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The 1990s, when The Simpsons were – though they still are now – the best thing on TV, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the top action hero thanks to Terminator 2, and I was a young man growing up in Rocky playing Nintendo games and waiting for the decade to finish so I could turn 18.
There were some pretty awesome grand finals as well, so here are my top four of the decade.
4. 1990: Canberra vs Penrith
This was a classic battle with the all the big stars in Mal Menginga, Glenn Lazarus, John ‘Chicka’ Ferguson, Gary Belcher, Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley taking on Mark Geyer, Royce Simmons, Greg Alexander and Brad Fittler.
With a late start to the game, the advantage was with Canberra, as Stuart gave a long pass to get Chicka Ferguson over the line.
Stuart was awarded the Clive Churchill medal for his part in a great grand final, which gave Canberra their second title and built up to a rematch with the Panthers the following year.
3. 1992: Brisbane vs St George
I was initially going to give this one to the rematch of 1993 but as they say, you never forget your first. Brisbane were looking to obtain their first title since joining the competition in 1988 and St George were hoping to secure their first since 1979.
Unfortunately, it was a one-sided affair in the second half, as the Broncos ran away with the game. Steve Renouf’s great, individual, 95-metre effort – a try which is number one on my greatest grand final tries list – sealed the deal.
A great rematch followed, along with a decade of dominance for Brisbane, winning twice more to achieve four titles in six years.
2. 1997: Newcastle vs Manly
What a cracker this was. The match was decided in the last seven seconds of the game with that brilliant try by Darren Albert, stealing it away from the Sea Eagles.
This was the game of the decade at the time, with Manly chasing back-to-back titles and Newcastle looking for their maiden title since joining in 1988.
The Chief, Paul Harragon, led his men, a group consisting of the Johns brothers, Robbie O’Davis and Albert up against the current champs of Geoff Toohey, Cliff Lyons and Steve Menzies.
With five minutes to go it was all tied up, and could have gone into extra time, until the classic Albert try to finish the game at 22-16.
The Knights’ first title launched the career of future Immortal Andrew Johns.
1. 1999: Melbourne vs St George
This grand final made history on about ten levels, being the first for the new Victorian team, who had only joined a year earlier, and the first for the joint venture of St George Illawarra – so both teams were out to make history.
Glenn Lazarus was playing in his final game and looking to do what no player had ever done before by winning premierships with three clubs.
At the halftime break, the Dragons were up 14-0 after a brilliant, 60-metre try from Nathan Blacklock. It provided hope after a horror decade in which St George had made four grand finals and lost the lot, before being forced to merge with the Illawarra Steelers.
However, the Storm clawed their way back into the match and with three minutes to go, Craig Smith’s controversial penalty try tied things up, giving Matt Geyer a direct shot at goal – and he did not miss.
The game ended with the Storm 20-18 up, taking out their first premiership, while Lazarus celebrated his record with a cartwheel.
With all the history of this grand final and the quality of the game, this takes up my number one spot.
What is your favourite grand final of the 1990s? Look out for my next list, which will focus on the top four grand finals of the 1980s.
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