National Rugby League 2002 Grand Final

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with National Rugby League season 2002. (Discuss)

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (June 2007)

The 2002 National Rugby League(NRL) premiership Grand Final.

Played in Sydney,Australia on October 7 2002.

Sydney Roosters 30 (S.Heggarty, C.Wing, C.Fitzgibon, C.Flannery, B.Fletcher Tries; C.Fitzgibon 5 Goals) Defeated New Zealand Warriors 8 ( S. Jones Try; I. Cleary 2 Goals) at Stadium Australia. Crowd: 80,130; Referee: Bill Harrigon

Jounalist Steve Mascord, reporting for the Sydney Morning Herald gave this report on the match under the heading "Blood, guts and Rooster glory".

It was a grand final of concussion, blood and courage and the Sydney Roosters last night survived it to win their first premiership in 27 years. Battling the effects of thunderous tackles, gaping wounds, sickening head collisions and painful long-term injuries, the Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors played out a fearsome decider before 80,130 fans and a huge Australasian television audience. Inspired by a bloodied and bandaged former Australian captain Brad Fittler, the Roosters definitively shrugged off their cafe latte image by out-muscling their rivals to emerge handsome 30-8 winners at the Olympic stadium. A try to man-of-the-match Craig Fitzgibbon with 14 minutes to go - his third in as many premiership deciders - was enough to guarantee the Bondi Junction club's championship drought ended and the title returned to a Sydney club for the first time in six years. And like a king smearing himself in the blood of a victorious warrior, Roosters chairman Nick Politis - who joined the club the year after their previous premiership in 1975 - was covered in Fittler's claret at full-time. "This is what our fans have been waiting for," he proclaimed. Craig Wing was concussed, five-eighth Fittler was bleeding from a head wound, fullback Luke Phillips was nearly knocked out early, lock Luke Ricketson played with a serious hamstring injury and at least four Roosters needed painkilling injections to get on the field. But when replacement Chris Flannery scored with nine minutes to go and replacement Bryan Fletcher secured himself a momentous Roosters send-off by crossing soon after, it was time for their long-suffering fans to start celebrating. The wait was over. "I love everyone for making me feel this good - this is beautiful," said Fittler, interviewed over the stadium public-address system at full-time. An hour after the siren, in their first private moment, Ricky Stuart - who joined the elite club of seven first-year coaches to win premierships - was on bended knee as his victorious Roosters players sat on their grey chairs in a huddle. When he was sure the throng of onlookers, including Prime Minister John Howard, couldn't hear, he started sobbing as he quietly but firmly declared: "I love you blokes, I am so proud of what you have done. You have hung in there when things were bad and you know I have never known a better bunch of blokes. Thanks guys." It was all the more emotional because it was not until the final 20 minutes that the Roosters began to overwhelm their opponents. The Warriors had hit the front when skipper Stacey Jones beat six opponents to score a mesmerising try just after half-time - one of the best in grand-final history. But Fittler was involved in both the plays of the evening - although he would probably prefer not to have been a participant in the second. First, he landed a 40-20 kick and then put on a try for Wing in the 57th minute. And then it was his misfortune that served as a rallying call to the Roosters; he was hit high in a kick charge-down by Wairangi Koopu and then Warrior Richard Villasanti tackled him as he lay on the turf with the ball, the pair clashing heads sickeningly. There wasn't even a penalty but when Roosters import Adrian Morley smashed Villasanti in a tackle minutes later, the Roosters were never going to lose. "I'd been trying to put a big one on all game - but I was glad it was him," Morley said. Asked about the significance of Fittler's battering, Morley said: "Everyone fired up." Roosters forward Andrew Lomu added: "We all agreed that was the turning point." While there was no score until the 23rd minute, there were hints of the attrition rate that would follow. Phillips was floored by an 11th-minute tackle that resulted in Warriors second-rower Ali Lauitiiti being reported. As a result, he is in doubt for Saturday's Test against Australia. But by half-time, Phillips had dived at the feet of at least two Warriors who would have scored if not for his bravery. Roosters centre Shannon Hegarty backed up a stunning piece of counter-attack from inside his team's own quarter to score the first try 17 minutes before half-time. It was 6-2 to the Roosters at the break. "Sticky [Stuart] really gave it to us at half-time - he hasn't done that in a while," Fletcher said. But Jones responded with a remarkable try in the 46th minute, taking the ball from a standing start and evading six defenders in an unforgettable run. Fullback Ivan Cleary's conversion made it 8-6 to the Warriors. "I looked at a few of the boys and I could smell some doubt," Fittler said. "We just kept defending like we defended all year and it won us the grand final." Then came the Wing try. Fitzgibbon's was approved by video referee Mick Stone after he rolled over into the in-goal. With five goals from as many attempts he was just two points away from being the highest points-scorer in a grand final. Tries to Flannery (71 minutes) and Fletcher (76) signalled the beginning of the party. Stuart fobbed off credit for winning a title in his first attempt: "It's nice but it's not about me. It's about all those blokes who just busted a gut out there". Warriors coach Daniel Anderson said: "The 40-20 was probably the turning point in hindsight. It was probably an arm wrestle until then. The score doesn't look too good but people know it was closer than that." While Fitzgibbon may now make his debut for Australia this weekend, Fittler has retired from representative football and has ample time to savour his second premiership, which has come 11 years after the first. "I'm looking forward to seeing my missus and having a beer," he said. "I'm tired."

The Lineups:-

Sydney Roosters • Ricky Stuart(coach) • Luke Phillips • Brett Mullins • Shannon Hegarty • Justin Hodges • Anthony Minichiello • Brad Fittler(c) • Craig Wing • Luke Ricketson • Craig Fitzgibbon • Adrian Morley • Peter Cusack • Simon Bonetti • Jason Cayless • Interchange: • Michael Crocker • Chris Flannery • Bryan Fletcher • Andrew Lomu.

New Zealand Warriors • Daniel Anderson(coach) • Ivan Cleary • Justin Murphy • John Carlaw • Clinton Toopi • Francis Meli • Motu Tony • Stacey Jones(c) • Jerry Seuseu • P.J. Marsh • Mark Tookey • Ali Lauiti'iti • Awen Guttenbeil • Kevin Campion • Interchange: • Lance Hohaia • Richard Villasanti • Wairangi Koopu • Logan Swann