Grand Final Memories

[Sir Chadley]

Grand Finals are great occasions, it's just a pity we haven't been involved in too many over the years.

As a 9 year old I certainly remember watching the 1973 game on a black and white screen but probably not quite understanding the significance of the game.

1978 I remember well. We were going to a family BBQ and my Dad had the game going on the radio. Steve Edmonds scored as we pulled up and we watch the rest of the game on TV where Sludge just missed the field goal to win the game. I was on a bus at Engadine station coming home from school when I heard the result of the replay.

I don't remember feeling gutted about those results because you don't realise it's going to be another 38 years before we reach another GF (I don't count super league either).

There have been some great Grand Finals over the years and you may have a memory of another one that didn't involve Cronulla that you enjoyed or found particularly memorable.

Love to hear your memories.

But I wonder if anyone knows of a Grand Final where only one team turned up, kicked off and won. It was a very controversial "game", just wondering if anyone else knows the story.

 

[Proud Shark]

If someone who uses reddit can link to the recent thread with highlights from the last 22 years of grandfinals I feel like that would apply here! Some great Clips. Other wise ill find it when I'm on the computer. Cant seem to do it from my phone.

 

[creg]

I wasn't around in the 70's, but was 14 when we were in the Super League final.

First time I ever had a beer (getting drunk on VB and lemon ruskies....). we obviously lost, I got drunk and ended up going straight to bed to comprehend what happened and watch the ceiling spin.

 

[fitz]

My mum, a Tigers girl literally born in the shadows of Leichhardt oval, took me to the 1973 Grand Final. She knitted me a beanie and bought me a blue sloppy-joe and made an appliqué SHARKS for the front of it. We went in by train and it seemed an eternity to walk to the ground. We stood on the Hill, I ate something that was called a hotdog which was like none that I'd ever eaten before - it squeaked when I chewed it. First time I ever heard my mum swear... and she swore like a sailor with a belly full of rum. Lots of drunk men chain-smoking. I learned to hate Manly. It was an even longer walk back to Central station. Mum had a cigarette with a friend on the platform and the train was packed with angry drunk men chain-smoking.

1978... again on the hill with mum. I made a skateboard deck out of plywood and painted it in Sharks colours. My ******** brother broke it. I wore a jersey that I bought secondhand from a mate out of my pocket money and paper-run earnings. I also had a pair of poo-brown cords. Mum brought corned beef sandwiches with hot English mustard. Tense game - the crowd was pretty feral. Lots of angry people on the train home. I couldn't see most of the incidents that they were angry about. Hatred of Manly grew. Mum's summary was that Manly and the ref were cheats. I agreed. We were pretty silent on the way home - both had the understanding that, while there is life, there is hope but didn't rate our chances for the mid-week replay.

Mum went to the replay with a rich lady down on Parthenia Street. She had reserved seating in a swanky part of the ground. I went to school and fidgeted all day. They allowed us to listen to it on the radio in class. The whole of the Shire was decorated Black, White and Blue. Mum came home a bit sozzled and her summary of the game was "they sent out men, we sent out boys."

My hatred of Manly continued to grow.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Albert scoring to beat Manly in 97 was probably my favourite GF memory. Manly were red hot favourites, from memory they had won their last 13 games against Newcastle.

 

[Shark Magnet]

Watching Inglis and Crocker smash Brett Stewart was pretty special.

 

[sharks2010]

The pearls length of the field try against the dragons in the early 90s was good

 

[snowman]

Manly 40 - Melbourne 0

1999

1994

1998

they are my favourites

 

[vicsharkfan]

I know it was manly and I do hate them, but I was so happy when beaver scored against the cheats that year in 40 zip.
Sattlers tackle was special as well as the sharks winning both games in the only grand final I've been too 94.. Til this Sunday, when I'm there singing up up .

 

[Napolean]

1999 was the first grand final I remember watching-my parents weren't really into league so I'd never watched one until I was about 8. The first ever game of league I'd watched was the prelim the week before where we went down. It was a combination of the colours & Peachey's try in that game that sold me on the sharks for life. I remember going for Melbourne in the final because the other team beat that team that I'd decided to like.

Kimmorley was my favourite player-which is funny because when he played for us I hated him.

I remember distinctly eating two minute noodles when the penalty try was awarded.

 

[dylan the villian]

i dont really have a fave, as ive never seen us in one.....but the earliest GF i can remember was the broncs/dragons in 92....

 

[Proud Shark]

If someone who uses reddit can link to the recent thread with highlights from the last 22 years of grandfinals I feel like that would apply here! Some great Clips. Other wise ill find it when I'm on the computer. Cant seem to do it from my phone.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/comments/54jxyc/22_moments_in_nrl_grand_finals_19982015/

Thats the link to what I was talking about. Has videos of some of the best grandfinal moments post superleague.

 

[Mr Wright]

My family and I went to the 03 GF. Got to witness the Scott Sattler tackle in the flesh which was pretty damn cool.

 

[Nicholas2230]

Was at the 1997 Super league grand final as a 9 year old boy with my dad, two cousins and uncle, Will be there this Sunday with my Dad, two cousins and uncle! Come on sharkies!! You owe us this one!!!

 

[Addy]

Only Sharks GF in my lifetime was SL in my teens. Was at a family bbq/pool party for a 40th in Wagga. Remember ducking into the house every 10 mins to get a score, then drinking homebrew into the night.

The only GF i've been at the ground was Dragons V Storm. Could have heard a pin drop with the last tackle. Also remember John Howard presenting the medals, and this was when laser pointers were brand new and everyone had them, and when he got up to the mic about 30 people around us whipped them out.

 

[Long Suffering Sharkie]

I was 11 years old when I went to the game in the 1978 Grand Final against Manly. It wasn't until years later that I understood that we'd been dudded by Greg Hartley, Ken Arthurson and the NSWRL who wanted a Manly victory. Scarred? - you bet.

Our captain Greg Pierce was suspended for 4 weeks in the semi final and missed the Grand Final. Dane Sorensen also missed the game through suspension and had been the wrong player sent from the field for the incident. (It was really Steve Kneen who broke Geoff Foster's jaw). No video replays back then. Near the end of the match Steve Rogers was denied a shot at goal for a scrum penalty by referee Greg Hartley (which was an allowable option back then, not now). Kicking that goal would have won us the game.

I was made to go to school on the Tuesday when they played the replay but Mum went off to the game to watch it. She probably spared me the pain as we were crippled by injuries and were no chance to win.

Like Fitz, I never forgave Manly for their cheating ways. There was always the stench of corruption around them with constant innuendo for years about Greg Hartley being paid by Manly to win the premiership for them (Manly were nicknamed the Silvertails because they were so loaded with money) and Arthurson had a big influence on both the Manly club (Secretary with the chequebook) and the NSWRL (later became the CEO in 1980) back then.

A month before the Grand Final Greg Hartley was a reserve grade referee who went on to referee the Grand Final???? In the Grand Final qualifier - the semi final replay between Manly and Parramatta the week before Hartley allowed seven 7 tackle sets in the game and six of them favoured Manly. He also sent off Ray Price who was later exonerated.

Would a referee in today's modern game be allowed to referee in first grade a week later (let alone a Grand Final) for miscounting ONE set of six tackles let alone SEVEN six tackle sets? One of these led to the famous 7 tackle try to Manly. Dodgy? - you bet.

It should have been a Cronulla/Parramatta Grand Final in 1978.

What is that stench over near Brookvale?

 

[Napolean]

I bet in 10 years we'll all look back on 2016 and remember the great keyboard war of HB and Steve Kneen. The infamous 'Tim Smith' moment of the 2016 GF.

 

[SharksMichael]

I've been to 99, 00, 01, 04, 05 and 10, all with my old man.

A couple of memories in particular, 99 was a tough two weeks in our house for footy. Not even seeing the Dragons get up after the Sharks, well I don't need to finish my sentence there.

In 2010, we got last minute tickets. Game was in the balance at half time and according to my Dad, it was the worst half St George played all season. Thankfully, they kicked on and won. It was one of the only times I saw my Dad cry, with just a tear rolling down his face. Then there were heaps of people singing When the Saints Go Marching In in the break out areas. I hope we're singing Up, Up tomorrow like that. I even distinctly remember turning to my Dad and saying "I hope I see this for my team one day".

 

[Gil]

I've never been to a GF, was at the leagues club when the SL was on and the lower grades from the mid 90's, electric atmosphere every time.

Can't imagine what tomorrows going to be like

 

[vicsharkfan]

I've never been to a GF, was at the leagues club when the SL was on and the lower grades from the mid 90's, electric atmosphere every time.

Can't imagine what tomorrows going to be like

Pm me tommoz Chad and evo are going to buy u and I a pre game cheeky frothy..