| 2002 NRL season | |
| Teams | 15 |
| Premiers | Sydney (12th title) |
| Minor premiers | New Zealand (1st title) |
| Matches played | 189 |
| Points scored | 9083 (total) 48.058 (per match) |
| Attendance | 2,656,198 (total) 14,054 (per match) |
| Top point scorer(s) | Hazem El Masri (254) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Nigel Vagana (23) |
The 2002 NRL season was the 95th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fifth to be run by the National Rugby League. The New Zealand Warriors won their first minor premiership and made it to the grand final for the first time, playing against foundation club the Sydney Roosters who won the match and collected their first premiership in 27 years.
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In February, 2002, the National Rugby League's Director of Legal and Business Affairs, David Gallop, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the NRL, succeeding David Moffett.
The legendary Broncos and Maroons halfback, Allan Langer, returned from England to play his final season of professional football with the Brisbane club. In doing so he became the NRL's oldest player for the 2002 season at 36 years and 60 days.[1]
Following the club's departure from the NRL after the 1999 season, there was a continuing push from both fans and the wider rugby league community to reinstate the South Sydney Rabbitohs into the NRL competition. After two unsuccessful years of lobbying, South Sydney finally received a court ruling in their favour in 2001. On 15 March 2002, the Rabbitohs opened the NRL season with a home match against long-time rivals, the Sydney Roosters, losing badly, 40-6.
It turned out to be a tough year for the Rabbitohs, winning only 5 matches from 24 played.
In mid-2002, the Bulldogs were found guilty of serious and systemic breaches of the salary cap. NRL Chief Executive David Gallop described the violation as "exceptional in both its size and its deliberate and ongoing nature". The club received a $500,000 fine, and was stripped of 37 of its 41 competition points accumulated up to Round 23.[2] The latter action was particularly harmful, as the club were poised to take the Minor Premiership and had won 17 consecutive matches (the second highest in Australian club rugby league history at the time). The deduction of the 37 competition points made it impossible for the Bulldogs to finish any higher than 15th place, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs had already accumulated 12 competition points by the end of Round 24.
The stripping of the Bulldogs' points also enabled the Canberra Raiders to make the finals with a points differential of -170, the poorest such record of any finalist in the competition's history. As well as this, the Raiders only won one game outside of Canberra for the entire season. It also enabled the New Zealand Warriors to secure their very first minor premiership in the club's history.
In 2002, as in 2001, the NRL's advertising was handled by Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney.
As in the previous season, there was no big budget season launch advertising campaign. The NRL focussed on stretching its marketing spending throughout the season with newspaper ads promoting individual rounds and clubs, and with simple TV ads to promote key games.
The Warriors received A$100,000 prize money for finishing the regular season as minor premiers.[3]
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 688 | 454 | +234 | 38 |
| 2 | Newcastle | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 724 | 498 | +226 | 38 |
| 3 | Brisbane | 24 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 672 | 425 | +247 | 37 |
| 4 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 621 | 405 | +216 | 35 |
| 5 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 653 | 597 | +56 | 34 |
| 6 | Parramatta | 24 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 531 | 440 | +91 | 26 |
| 7 | St George Illawarra | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 632 | 546 | +86 | 25 |
| 8 | Canberra | 24 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 471 | 641 | -170 | 25 |
| 9 | Northern Eagles | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 503 | 740 | -237 | 24 |
| 10 | Melbourne | 24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 556 | 586 | -30 | 23 |
| 11 | North Queensland | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 496 | 803 | -307 | 20 |
| 12 | Penrith | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 546 | 654 | -108 | 18 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 498 | 642 | -144 | 18 |
| 14 | South Sydney | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 385 | 817 | -432 | 14 |
| 15 | Bulldogs | 24 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 707 | 435 | +272 | 81 |
1Canterbury were deducted 37 premiership points due to gross salary cap breaches.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 38 |
| 2 | Newcastle | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 38 |
| 3 | Brisbane | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 37 | 37 |
| 4 | Sydney Roosters | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
| 5 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 |
| 6 | Parramatta | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
| 7 | St. George Illawarra | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| 8 | Canberra | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| 9 | Northern Eagles | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 |
| 10 | Melbourne | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| 11 | North Queensland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 |
| 12 | Penrith | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 |
| 13 | Wests Tigers | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 14 | South Sydney | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 |
| 15 | Bulldogs | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 39 | 39 | 41 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre Final Eight System.
Coincidentally, the finalists for 2002 were almost the same as the previous season, with the exception of the Bulldogs being replaced by Canberra. Had the Bulldogs not been deducted competition points, they would have become the minor premiers and completed the replication, with Canberra moving down to 9th.
| Qualifying Finals | Semi Finals | Preliminary Finals | Grand Final | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | NZ Warriors | 36 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Canberra Raiders | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1W | NZ Warriors | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Newcastle Knights | 22 | 4W | St. George-Illawarra | 24 | Cronulla Sharks | 10 | |||||||||||
| 7 | St. George-Illawarra | 26 | 2L | Cronulla Sharks | 40 | NZ Warriors | 8 | |||||||||||
| Sydney Roosters | 30 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 2W | Brisbane Broncos | 12 | |||||||||||||
| 6 | Parramatta Eels | 14 | 3W | Sydney Roosters | 38 | Sydney Roosters | 16 | |||||||||||
| 1L | Newcastle Knights | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Sydney Roosters | 32 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Cronulla Sharks | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
A pre-match performance by Billy Idol was cancelled due to power outage.[4]
First Half
In the 23rd minute, Sydney opened the scoring with a try to Shannon Hegarty with Craig Fitzgibbon converting taking Sydney to a 6-0 lead. Not long after, Ivan Cleary got New Zealand on the board with a penalty goal making the score 6-2, which remained that scoreline until halftime.
Second Half
In the 46th minute, New Zealand took the lead for the first time through a Stacey Jones try and a Ivan Cleary conversion taking the scoreline to 8-6. Approaching the 60th minute, Sydney regained the lead with Craig Wing scoring the try and Craig Fitgibbon converting another to make the score 12-8 after a spectacular 40/20 kick from Sydney captain Brad Fittler. In the last 15 minutes Craig Fitzgibbon, Chris Flannery and Bryan Fletcher scored tries for Sydney with Craig Fizgibbon converting all three to take Sydney to a 30-8 win. By winning the grand final the Roosters also received $400,000 in prize money.
30 |
Sydney Roosters |
|---|---|
| Tries | 1 Hegarty 1 Wing 1 Fitzgibbon 1 Flannery 1 Fletcher |
| Goals | 5/5 Fitzgibbon |
| Field Goals | |
8 |
New Zealand Warriors |
| Tries | 1 Jones |
| Goals | 2/2 Cleary |
| Field Goals |
Half Time: 6 – 2
Clive Churchill Medalist: Craig Fitzgibbon
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Venue: Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 80,130
Scoring timeline
23rd Minute: Sydney 6-0 (Hegarty try; Fitzgibbon goal)
29th Minute: Sydney 6-2 (Cleary goal)
46th Minute: New Zealand 8-6 (Jones try; Cleary goal)
58th Minute: Sydney 12-8 (Wing try; Fitzgibbon goal)
65th Minute: Sydney 18-8 (Fitzgibbon try; Fitzgibbon goal)
71st Minute: Sydney 24-8 (Flannery try; Fitzgibbon goal)
75th Minute: Sydney 30-8 (Fletcher try; Fitzgibbon goal)
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