Memories of the classic finals series of 1978

On Friday, the Rabbitohs and the Roosters played off for the minor premiership in the last round for the first time since 1978, with the Roosters taking out the prize.

A lot has happened in rugby league over the past 35 years, but the 1978 finals series still stands up as one of the most dramatic in the game’s history.

It was an era of the final five, with Wests and Cronulla clashing to sort out positions one and two in the final round. Wests won 18-17, a dramatic game which clinched them top spot. It was the last game they won that season.

The Sharks finished second, above Manly on for and against. Parramatta and Canterbury filled fourth and fifth spot. Easts had a chance to force their way into the top five in the last round, but were beaten 20-10 by the Sea Eagles at the Sydney Sports Ground.

Cronulla and Manly faced each other in the opening semi-final on the last Saturday in August at the SCG. It was the first time the two teams had played each other in a finals game since the infamous 1973 grand final, one of the most spiteful and violent grand finals of all time.

On this day, the Sharks triumphed 17-12 to book a date with the Magpies in the major semi-final the following week. Oddly, Manly led 1-0 for most of the first half courtesy of a Johnny Gibbs field goal.

The following day, Parramatta and Canterbury played the sudden death game and the Bulldogs, inspired by a seemingly untouchable halfback called Steve Mortimer, raced to a 15-7 lead midway through the second half.

Then one of those names that sticks in the memory for some unknown reason turned the game on its head. Previously unheralded reserve Glenn Horton came on for the Eels and scored two tries, helping the Eels surge to a late 22-15 victory and an appointment with the Sea Eagles the following Sunday.

Week two of the finals started on the Saturday with Cronulla avenging their last round loss to the Magpies, triumphing 14-10. That put the Sharks into the grand final. And then the drama really began.

Parramatta comfortably led their elimination semi final 13-3 against the Sea Eagles. Manly rallied late and two tries in the last 15 minutes of the game resulted in a 13-13 draw. There was no extra time, a replay was scheduled for the following Wednesday at the SCG.

It was school holidays, so maybe every teacher and schoolkid decided to head to the daytime kick-off as more than 50,000 fans crammed the SCG to watch a game now steeped in folklore. (Ironically, the SCG had its floodlights installed only a couple of months later).

Parramatta led 11-2 before Manly fought back again, to finally win 17-11 on the day. Parramatta officials had complained that referee Greg Hartley had allowed the Sea Eagles to keep the ball for seven tackles in the lead-up to a try in the drawn match three days earlier.

Now, in the post-match hysteria of the replayed game, they made the claim again – that Hartley had twice miscounted the tackles to the advantage of the Sea Eagles. The Eels lodged a protest at the result, which the NSWRL dismissed, allowing Manly to face Wests in the preliminary final the following Saturday.

It was the resumption of a rivalry that had been manipulated into a form of class warfare by Wests coach Roy Masters. The “Fibros” of Wests versus the “Silvertails” of Manly, with a spot in the grand final on the line.

Wests were favourites to win. They were the minor premiers and had played one game in two weeks, so were theoretically well-rested.

The Sea Eagles were about to take the field for the fourth time in a fortnight. A brutal physical contest, albeit without the all-out brawling that had been a trademark of previous clashes between the two, saw Manly emerge victors 14-7.

September 16, 1978. Grand final day.

In the pre-match entertainment, two parachutists floated down towards a target on the halfway line of the SCG, one in the colours of the Sharks, the other trailing the Sea Eagles’ maroon and white. Each parachutist landed about a metre either side of the target, and legendary Channel Seven commentator Rex Mossop declared, “Bless my soul, is that an omen? Surely we’re not going to have another draw?”

We did. The two sides drew 11-11, despite a late attempted field goal from Steve Rogers that would have clicked that porch light off for Harold Holt and given the Sharks the title.

As 1978 was a Kangaroo tour year, the teams couldn’t wait seven days to replay the grand final. It was another midweek game, this time on the Tuesday.

School holidays had finished but teachers kept transistors in the top drawer of their desks, and fed us schoolkids score updates.

Manly won the match 16-0, their sixth game in 24 days. Perhaps the current side might remember those amazing deeds when lamenting possible four-day turnarounds this season.

The last time two teams met in the last round of the premiership to decide positions one and two, it foreshadowed an unforgettable series.

Maybe we’re headed for some more great memories in the next few weeks.