2004 NRL Grand Final

2004 (2004) NRL Grand Final  ()
Bulldogs Sydney Roosters
16 13
1 2 Total
BUL 6 10 16
SYD 13 0 13
Date 3 October 2004
Stadium Telstra Stadium
Location Sydney, Australia
Clive Churchill Medal Willie Mason (BUL)
Referee Tim Mander
Attendance 82,127
Broadcast partner
Broadcaster Nine Network
Commentators Ray Warren, Phil Gould, Peter Sterling
 < 2003
NRL Grand Final
2005 > 

The 2004 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2004 NRL season. It was contested by the Bulldogs, who had finished the regular season in 2nd place, and the Sydney Roosters, who had finished the regular season in 1st place. After both sides eliminated the rest of 2004's top eight teams over the finals series, they faced each other in a grand final for the first time since the 1980 NSWRFL season's decider.

Background

See also: 2004 NRL season

For the second consecutive year, the NRL grand final featured two Sydney-based teams.

Sydney Roosters

The Sydney Roosters finished the 2004 regular season in 1st place, taking out the minor premiership. They subsequently won their two finals matches against the Canberra Raiders 38–12 and then the North Queensland Cowboys 19–16 to make their third consecutive grand final and their fourth in five seasons.

Bulldogs RLFC

The Bulldogs finished the 2004 regular season 2nd (out of 15). They lost their first match of the finals series against the North Queensland Cowboys 22–30 but won their next two against the Melbourne Storm 43–18 and the Penrith Panthers 30–14 to reach their first grand final since 1998.

Match details

Pre-match entertainment included a performance by Australian rock band Grinspoon.[1]

First half

Sydney Roosters Posit. Bulldogs
1. Anthony Minichiello FB 1. Luke Patten
2. Shannon Hegarty WG2. Hazem El Masri
3. Ryan Cross CE 3. Ben Harris
4. Justin Hodges CE4. Willie Tonga
5. Chris Walker WG 5. Matt Utai
6. Brad Fittler (c) FE 6. Braith Anasta
7. Brett Finch HB 7. Brent Sherwin
8. Jason Cayless PR8. Mark O'Meley
9. Craig Wing HK 9. Adam Perry
20. Peter Cusack PR 11. Willie Mason
11. Michael Crocker SR14. Reni Maitua
10. Adrian Morley SR 12. Andrew Ryan (c)
12. Craig Fitzgibbon LK13. Tony Grimaldi
14. Chad Robinson Bench 15. Corey Hughes
15. Chris Flannery Bench 16. Roy Asotasi
16. Ned Catic Bench 17. Sonny Bill Williams
17. Anthony Tupou Bench 18. Johnathan Thurston
Ricky Stuart Coach Steve Folkes

After thirteen minutes, Sydney took the first try of the game with Chris Walker scoring the try and Craig Fitzgibbon converting giving Sydney a 6–0 lead. Ten minutes later Canterbury winger Matt Utai scored the first try with Hazem El Masri failing to convert bringing the score back to 6–4. A few minutes later El Masri levelled the scores at 6–6 with a penalty goal. Just after the 30 minute mark, Brett Finch kicked a field goal to give Sydney a narrow 7–6 lead. Two minutes later Anthony Tupou made a 30-metre break for Sydney before passing to team mate Anthony Minichiello to cross under the posts with Fitzgibbon converting to give Sydney a 13–6 lead. At the 37th minute, Minichiello looked to have his second try, but was penalised for an obstruction.

Second half

Two minutes into the second half, Utai got his second try for Canterbury with El Masri converting bringing the score back to 13–12. In the 53rd minute, El Masri crossed over for a controversial four-pointer (opinions were divided on whether the winger had been sufficiently held up or not before eventually grounding the ball), but narrowly missed the conversion giving the Bulldogs the lead 16–13. With one minute left and the score at 16–13, Sydney's Michael Crocker made a half break on the Bulldogs 40 meter line but was tackled by stand in Canterbury Captain Andrew Ryan and losing the ball that gave Canterbury their 8th Premiership. It was also former Australian captain Brad Fittler's last game of football.

16 Bulldogs RLFC
Tries 2 Utai
1 El Masri
Goals 2/4 El Masri
Field Goals
13 Sydney Roosters
Tries 1 Walker
1 Minichiello
Goals 2/2 Fitzgibbon
Field Goals 1 Finch

Clive Churchill Medallist: Willie Mason

Half Time: 6 – 13

Referee: Tim Mander (1st grand final appointment)

Venue: Telstra Stadium, Sydney

Attendance: 82,127

When They Scored

13th – Sydney 6–0 (Walker try, Fitzgibbon goal)
23rd – Sydney 6–4 (Utai try)
27th – 6–6 (El Masri penalty goal)
31st – Sydney 7–6 (Finch field goal)
33rd – Sydney 13–6 (Minichiello try, Fitzgibbon goal)
42nd – Sydney 13–12 (Utai try; El Masri goal)
53rd – Bulldogs 16–13 (El Masri try)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Moran, Jonathon (2004-09-29). "Grand Final battle for Grinspoon". AAP General News. pp. Australia. Retrieved 2009-10-05.

External links

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