coach Frank Stanton, their iron-man Terry Randall, their cool five eighth Alan Thompson and classy fullback Graham Eadie.
As of the 2007 NRL season
National Rugby League season 2007
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League...
no player since Eadie has scored the combination of a try, a goal and a field-goal 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...
.
The refereeing of Greg "Hollywood" Hartley in the replay attracted criticism from coaches Roy Masters, Jack Gibson
Jack Gibson (rugby league)
Jack Arthur Gibson OAM was an Australian rugby league identity – a player, commentator and most notably a coach...
and Terry Fearnley
Terry Fearnley
Terry Fearnley is an Australian former rugby league footballer and later coach. He was a long serving member of the NSWRFL's Eastern Suburbs team & , playing 144 matches for them at a bleak period in that club's existence. Injury kept him out of the 1960 grand final, one of the few successful...
, all of whom appealed to the NSWRFL to prohibit Hartley from refereeing their clubs' matches the following season.
Manly-Warringah 16 (Tries: Gartner 2, Eadie. Goals: Eadie 3. Field Goal: Eadie.)
Cronulla-Sutherland 0
Man-of-the-match: Graham Eadie