The grand final always throws up surprises. It is not always the big stars that shine and each game has its villains and heroes.
In recent grand finals here are five individuals whose performances were vital in their teams’ successes, but didn’t perhaps receive the plaudits they deserved.
Bill Peden – Newcastle, 2001
Andrew Johns produced a master class to almost single-handedly beat the minor premiers Parramatta in 2001. By halftime the game was over with the Knights leading 24-0.
Bill Peden was a lock forward in this game and scored two tries. His support play and defence were a huge part of the Knights’ triumph.
Peden played 190 games for Newcastle and scored 42 tries. He won two premierships and later transferred his work ethic to coaching.
Scott Sattler – Penrith, 2003
Luke Priddis topped the tackle count, created a try and scored one to earn the Clive Churchill Medal in the 2003 grand final when the Panthers upset the Roosters 18-6.
However the most memorable moment of the match was when second-rower Scott Sattler desperately chased and tackled Roosters winger Todd Byrne in the second-half.
Had Byrne scored, the momentum of the match may have swung in favour of Sydney City.
Sattler played his 118th and final match for Penrith in 2003, the same season he became Queensland’s second oldest State of Origin player, reinforcing his importance for Penrith.
Michael Robertson – Manly, 2008
After debuting for the Sea Eagles in Round 2, 2006 Robertson played in 139 consecutive club games until suffering a knee injury in a two-try performance against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 10 of the 2011 season.
Robertson’s most famous match was the 2008 grand final when Manly beat Melbourne by a record score of 40-0. Robertson scored three tries, his searing pace leading to some classic finishes.
Brent Kite won the Clive Churchill, but Robertson became the first player since Steve Renouf in the 1997 Super League decider to score three tries in a grand final.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall – Roosters, 2013
The Roosters in the 2013 decider had just a 62.8 per cent completions rate. That is the lowest ever by a winning grand final team since the NRL began in 1998 and the lowest in a premiership decider since Parramatta accounted for the Bulldogs 4-2 in 1986.
However, they overcame this, rallying from 18-8 down to beat Manly in a thriller.
Kiwi centre Sean Kenny-Dowall scored the try which propped Sydney ahead in the 60th minute. Kenny-Dowall revealed after the match he had played the whole game with a broken tooth, having in the opening minutes fractured his jaw.
Additionally he ran for 98 metres and made 11 tackles. In 2013 Kenny-Dowall played in every one of the Roosters 27 matches and scored 9 tries.
George Burgess – South Sydney, 2014
Sam Burgess won the Clive Churchill medal last year after playing the entire match with a broken jaw and contributing 225 metres and 36 tackles.
However his brother George was equally influential. He made a bullying run to score a 56th-minute try that broke a 6-6 stalemate. Overall he ran 187 metres and made 24 tackles in a rampant performance.
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