NRL top eight: The best ever grand final tries

Okay everybody, he here it is, the first article completed by your old mate BigJ. I would like to thank everybody you supported me to do this and (The Barry, Johnnie Bulldog, Mr Editor and everybody else, thanks guys).

To start things off I’m going to do an easy piece and do what I think are the top tries in NRL grand finals over the last 30 years. Why eight to you say? Simply, seven is not enough and ten is too many.

8. Craig Smith – 1999 Melbourne v St George
While this try is really nothing that special, it is the circumstances which place it on the list. In the 77th minute the Storm forced the Dragons into a goal-line dropout. Melbourne’s halfback Brett Kimmorley then bombed to Craig Smith’s wing. Dragons centre Jamie Ainscough, anticipating a Melbourne try, caught Smith in a head-high tackle over the try-line, resulting in Smith being knocked unconscious and, in the process of falling to the ground, Smith knocking on. Referee Bill Harrigan requested video referee Chris Ward adjudicate on the decision.

In one of the most controversial grand final incidents, the Melbourne Storm were granted a penalty try, drawing them level with the Dragons. Being a penalty try, the subsequent conversion was taken from directly in front of the posts. Matt Geyer was successful in the conversion and the Storm, for the first time in the match, pulled ahead of the Dragons and took out their first grand final 20-18.

Not only this, but this is the first time this penalty try was used in a grand final, it was the first premership for the Storm (and the quickest for an expansion club, beating the previous record held by the Bulldogs in 1938) and Glenn Lazarus became the first player to win premierships with three clubs (Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETgWxcurqlk

7. John ‘Chicka’ Ferguson – 1989 Canberra v Balmain
For those who remember, who didn’t love Chicka Ferguson? Some say that this is the best grand final of all time.

The Raiders had to win five in row to get to the big dance and Balmain had their own hard road. The game was chock full of legends: Steve “Blocker” Roach, Paul Sironen, Ben Elias, Bruce McGuire, and inspirational captain Wayne “Junior” Pearce, as well as a backline that included Garry Jack, goalkicking English import Andy Currier and New Zealand halfback Gary Freeman.

While the Raiders had Big Mal, Gary Belcher, Brent Todd and John ‘Chicka’ Ferguson, with up-and-comers, Laurie Daley, Bradley Clyde, Ricky Stuart, Steve Walters and his younger brother Kevin, and Glenn Lazarus.

Ten out, the Raiders put up the bomb. Two Balmain players went for it, and it bounced off Canberra’s Steve Jackson. An over-the-top basketball pass to Chicka, who cut back to the centre, beating three players with two more hanging off him to crash over the line right in front of the ref. The ref blew the whistle immediately (how I miss those days).

6. Laurie Daley – 1994 Canberra v Bulldogs
This is one reason why Daley was one of the best of his day.

Daley has the ball 60 out, throws a dummy and busts through the Bulldogs’ defence and makes a beeline for the stripe. He runs, almost makes it and is missed by a Bulldogs’ player. He gets himself up and reaches out and places the ball down just before two Bulldogs came crashing over him. A great individual effort by Daley.

5. Steve Jackson – 1989 Canberra v Balmain
This one is just good old fashioned grit and determination, again from Canberra and again from the 1989 grand final. No wonder people loved this match.

Jackson is given the ball 40 out and steps two players to gain about ten metres. He is caught by the Balmain defence but pushes through, throws off one and keeps pumping with two defenders hanging off him and crashes over the line.

What I like about this one is that he is a forward and an off-the-bench player. This try pretty much sealed the deal for Canberra and gave them their maiden title.

4. Nathan Blacklock – 1999 Melbourne v St George
This one is unique as it is the only try on this list coming from a losing team. Nathan Blacklock takes the intercept and runs 60 metres to score straight under the posts.

After this, he puts on a great post-try celebration to entertain the crowd, which pushes the Dragons out to a 14-0 at the halftime break.

A great display of skill and quickness and the dance at the end, brilliant play loved it.

3. Darren Albert – 1997 Newcastle v Manly
This one is ultimately best remembered for its classic grandstand finish, when Darren Albert’s try broke the 16-16 deadlock seven seconds from full-time.

Albert is tackled and Andrew Johns is the dummy half, Johns cuts back to the blindside and throws a pass to the awaiting Albert, who runs through a couple of defenders and places the ball under the posts to give the Knights their first premiership.

This was great and memorable for the Knights, while also sticking it up Manly (I’ll never forget the looks on Geoff Toovey and Clif Lyons’ faces).

2. Kyle Feldt – 2015 Brisbane v North Queensland
One of the best grand final tries is recent history (especially if you happen to be a Cowboys supporter). With seconds to go in the match and Cowboys down by four, North Queensland attacked on the sixth tackle. Michael Morgan ran to the right side, cut in to draw three Brisbane defenders, then flicked a short outside pass to Feldt, who scored just inside the right corner flag as time expired.

This was a jump-out-of-your seat moment and led to one of the best grand final finishes of all time. Not only this, but it was a great team try with the ball going from one end of the park to the other and going through several sets of hands.

A fantastic effort, similar to the great Queensland Origin try of 1994, but that will be another list or another time.

1. Steve Renouf – 1992 Brisbane v St George
This is my favourite of all time, the Broncos pretty much had the game won and were five metres from their line. A quick pass was given to Renouf who ran through a gap big enough to fit a truck through, and he sprinted almost 90 meters to score the try.

The best thing about this try is that Dragons winger Ricky Walford never gave up chasing Renouf down and kept going only until he was finally palmed off about five metres before the line (no matter how many times you watch this you still almost think he will get him). To sweeten this, Michael Hancock is in support the whole time being only a short pass away if needed.

Never give up and always back up your mates; now that’s what footy is all about.

I remember being ten years old and yelling at the TV for Renouf to run as fast as he could in my Broncos shirt and hat (yes, I was a Broncos supporter when I was a kid. I grew up in Rocky and the Donks were the only Queensland team at the time, with Melbourne six years away).

Do you agree with my list? What is your favourite grand final try. Please leave a comment below and I look forward to giving you another list shortly.