1989 Panasonic Cup (rugby league)

For background information about this competition, please refer to the Amco Cup main page.

Contents

Format

For one of the few times in the competition's history, the format remained unchanged form the previous year, with the 19 teams participating in a straight knock-out. There was a random draw for all rounds other than the Preliminary Rounds.

Preliminary rounds

Date Winner Score Loser Score Venue
4/04/89 Brisbane (BRL) 21 Port Moresby 12 Port Moresby
7/04/89 Brisbane (BRL) 9 NSW Country 2 Seagulls Stadium
12/04/89 St George 14 Brisbane (BRL) 10 Lang Park

Round 1

Date Winner Score Loser Score Venue
1/03/89 Brisbane Broncos 18 Canberra 13 Parkes
8/03/89 South Sydney 36 Penrith 12 Parramatta Stadium
10/03/89 Parramatta 22 Balmain 12 WACA Ground
15/03/89 Canterbury 24 Newcastle 2 Parramatta Stadium
22/03/89 Cronulla 22 Easts 10 Parramatta Stadium
29/03/89 Illawarra 12 Wests 0 Parramatta Stadium
19/04/89 North Sydney 13 Gold Coast 6 Parramatta Stadium
26/04/89 Manly 22 St George 10 Wagga Wagga

Quarter finals

Date Winner Score Loser Score Venue
5/04/89 South Sydney^ 10 Canterbury 10 Parramatta Stadium
3/05/89 North Sydney 16 Manly 8 Parramatta Stadium
10/05/89 Illawarra 40 Cronulla 0 Parramatta Stadium
17/05/89 Brisbane Broncos 42 Parramatta 6 Townsville Sports Reserve

Semi finals

Date Winner Score Loser Score Venue
24/05/89 Illawarra% 12 North Sydney 12 Parramatta Stadium
31/05/89 Brisbane Broncos 24 South Sydney 4 Bathurst

Final

Date Winner Score Loser Score Venue
7/06/89 Brisbane Broncos 22 Illawarra 20 Parramatta Stadium

The Broncos raced to a 16-0 lead and it seemed the Steelers' much more fancied opponnents would run away with the game. But Illawarra hit back. Illawarra lost the match 22-20, however Brisbane scored a try off what appeared to be forward a pass. The large Illawarra contingent at Parramatta Stadium booed the Broncos after their win, with Brisbane captain Wally Lewis gaining their ire by gesturing back. Illawarra's performance inspired Australian folk singer John Williamson to write a song about the match.

Notes

^- advanced having scored the first try

%- advanced on penalty countback

Player of the Series

Sources