1986 NSWRL season

Rugby league competition 1986 New South Wales Rugby League 13 16x16px Parramatta 4th 16x16px Parramatta 3rd 163 5212 1,705,156 16x16px Terry Lamb (210) 16x16px Phil Blake (13)16x16px Garry Schofield (13) Manly 16 Mal Cochrane Rothmans Medal Illawarra Steelers 2nd 1985 NSWRL season 1985 1987 NSWRL season 1987 The 1986 New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the seventy-ninth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Thirteen clubs competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs which featured the introduction of the Clive Churchill Medal. This season, NSWRL teams also competed for the 1986 National Panasonic Cup. As of 2026, it marks the Parramatta Eels fourth premiership and their most recent title to date. Season summary This season saw the opening of the new, 30,000 capacity Parramatta Stadium as the home ground for the Parramatta Eels MacDonald John The season of change, upsets and challenges The Sydney Morning Herald 36 Fairfax Media 1986-10-09 http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&clsPage=1&docID=news861009_0145_4770 2010-09-14 and on 29 June the final game was played at the old Sydney Sports Ground: Eastern Suburbs Roosters v North Sydney Bears.Sydney Football Stadium Magic Moments sydneycricketground.com.au Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust http://www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/MM-SFS.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070816081038/http://www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/MM-SFS.html dead 2007-08-16 2009-09-02 In total twenty-six regular season rounds were played from March till September, resulting in a top five of Parramatta, South Sydney, Canterbury-Bankstown (the defending premiers), Manly-Warringah and Balmain who battled it out in the finals (after Balmain had defeated North Sydney in a playoff for 5th spot). Parramatta completed a perfect season, winning the pre-season competition, the midweek Panasonic Cup, finishing the regular season as minor premiers, winning the grand final and farewelling their international long time stars Mick Cronin and Ray Price as victorious champions. The 1986 season's Rothmans Medallist was Manly-Warringah hooker, Mal Cochrane. Parramatta's halfback, Peter Sterling won the Dally M Award as well as Rugby League Week's player of the year award. The Coca-Cola Rugby League Coach-of-the-Year award was given to George Piggins who took South Sydney to the finals in his first year as coach. Tait Paul Award to Piggins The Sydney Morning Herald Australia 52 1986-09-24 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jWspAAAAIBAJ&pg=1786,5956470 2010-09-14 The new management and marketing direction that had been undertaken by the NSWRL in the 1980s meant that at the end of this season the League was able to announce a profit of $3.7 million and an increase in attendance of 22%. Clemes Michael D. New Zealand Case Studies in Strategic Marketing Thomson Learning Nelson 2002 185 9780864694195 23 of the 28 players selected to go on the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France at the end of the season were from the NSWRL. Like the Kangaroos of 1982 who went through their tour undefeated to earn the nickname "The Invincibles", the 1986 Kangaroos would also go through undefeated, earning the nickname "The Unbeatables" Teams The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with thirteen contesting the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, one from greater New South Wales and one from the Australian Capital Territory. BalmainTigers100px|center 79th seasonGround: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Frank StantonCaptain: Wayne PearceCanberraRaiders100px|center 5th seasonGround: Seiffert Oval Coach: Don FurnerCaptain: Dean LanceCanterbury-BankstownBulldogs100px|center 52nd seasonGround: Belmore Oval Coach: Warren RyanCaptain: Steve MortimerCronulla-SutherlandSharks100px|center 20th seasonGround: Ronson Field Coach: Jack GibsonCaptain: David HatchEastern SuburbsRoosters100px|center 79th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Coach: Arthur BeetsonCaptain: Hugh McGahanIllawarraSteelers100px|center 5th seasonGround: Wollongong Showground Coach: Brian SmithCaptain: Brian HetheringtonManly-WarringahSea Eagles100px|center 40th seasonGround: Brookvale Oval Coach: Bob FultonCaptain: Paul VautinNorth SydneyBears100px|center 79th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Brian NortonCaptain: Mark GrahamParramattaEels100px|center 40th seasonGround: Parramatta Stadium Coach: John MonieCaptain: Ray PricePenrithPanthers100px|center 20th seasonGround: Penrith Stadium Coach: Tim SheensCaptain: Royce SimmonsSouth SydneyRabbitohs100px|center 79th seasonGround: Redfern Oval Coach: George PigginsCaptain: Mario FenechSt. GeorgeDragons100px|center 66th seasonGround: Sydney Cricket Ground Coach: Roy MastersCaptain: Craig YoungWestern SuburbsMagpies100px|center 79th seasonGround: Lidcombe Oval Coach: Steve GhosnCaptain: Ian Schubert Advertising 1986 saw the NSWRL's agency, John Singleton Advertising produce an ad themed around the Gladiators photo and the then premiership trophy. The finished 60sec ad is presented with moving footage and stills from the 1963 grand final showing Provan and Summons embrace and stills shots of other 1970s champions including Bob Fulton, Arthur Beetson and John Sattler interspersed with 1985 season images. The theme is of past heroes "who played it tough but played it fair" and the ad closes with the question as to who this year will claim the "Greatest Prize of All" - being the Winfield Cup Trophy, featuring the "Gladiators" statue. Regular season 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 F1 F2 F3 F4 GF Balmain TigersCBY+6CAN+6PAR−15MAN−2STG−15XILA+4CRO+20WES−3PEN+3EAS−10NOR−9SOU+17CBY+28CAN+16PAR−28MAN+5STG−6XILA−14CRO+2WES−30PEN+17EAS+8NOR−2SOU+18NOR+7MAN+7SOU+25CBY−12 Canberra RaidersMAN−8BAL−6ILA−12CRO+14WES−10PEN−6EAS−17NOR+26CBY−6SOU−2XPAR−10STG+3MAN−7BAL−16ILA+14CRO−14WES+32PEN+16EAS+24NOR−21CBY−18SOU−5XPAR+7STG0 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsBAL−6CRO+36WES0PEN+25EAS+7NOR−15XSOU+24CAN+6PAR+9MAN−14STG+3ILA+25BAL−28CRO−10WES+50PEN+5EAS+12NOR+20XSOU−9CAN+18PAR−1MAN−8STG+9ILA+6XSOU+14PAR−22BAL+12PAR−2 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksEAS+10CBY−36SOU+14CAN−14PAR−22MAN−12STG−2BAL−20ILA+20XWES−17PEN−24NOR−21EAS−23CBY+10SOU0CAN+14PAR+14MAN−28STG+8BAL−2ILA+6XWES+14PEN−36NOR−7 Eastern Suburbs RoostersCRO−10PEN+30XNOR−1CBY−7SOU−2CAN+17PAR−32MAN−6STG+5BAL+10ILA−10WES−2CRO+23PEN−20XNOR+7CBY−12SOU+18CAN−24PAR−2MAN+5STG−13BAL−8ILA+2WES+2 Illawarra SteelersNOR−4SOU−3CAN+12PAR−4MAN−10STG+14BAL−4XCRO−20WES+26PEN−4EAS+10CBY−25NOR+6SOU−9CAN−14PAR−7MAN−2STG−12BAL+14XCRO−6WES−14PEN+2EAS−2CBY−6 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesCAN+8XSTG−1BAL+2ILA+10CRO+12WES−10PEN+6EAS+6NOR+4CBY+14SOU−4PAR+12CAN+7XSTG+32BAL−5ILA+2CRO+28WES−2PEN0EAS−5NOR−6CBY+8SOU−5PAR−16XBAL−7 North Sydney BearsILA+4WES+16PEN−28EAS+1XCBY+15SOU−18CAN−26PAR−1MAN−4STG−12BAL+9CRO+21ILA−6WES+2PEN+4EAS−7XCBY−20SOU−24CAN+21PAR+4MAN+6STG−20BAL+2CRO+7BAL−7 Parramatta EelsXSTG+30BAL+15ILA+4CRO+22WES+30PEN−4EAS+32NOR+1CBY−9SOU−7CAN+10MAN−12XSTG+13BAL+28ILA+7CRO−14WES+6PEN+6EAS+2NOR−4CBY+1SOU0CAN−7MAN+16XXCBY+22XCBY+2 Penrith PanthersWES+8EAS−30NOR+28CBY−25SOU−7CAN+6PAR+4MAN−6STG+16BAL−3ILA+4CRO+24XWES+28EAS+20NOR−4CBY−5SOU+3CAN−16PAR−6MAN0STG−4BAL−17ILA−2CRO+36X South Sydney RabbitohsSTG+18ILA+3CRO−14WES+15PEN+7EAS+2NOR+18CBY−24XCAN+2PAR+7MAN+4BAL−17STG−6ILA+9CRO0WES+7PEN−3EAS−18NOR+24CBY+9XCAN+5PAR0MAN+5BAL−18XCBY−14BAL−25 St. George DragonsSOU−18PAR−30MAN+1XBAL+15ILA−14CRO+2WES+14PEN−16EAS−5NOR+12CBY−3CAN−3SOU+6PAR−13MAN−32XBAL+6ILA+12CRO−8WES+4PEN+4EAS+13NOR+20CBY−9CAN0 Western Suburbs MagpiesPEN−8NOR−16CBY0SOU−15CAN+10PAR−30MAN+10STG−14BAL+3ILA−26CRO+17XEAS+2PEN−28NOR−2CBY−50SOU−7CAN−32PAR−6MAN+2STG−4BAL+30ILA+14CRO−14XEAS−2 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 F1 F2 F3 F4 GF Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin Ladder TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1 16x16px Parramatta (P)2416172446280+166372 16x16px South Sydney2415272353318+35363 16x16px Canterbury2415182428264+164354 16x16px Manly2414192476379+97335 16x16px Balmain24130112403387+16306 16x16px North Sydney24130112362416-54307 16x16px St. George24121112360402-42298 Old Penrith 16 Penrith24111122446394+52279 16x16px Eastern Suburbs24100142334364-302410 16x16px Cronulla2491142310464-1542311 16x16px Canberra2481152391413-222112 16x16px Western Suburbs2481152372538-1662113 16x16px Illawarra2470172310372-6218 Ladder progression Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5. Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round. Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round. Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during that round. Team12345678910111213141516171819202122232425261Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 14 16 16 16 18 18 20 22 24 26 26 28 30 32 32 34 35 35 372South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2 4 4 6 8 10 12 12 14 16 18 20 20 20 22 23 25 25 25 27 29 31 33 34 36 363Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 0 2 3 5 7 7 9 11 13 15 15 17 19 19 19 21 23 25 27 29 29 31 31 31 33 354Manly 16 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 12 14 16 18 18 20 22 24 26 26 28 30 30 31 31 31 33 33 335Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers 2 4 4 4 4 6 8 10 10 12 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 20 22 22 24 24 26 28 28 306North Sydney 16 North Sydney Bears 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 12 14 14 16 18 18 20 20 20 22 24 26 26 28 307St. George 16 St. George Dragons 0 0 2 4 6 6 8 10 10 10 12 12 12 14 14 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 26 28 28 298Old Penrith 16 Penrith Panthers 2 2 4 4 4 6 8 8 10 10 12 14 16 18 20 20 20 22 22 22 23 23 23 23 25 279Eastern Suburbs 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 0 2 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 8 10 10 10 12 12 14 16 16 18 18 18 20 20 20 22 2410Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 8 8 8 8 8 10 11 13 15 15 17 17 19 21 23 23 2311Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 6 6 8 8 8 10 10 12 14 16 16 16 16 18 20 2112Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs Magpies 0 0 1 1 3 3 5 5 7 7 9 11 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 15 15 17 19 19 21 2113Illawarra 16 Illawarra Steelers 0 0 2 2 2 4 4 6 6 8 8 10 10 12 12 12 12 12 12 14 16 16 16 18 18 18 Finals HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Playoff 23x23px Balmain Tigers14-7 23x23px North Sydney Bears2 September 1986Sydney Cricket GroundMick Stone10,788 Qualifying Finals 23x23px Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles22-29 23x23px Balmain Tigers6 September 1986Sydney Cricket GroundKevin Roberts17,597 23x23px South Sydney Rabbitohs2-16 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs7 September 1986Sydney Cricket GroundMick Stone24,573 Semi-finals 23x23px South Sydney Rabbitohs11-36 23x23px Balmain Tigers13 September 1986Sydney Cricket GroundKevin Roberts27,035 23x23px Parramatta Eels28-6 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs14 September 1986Sydney Cricket GroundMick Stone32,499 Preliminary final 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs28-16 23x23px Balmain Tigers21 September 1986Sydney Cricket GroundMick Stone32,341 Grand final 23x23px Parramatta Eels4-2 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs28 September 1986Sydney Cricket GroundMick Stone45,843 Chart 150 Qualifying final Major semi-final Grand final Elimination final Minor semi-final Preliminary final 2 South Sydney 16 South Sydney 2 3 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 16 4 Manly 16 Manly 22 5 Balmain 16 Balmain 29 1 Parramatta 16 Parramatta 28 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 6 South Sydney 16 South Sydney 11 Balmain 16 Balmain 36 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 28 Balmain 16 Balmain 16 Parramatta 16 Parramatta 4 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 2 Grand final Parramatta EelsPositionCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Paul Taylor FB Phil Sigsworth 2. Mick Delroy WG 2. Andrew Farrar 3. Mick Cronin CE 3. Michael Hagan 4. Steve Ella CE 4. Chris Mortimer 5. Eric Grothe Sr. WG 5. Steve O'Brien 6. Brett Kenny FE 6. Terry Lamb 7. Peter Sterling HB 7. Steve Mortimer (c) 13. Geoff Bugden PR 13. Peter Tunks 12. Michael Moseley HK 12. Mark Bugden 11. Terry Leabeater PR 11. Peter Kelly 10. Mark Laurie SR 10. Paul Dunn 9.John Muggleton SR 9. Steve Folkes 8. Ray Price (c) LK 8. Paul Langmack 18. Tony Chalmers Bench 14. Geoff Robinson 52. Peter Wynn Bench 15. David Boyd John Monie Coach Warren Ryan Eels coach John Monie had been under pressure since replacing Jack Gibson in 1984, who had coached the club to three consecutive premiership wins from 1981 to 1983. This would also be the farewell season for club stalwarts Ray Price and Mick Cronin, with Eels fans hopeful of a triumphant send-off for the duo. The Eels had made a promising start to the season with a victory in the pre-season competition, and continued their success when they claimed the midweek National Panasonic cup and the minor premiership. The Bulldogs on the other hand were building a dynasty under the Warren Ryan-coached style of uncompromising defence that had changed the game. In prop Peter Kelly, hooker Mark Bugden and three-quarter Andrew Farrar, Ryan possessed a number of defensive hitmen capable of carrying out his game plan. Parramatta's Mick Cronin required a police escort to the match after being stuck in a traffic jam.Fans turn Parra blue and gold The Sydney Morning Herald Australia Fairfax Digital 2009-10-02 http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/fans-turn-parra-blue-and-gold-20091003-ggpe.html 2010-04-11 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20091029151810/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/fans-turn-parra-blue-and-gold-20091003-ggpe.html 2009-10-29 The grand final was fifteen minutes old when Eels winger Mick Delroy was knocked out by a high shot from Farrar while Price suffered a constant barrage from Kelly throughout the first half. Referee Mick Stone at least initially appeared reluctant to send anyone off and Farrar and Kelly benefitted. Stone also disallowed two near tries in the first half to Eels five-eighth Brett Kenny who was ultimately frustrated in his attempt to replicate the two tries per grand final statistic that he'd maintained in each of the 1981, 1982 and 1983 deciders. It wasn't until Kelly was sin-binned for 10 minutes for a high tackle on Price that the Eels started to find gaps in the Bulldogs line. Two minutes before half time and still with 12 men Canterbury looked in trouble when Eric Grothe Sr. set off down the sideline with a clear path. A desperate Steve Mortimer cover-defending run brought Grothe down metres from the tryline. A minute later Cronin opened the scoring for the Eels with a successful penalty goal. Twelve minutes into the second half, Canterbury five-eighth Terry Lamb levelled the score with a penalty goal after Peter Sterling was penalised for a late tackle on Steve Mortimer. With eighteen minutes remaining, Canterbury replacement forward David Boyd was penalised for a high tackle on Price who had by now suffered an hour of ferocious Bulldog attention. Price appeared concussed and the Parramatta trainers unsuccessfully tried to convince him to leave the field. Cronin kicked the resultant penalty and the Eels again took a 2-point lead. After Canterbury fullback Phil Sigsworth was sent off for a high shot on Kenny, the 12 remaining Bulldogs lifted a level and continued with attacking surges. Farrar was stopped by the Eels defence centimetres from the line, Lamb missed an opportunity to level with another penalty attempt and then right on the bell Parramatta forward Michael Moseley, in a career highlight moment, cut down Bugden as the Bulldogs hooker appeared certain to score. Parramatta had taken on Canterbury at their own game - defence-focused trench warfare and managed to keep the game tryless and win the battle of attrition. In the process they halted Canterbury's hopes of three successive titles in the first try-less grand final. Parramatta 4Goals: Cronin 2 Canterbury-Bankstown 2Goals: Lamb 1 Clive Churchill Medal: Peter Sterling (Parramatta)D'Souza Miguel Grand Final History http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/league/2009-grand-final/grandFinal_History.swf https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082626/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/league/2009-grand-final/grandFinal_History.swf dead 19 August 2014 wwos.ninemsn.com.au AAP 8 September 2013 Player statistics The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 26. Top 5 point scorers PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField goals184Canterbury Terry Lamb11668183Old Penrith Greg Alexander11691172Manly Mal Cochrane4780165South Sydney Neil Baker56319164Balmain Ross Conlon4740 Top 5 try scorers TriesPlayer13Manly Phil Blake12Canberra Terry Fahey12Western Suburbs Rod Pethybridge11Canterbury Terry Lamb11Canterbury Steve O'Brien11Old Penrith Greg Alexander11Eastern Suburbs Gary Wurth11Canberra Gary Belcher11Illawarra Alan McIndoe Top 5 goal scorers GoalsPlayer78Manly Mal Cochrane74Balmain Ross Conlon69Old Penrith Greg Alexander66Canterbury Terry Lamb65Canberra Mal Meninga References External links Rugby League Tables - Season 1986 The World of Rugby League 1986 Winfield Cup TVC YouTube. Clarkson, Alan (1997). The Greatest Games We Ever Played (Essay Collection, ed. Geoff Prenter). Sydney: Ironbark Publishing. Results:1981-90 at rabbitohs.com.au 1986 J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup at rleague.comJanuary 2025 medicmedic NSWRL season 1986 at rugbyleagueproject.com Category:New South Wales Rugby League premiership NSWRL season