There are some traditions that should always remain in rugby league and even though I’m a proud Queenslander, the grand final should stay in Sydney.
In the past couple of weeks there’s been a fair bit said about possibly taking the NRL grand final interstate if certain other stadium funding promises aren’t met and even though I’ve got Maroon blood pumping through my veins, I think there’s something special about Sydney hosting the decider.
It’s a bit like Wembley Stadium in the UK. You know that’s the final destination and there’s a certain amount of satisfaction getting there.
I was lucky enough as a player to be in a couple of grand finals with Canterbury at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where the last game of the season had always been played, and there was a great sense of occasion being on that arena for the pinnacle of the sport.
The Provan Summons Trophy. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
We made it back to the grand final in 1988 in the first year of the Sydney Football Stadium and playing in front of a packed ground of 40,000-plus was a great atmosphere.
In 2001 as coach at Newcastle we played at a Stadium Australia in the first night grand final with 90,000-plus fans and that was also a tremendous experience, not just because we won.
You’ve got to fish where the fish are and the NRL is still predominantly based in NSW and Queensland with the majority of clubs and their fans based in Sydney.
I think we’re doing enough to grow the footprint beyond the Eastern Seaboard as it is with Origin games in Perth and Adelaide, plus Redcliffe coming into the NRL next year and probably a team in WA down the track. And Auckland will host a Pacific Islands Test again this year between NZ and Tonga.
Tom Trbojevic (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
We take games to Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Darwin, Mackay, the Central Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns. It’s like the old song “I’ve Been Everywhere, Man” by Lucky Starr.
Travel is an under-rated factor in how hard it can be in the NRL.
It’s no surprise that the two teams who’ve been at the top of the ladder consistently over the past two years – Melbourne and Penrith – are the best in the business when it comes to away records. Last year the Panthers were 9–3 on the road and the Storm were 10–2 while Souths who made the Grand Final were 10–2 as well.
Under the game’s most experienced coaches they were all able to prepare for every game no matter where it was played with the same unrelenting, professional attitude which made them so successful last year.
Melbourne showed the previous couple of years when they had to relocate to Queensland because of the pandemic that they didn’t skip a beat even when they were based away from home and the Panthers were similar when they had to head north last year too.
The glamorous world of the NRL is not all ritz and glitz, especially when you’ve spent year after year travelling in a bus from Newcastle to Sydney just about every second week.
I know that when I was coach at the Eels compared to when I was at the Knights, the travel factor was so much easier.
It can be hard for the teams outside of Sydney to remain competitive when they have to travel so far.
For teams like the Warriors (when they are based in Auckland) and the Cowboys, it’s pretty much a two-day exercise when you go on the road every time.
In the modern age of six and sometimes five-day turnarounds, that can be a massive disadvantage and probably explains why since they both came into the competition in 1995 that the Warriors have only made two grand finals (2002 and 2011) and the Cowboys three (2005, the 2015 premiership and 2017).
We saw on the weekend how it can affect even the top teams. Parramatta went from a game in Sydney on Easter Monday against the Tigers which they lost to a big win in Newcastle on the following Sunday.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Then they had a six-day turnaround to go up to Darwin as part of their deal with the Northern Territory Government to play a game there every year and they got beaten comprehensively by the Cowboys. Deep down I am sure their coach Brad Arthur would much prefer to have played this game at CommBank Stadium at Parra despite the financial windfall the Eels receive each year.
Playing the game in the tropics would have been an enormous advantage to North Queensland because they are used to training and playing in those conditions and holding onto the ball when it’s so humid.
One aspect of the modern game with all these new stadiums around the NRL map is that once you get to a ground, the disadvantages aren’t as bad as they used to be.
The playing surface at pretty much every venue now is top class.
Going back a generation to when I was a player, you’d get so many different standards at the various grounds, hard ovals like at North Sydney that had a cricket pitch in the middle.
Visiting teams at a lot of venues would not get the lukewarm showers in the sheds, if there was any hot water at all.
And there was a parochial nature at all the grounds – I remember being sledged by the fans as you ran through the players race at Redfern Oval by diehard Rabbitohs fans.
It’s a much more neutral environment so it doesn’t bother teams that much when they rock up to these new stadiums and you could sleep in the dressing rooms they’re that comfortable.
If you want to be in the top eight at the end of the year you have to find a way to win close to half your games on the road.
And with Magic Round next week and teams taking a game or two to regional locations like the Roosters are doing with their game against the Titans being in Cairns this weekend, it means both more travel for clubs these days but also adds there being more of a neutral flavour in the draw.
It’s great that the competition is doing this and spreading the rugby league gospel but it can be done without moving the grand final from Sydney. Some things should stay the same.
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The Barry
Roar Guru
What do Terry Lamb and Captain Jack Sparrow have in common? They both owned the Black Pearl
Justin
Guest
Ellery Hanley was taken out by Terry Lamb. With a cowards hit to the head from behind. When Hanley didn’t have the ball. Got away with it & it was The Main reason that Canterbury Won that GF. Whether he was told to do it by the coach or just took it in himself to take out the oppositions best player, who knows. No matter what, obviously Lamb thought it was the key to his team winning the competition. Or he wouldn’t have done it.
Paul
Guest
Where would Rugby League be without Penrith too? Even the Dolphins, so keen to be an all Queenslanders team. Where are they now looking to get a lot of their players? Penrith! I don’t hear anyone suggesting that the GF be played at Penrith.
criag
Roar Rookie
That could be record-equalling? Can any team top that?
Bert Eagle
Roar Rookie
The responses to this post are interesting. Not necessarily on topic, but shows the passion involved. I have one perhaps simplistic response. Whilst there is currently 1 Melbourne team and 1 Brisbane team (3 if you count all of Q'ld), it would seem grossly unfair to have the same amount of GFs in Melbourne (where just one team gets a home ground advantage) and in Brisbane (where 1 or arguably 3 get an advantage). I agree in part with the tradition argument (would you ever change the location of the Wimbledon tennis event?), but certainly if we ever consider sharing GR hosting rights, it should reflect the no. of teams playing by state,
The Barry
Roar Guru
Watch the game… everything you’ve said about it is wrong
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
If you've watched a replay where Kelly didn't attack from behind then you need to find the incident I'm talking about. The Wynn / Mortimer incident happened after Kelly's coward punch so your Mortimer is a small asthmatic argument is weakened further. The Saints infringements don't justify Kelly's cowardly attack from behind, If they were as bad as you say why were they not penalised? There have been many grand final incidents over the years where referees have been rather soft on foul play like in 68 when Ron Coote king hit Bill Bradstreet but at least he was penalised.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I’m saying Wynn didn’t get punched from behind. I was at the ground, on the hill, but I had the game taped on VHS. The video shows Wynn walking back after being penalised for a scrum infringement and shows Kelly come from behind. From Steve Haddon’s 100 Years of NRL Finals :- “Mick O’Conner was elbowed early, and Graeme Wynn – always dangerous around the rucks early – was king hit from behind by Peter Kelly and then by Steve Mortimer after a scrum close to the St.George line. He was ineffective for the remainder of the match and, amazingly, Canterbury came up with the penalty on both occasions. Four tackles later the Bulldogs scored to lead 6-0 after 29 minutes – even thoguh the passed looked foward”. History is important to me but you don't seem to have seen the incident. You've been told before yet you cling to some childhood fantasies.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sorry, it was because Wynn kicked Mortimer while he was on the ground… Craig Young punched Farrar in the face in a tackle completely unprovoked Haddon has less credibility than you if he’s calling himself a journo and calling the pass in the Peter Mortimer try forward. Actually try watching it, it’s not remotely forward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S93XHltiRkQ
The Barry
Roar Guru
“You say it is okay to punch Wynn from behind” No, I’m saying Wynn didn’t get punched from behind. He got snotted by Kelly after a scrum broke up and went to water Remember Origin 1 in 1980? Graeme Wynn tried to pick a fight with Queensland halfback Greg Oliphant. Wynn was the big tough guy until Artie Beetson stepped in, then Wynn went to water and dogged it Wynn has a long history of being a bully against little men then folding quicker than a deck chair when up against a real tough player
The Barry
Roar Guru
Acclaimed author who can’t spell O’Connor Clearly more incoherent ramblings from another salty Dragons fan I watched the replay of this game recently after some your gibberish and St George dished out just as much dirty stuff as The Bulldogs did. Yet you and your so called author mate continually fail to recognise any of that Wynn wasn’t hit from behind. The Wynn / Mortimer incident happened because big bad Graeme tried to bash Mortimer while he was on the ground. Being a Dragons fan surely you’re aware of Wynns penchant for picking on little men Jarvis elbowed Farrar in the head in the first couple of minutes of the game. Young, Jarvis, Wynn and O’Grady punched, hit and elbowed their way through the entire game. It’s how footy was played in those days There was no forward pass in the P Mortimer try Yours and Steve Haddon’s memories of the game are as flawed as your spelling…
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
From Steve Haddon’s 100 Years of NRL Finals :- “Mick O’Conner was elbowed early, and Graeme Wynn – always dangerous around the rucks early – was king hit from behind by Peter Kelly and then by Steve Mortimer after a scrum close to the St.George line. He was ineffective for the remainder of the match and, amazingly, Canterbury came up with the penalty on both occasions. Four tackles later the Bulldogs scored to lead 6-0 after 29 minutes – even thoguh the passed looked foward”. After the 17-6 semi-final win it was obvious that Canterbury would need help from the referee and Kevin Roberts was the man who beat St,George, How can anyone say that Canterbury would’ve won without the referee’s help? Arthurson chose the referee that won the grand final for Canterbury.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Michael, What's your expert opinion on the 1985 grand final where Peter Kelly knocked out Graeme Wynn with a coward’s punch from behind?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
1. You're trying to justify a coward's punch from behind that knocked a player out. You don't understand that Wynn was relaxed making any head contact much worse. You say it is okay to punch Wynn from behind and then say C-B won because Wynn played a shocker. 2. Jim Comans would've given Kelly and Mortimer lengthy suspensions if they were sent off. Referee Kevin Roberts is the only referee in history that would not send off a player for a coward's punch from behind. 3. Kevin Humphries was the NSWRL chairman in 1979. He sold me my grand final ticket. Ken Arthurson made it very clear he disliked St.George. 4. Wynn was penalised for niggling but Kelly wasn't penalised for the most gutless act I've seen in RL. 5. You think Kelly's gutless act was okay because there was no foul play worthy of charge. It was a send off and I don't know how you can claim the referee was impartial. Did you ever get away with it?
The Barry
Roar Guru
“You’re struggling…” get your own stuff together before you question mine No, I’m not struggling with comprehension. You’re just talking a load of gibberish. Let’s summarise: - Bulldogs comprehensively outplay the Dragons and win the grand final = only because Quayle, Arko, Roberts, Comans and Moore had a pentavirate conspiracy - They waited 20-30 years to unleash their evil plan to stop the Dragons winning a premiership because of St George’s winning run of 11 premierships - The real sneaky part was letting St George win in 1977 and 79 to make sure they really caught them unawares in 85 - The Bulldogs played dirty 1985 style footy, but the Dragons played a super clean game and were just concentrating on footy - After a scrum broke up in a fight, renowned ‘tough guy’ and cheap shot merchant Graeme Wynn decided to just turn around and walk away. Peter Kelly waited and chased him and punched him in the back of the head - This happened right in front of referee Roberts who being a key member of the pentavirate decided to penalise Wynn instead of Kelly. We’ll assume he couldn’t think of a way that a referee could more subtly influence a game of footy - Little 5’5” asthmatic halfback and famous bully Steve Mortimer also did casually and cruelly and completely unprovoked knock out 6’5” renowned tough guy and cheap shot merchant Graeme Wynn. - Graeme Wynn and Michael O’Connor were both knocked out of the game (despite playing the full game). Maybe the players who finished the game were body doubles sourced by the pentavirate? Maybe Paul McCartney really is dead? - Wynn and O’Connor were the key players for St George who would have won them the game, despite Wynn having a shocker and the Dragons refusing to give the ball to O’Connor until the last minute - No charges after the game by rugby league’s most feared judiciary chairman is clear evidence of the unholy pentavirate, not because there was no foul play worthy of charge - This pentavirate arrangement has been kept soooooo secret that no one in the 37 years since has breathed a word of it… except you, who stumbled across the truth after years of extensive research I imagine in your study you’ve got a huge cork board, with photos and press clippings and push pins with bits of coloured string connecting the dots and unmasking the horrific conspiracy. “The truth is out there” Tim Buck Deepthroat I just hope you’re taking adequate measures to protect your safety now that you’ve unveiled this nefarious plot. Who knows how high this conspiracy goes? Who knows to what dark lengths they’ll go to keep this all a secret… What a load of bollocks…
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Your struggling with comprehension. He said "If I see you here again Rugby League will be a memory for you”. It explains why Kelly and Mortimer weren't worried about being sent off to face Jim Comans.
The Barry
Roar Guru
No. The tough judiciary chairman who took a hard stance on foul play not taking action against a player he had previously warned he would rub out of the game isn’t evidence of there being a conspiracy… it’s evidence there was no foul play. It’s about a million times more likely Buy a dictionary and look up the words “proof” “evidence” and “conspiracy”
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Michael, What was the Canterbury reaction to Jim Comans saying “Steve Mortimer, if I see you here again Rugby League will only be a memory for you”. In the 1985 grand final Kelly knocked Graeme Wynn with a coward's punch from behind. Steve Mortimer later hit Wynn who was already concussed. This is probably why they were not sent off. What do you think?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The best evidence of a conspiracy was Jim Comans who was given the job of cleaning up the game. He was doing a good job but he made the mistake of saying “Steve Mortimer, if I see you here again Rugby League will only be a memory for you”. He was threatening the family club and Peter Moore would’ve talked to Arthurson to say we need a referee that won’t send our players off. Comans resigned in 1986 and I would say he would’ve been disgusted that Kelly was not sent off. Mortimer also hit Wynn later so he was aware that he would never be sent off. Jim Comans is the proof of a conspiracy. Arthurson’s claim that Saints always started the fights was another one I remember. Ask some older fans what it was like in the old unlimited tackle rule. While Saints had a big crowd at the SCG match of the round the other teams’ fans were losing interest. Games like Parramatta v Canterbury pulled crowds slightly bigger than the Sydney Rugby Union crowds. The NSWRL were eager to bring in the four tackle rule in the hope it would stop Saints. It was the Kiwis who wanted a scrum after every four tackles rather than a handover but we didn’t object because Saints were good at holding the ball. The games were packed full of scrums and scrum penalties. As a Saints fan I had some bitter twisted Souths and Canterbury fans venting their own inane conspiracy theories. Imagine what it was like watching your team with no hope and you’ll see what why the NSWRL had to do something to save the game. Ken Arthurson was the boss and he was clearly not a Saints fan. Saints won the second semi-final 17-6 with Mick Stone the referee but they gave the GF to Kevin Roberts a Souths player of the early sixties. It was Roberts who did not send off Kelly for a coward’s punch from behind. A Saints player was sent off for punching in the 1962 GF so it wasn’t wanting the game played under today’s rules. I would say 1985 was unique in allowing a coward’s punch not be sent off.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, yeah, yeah, come up with one shred of evidence, otherwise it’s just a baseless, inane conspiracy theory…