1977 NSWRFL season

Rugby league competition March 2024 1977 New South Wales Rugby Football League 125px March 19 – September 24, 1977 12 16x16px St. George 14th 16x16px Parramatta 1st 139 4346 1,440,765 16x16px Mick Cronin (225) 16x16px Russel Gartner (17) Parramatta 16 Mick Cronin Rothmans Medal Newtown Jets 7th 1976 NSWRFL season 1976 1978 NSWRFL season 1978 The 1977 NSWRFL season was the 70th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the St. George and Parramatta clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1977 Amco Cup. Season summary During the pre-season Parramatta forward Graham Olling made headlines when he became the first rugby league player to admit to taking anabolic steroids, which at the time were not illegal in the sport.Curtin Jennie Simply the Best http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news980713_0529_7766 2 January 2012 The Sydney Morning Herald 11 July 1998 Another stir was created at the start of the season by Newtown's recruitment of professional American football player, Manfred Moore. The club's first match of the season at Henson Park attracted the likes of Paul Hogan, Jeannie Little and John Laws who witnessed the American score Newtown's first try. Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, with Parramatta top of the table for much of the season before finishing the home and away fixtures on top of the table. The final five were rounded out by St. George, Eastern Suburbs, Balmain and Manly. Cronulla-Sutherland had been in contention for a finals spot before fading late in the season. The 1977 season's Rothmans Medal, as well as Rugby League Week's player of the year award, was awarded to Parramatta centre Mick Cronin. Teams BalmainTigers100px|center 70th seasonGround: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Ron WilleyCaptain: Trevor RyanCanterbury-Bankstown100px|center 43rd seasonGround: Belmore Sports Ground Coach: Mal CliftCaptain: Bob McCarthy, George Peponis, Tim PickupCronulla-SutherlandSharks100px|center 11th seasonGround: Endeavour Field Coach: Ted GlossopCaptain: Greg PierceEastern SuburbsRoosters100px|center 70th seasonGround: Sydney Sports Ground Captain-coach: Arthur BeetsonManly-WarringahSea Eagles100px|center 31st seasonGround: Brookvale Oval Coach: Frank StantonCaptain: Ray BranighanNewtownJets100px|center 70th seasonGround: Henson Park Coach: Paul BroughtonCaptain: John Floyd North SydneyBears100px|center 70th seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Captain-coach: Bill HamiltonParramattaEels100px|center 31st seasonGround: Cumberland Oval Coach: Terry FearnleyCaptain: Ray HiggsPenrithPanthers100px|center 11th seasonGround: Penrith Park Coach: Don ParishCaptain: Mike StephensonSouth SydneyRabbitohs100px|center 70th seasonGround: Redfern Oval Coach: John O'NeillCaptain: George PigginsSt. GeorgeDragons100px|center 57th seasonGround: Kogarah Oval Coach: Harry BathCaptain: Steve EdgeWestern SuburbsMagpies100px|center 70th seasonGround: Lidcombe Oval Coach: Keith HolmanCaptain: Tom Raudonikis 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 F1 F2 F3 GF GFR Balmain TigersEAS+4SOU−2CRO+10WES+11NOR+19PEN0STG−9PAR−2CBY+7MAN+16EAS0SOU+4CRO−8NEW+17WES+26NOR+9PEN+10STG−4PAR−20NEW+31CBY+17MAN−7MAN+8EAS−24 Canterbury-BankstownCRO−2NOR0STG+10NEW+18MAN+1SOU+1WES−3PEN+11BAL−7EAS−7CRO+23NOR−5STG−3PAR−8NEW+21MAN+5SOU+18WES−7PEN+2PAR−5BAL−17EAS−2 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksCBY+2EAS−11BAL−10NOR+5STG+12NEW+27MAN+6SOU+1PEN−1PAR−7CBY−23EAS−4BAL+8WES+11NOR−6STG−5NEW+33MAN−4SOU+14WES+37PEN+31PAR+5 Eastern Suburbs RoostersBAL−4CRO+11NOR+36STG−4NEW+39MAN+20SOU+11WES−8PAR−7CBY+7BAL0CRO+4NOR+18PEN+15STG−13NEW+13MAN+12SOU+13WES+11PEN+17PAR−8CBY+2STG−5BAL+24PAR−8 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesSOU+18WES+7PEN+24PAR−9CBY−1EAS−20CRO−6NOR+14NEW+5BAL−16SOU+4WES+11PEN+5STG+18PAR+2CBY−5EAS−12CRO+4NOR+2STG−17NEW+48BAL+7BAL−8 Newtown JetsWES+7PEN−11PAR−11CBY−18EAS−39CRO−27NOR−5STG−15MAN−5SOU−13WES−1PEN−16PAR−9BAL−17CBY−21EAS−13CRO−33NOR−23STG−14BAL−31MAN−48SOU+13 North Sydney BearsPAR−3CBY0EAS−36CRO−5BAL−19STG−17NEW+5MAN−14WES+1PEN+4PAR−2CBY+5EAS−18SOU+19CRO+6BAL−9STG−15NEW+23MAN−2SOU+16WES+40PEN+8 Parramatta EelsNOR+3STG−13NEW+11MAN+9SOU+18WES+8PEN+19BAL+2EAS+7CRO+7NOR+2STG+1NEW+9CBY+8MAN−2SOU+1WES+31PEN+19BAL+20CBY+5EAS+8CRO−5XSTG−5EAS+8STG0STG−22 Penrith PanthersSTG−4NEW+11MAN−24SOU−10WES−8BAL0PAR−19CBY−11CRO+1NOR−4STG+17NEW+16MAN−5EAS−15SOU+41WES+12BAL−10PAR−19CBY−2EAS−17CRO−31NOR−8 South Sydney RabbitohsMAN−18BAL+2WES−29PEN+10PAR−18CBY−1EAS−11CRO−1STG−5NEW+13MAN−4BAL−4WES−19NOR−19PEN−41PAR−1CBY−18EAS−13CRO−14NOR−16STG−9NEW−13 St. George DragonsPEN+4PAR+13CBY−10EAS+4CRO−12NOR+17BAL+9NEW+15SOU+5WES+8PEN−17PAR−1CBY+3MAN−18EAS+13CRO+5NOR+15BAL+4NEW+14MAN+17SOU+9WES+45EAS+5PAR+5XPAR0PAR+22 Western Suburbs MagpiesNEW−7MAN−7SOU+29BAL−11PEN+8PAR−8CBY+3EAS+8NOR−1STG−8NEW+1MAN−11SOU+19CRO−11BAL−26PEN−12PAR−31CBY+7EAS−11CRO−37NOR−40STG−45 Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 F1 F2 F3 GF GFR Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 16x16px Parramatta221903448280+168382 16x16px St. George221705402260+142343 16x16px Eastern Suburbs221516392207+185314 16x16px Balmain221327417288+129285 16x16px Manly221408352269+83286 16x16px Cronulla221309433312+121267 16x16px Canterbury2210111283239+44218 16x16px North Sydney2210111377390-13219 16x16px Western Suburbs227015247438-1911410 Old Penrith 16 Penrith226115319408-891311 16x16px South Sydney223019250479-229612 16x16px Newtown222020254604-3504 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. Team123456789101112131415161718192021221Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 382St. George 16 St. George Dragons 2 4 4 6 6 8 10 12 14 16 16 16 18 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 343Eastern Suburbs 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 0 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 10 12 13 15 17 19 19 21 23 25 27 29 29 314Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers 2 2 4 6 8 9 9 9 11 13 14 16 16 18 20 22 24 24 24 26 28 285Manly 16 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2 4 6 6 6 6 6 8 10 10 12 14 16 18 20 20 20 22 24 24 26 286Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 12 12 12 14 16 16 16 18 18 20 22 24 267Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown 0 1 3 5 7 9 9 11 11 11 13 13 13 13 15 17 19 19 21 21 21 218North Sydney 16 North Sydney Bears 0 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 5 7 7 9 9 11 13 13 13 15 15 17 19 219Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs Magpies 0 0 2 2 4 4 6 8 8 8 10 10 12 12 12 12 12 14 14 14 14 1410Old Penrith 16 Penrith Panthers 0 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 5 5 7 9 9 9 11 13 13 13 13 13 13 1311South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 612Newtown 16 Newtown Jets 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 Finals HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Qualifying Finals 23x23px St. George19–14 23x23px Eastern Suburbs27 August 1977Sydney Cricket GroundJack Danzey28,288 23x23px Balmain23–15 23x23px Manly-Warringah28 August 1977Sydney Cricket GroundGary Cook20,716 Semi-finals 23x23px Parramatta5–10 23x23px St. George3 September 1977Sydney Cricket GroundJack Danzey29,794 23x23px Eastern Suburbs26–2 23x23px Balmain4 September 1977Sydney Cricket GroundGary Cook23,785 Preliminary final 23x23px Parramatta13–5 23x23px Eastern Suburbs10 September 1977Sydney Cricket GroundGary Cook39,095 Grand finals 23x23px St. George9–9 23x23px Parramatta17 September 1977Sydney Cricket GroundGary Cook65,959 23x23px St. George22–0 23x23px Parramatta24 September 1977Sydney Cricket GroundGary Cook47,828 Chart 150 Qualifying final Major semi-final Grand final Elimination final Minor semi-final Preliminary final 2 St. George 16 St. George 19 3 Eastern Suburbs 16 Eastern Suburbs 14 4 Balmain 16 Balmain 23 5 Manly 16 Manly 15 1 Parramatta 16 Parramatta 5 St. George 16 St. George 10 Eastern Suburbs 16 Eastern Suburbs 26 Balmain 16 Balmain 2 Parramatta 16 Parramatta 13 Eastern Suburbs 16 Eastern Suburbs 5 St. George 16 St. George 22* Parramatta 16 Parramatta 0* * - Indicates only the replay match, and not the match ending in a draw. Grand final St. GeorgePositionParramatta Ted Goodwin FB 18. Phil Mann 2. Stephen Butler WG 2. Jim Porter 3. Graham Quinn CE 3. Mick Cronin 4. Robert Finch CE 4. Ed Sulkowicz 5. John Chapman WG 5. Graeme Atkins 6. Rod McGregor FE Mark Levy 7. Mark Shulman HB 7. John Kolc 13. Bruce Starkey PR 13. Graham Olling 12. Steve Edge (c) HK 12. Ron Hilditch 11. Craig Young PR 14. John Baker 10. Robert Stone SR 10. Geoff Gerard 9. John Jansen SR 9. Ray Higgs (c) 8. Rod Reddy LK 8. Ray Price 14. Tony Quirk Res. 6. John Peard 17. John Bailey Res. 11. Denis Fitzgerald Harry Bath Coach Terry Fearnley Parramatta boasted an experienced team, making their second consecutive Grand final appearance. The young St. George side dubbed "Bath's Babes", were able to draw on the experience and wiles of their coach Harry Bath, and as the day of the decider approached the betting market narrowed. A crowd of 66,000 flocked to the Sydney Cricket Ground to see an enthusiastic St. George side come out with all guns blazing. Dragons lock forward “Rocket” Rod Reddy, initially dominated proceedings with his brutal defensive play. In attack, diminutive Dragons halfback Mark Shulman made inroads and they went ahead 4–0 with two penalty goals to Ted Goodwin. Just before half time, "Lord Ted" scored a miraculous try when he burst through and chipped ahead from halfway. Confronting his opposite fullback Phil Mann, Goodwin kicked again. A foot race followed with cover defenders Graeme Atkins and Ed Sulkowicz joining. The ball trickled towards the dead-ball line but Goodwin got there first, hitting the ground hard and knocking himself out in the process. He had run 50 yard m 0 and beat every defender to score a breathtaking individual try. John Chapman converted and Goodwin unsteady on his feet for the rest of the half had given his side a handy 9–0 lead going into the break. The second half began like the first, with uncompromising defence. Reddy was targeting Parramatta's champion lock, Ray Price but in the process gave away a number of penalties. Goodwin was felled in an off the ball incident early after the break and took no further part. Mick Cronin slotted three pressure goals to make it 9–6 and the older Eels were well positioned for a comeback against a tiring Dragons defence. With 10 minutes to run, Parramatta pounced when Cronin drew three defenders and found Price in support who stepped through and gave a final pass to Sulkowicz who scored the equaliser out wide. Now Parramatta had the chance to snatch victory through Mick Cronin’s conversion attempt. A prolific goalkicker throughout his career, Cronin had an opportunity which young players dream of – to kick his team to premiership glory. However, the ball sailed to the right of the uprights and moments later the full-time scoreboard read 9–9. Rothfield Phil Buzz names his top 10 NRL chokers The Daily Telegraph Australia News Limited 2010-08-23 http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/buzzwords/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/buzz_names_his_top_10_nrl_chokers/ 2010-08-24 For the first time in history, a New South Wales Rugby Football League Grand final was forced into 20 minutes extra time. Parramatta took command of the restart and looked strong. The Eels almost scored when prop Graham Olling found space near the line, but he failed to pass to his unmarked front rower partner Ron Hilditch. St. George then lifted a notch, grafted out some territory towards the Eels' end and began to think of field goals. Shulman and Chapman both made unsuccessful attempts before reserve Tony Quirk had a third attempt from close range. Quirk's kick initially looked on target but the ball bounced off the post and into the arms of St. George's hooker, Steve Edge. He grounded the ball over the line but was ruled offside by referee Gary Cook. With one minute left Cook awarded a penalty to the Dragons within kicking range. In a final twist, Chapman's attempt went the same way as Cronin's earlier kick and after 100 minutes of Grand final play, the scores were still locked at 9–9. The players initially appeared confused, then began shaking hands. The ground announcer advised that a replay would be required. Greenwood's reference described the match as “the game of the century”. This is a bold claim but it was undoubtedly a brave effort by both sides and a ground-breaking match in Australian rugby league history. St. George 9 (Tries: Goodwin. Goals: Goodwin 2, Chapman.) Parramatta 9 (Tries: Sulkowicz. Goals: Cronin Grand final replay St. GeorgePositionParramatta Ted Goodwin FB Mark Levy 2. Stephen Butler WG 2. Jim Porter 3. Graham Quinn CE 3. Mick Cronin 4. Robert Finch CE 4. Ed Sulkowicz 5. John Chapman WG 5. Graeme Atkins 6. Rod McGregorFE 6. John Peard 17. John Bailey HB 7. John Kolc 13. Bruce Starkey PR 13. Graham Olling 12. Steve Edge (c) HK 12. Ron Hilditch 11. Craig Young PR 14. John Baker 10. Robert Stone SR 10. Geoff Gerard 9. John Jansen SR 9. Ray Higgs(c) 8.Rod Reddy LK 8. Ray Price 20. Barry Beath Reserve 11. Denis Fitzgerald Harry Bath Coach Terry FearnleyFrom the first match, the Dragons had lost halfback Mark Shulman, who suffered a kneeing in the back by Parramatta skipper Ray Higgs, although otherwise their team had come through unscathed. The Parramatta camp had players showing multiple cuts, bruises and bite marks with Ray Price in particular looking like he had been used as a punching bag. Although a grand final replay had not occurred in the Australian game, the young Dragons were able to draw on the experience of "the Old Fox", Harry Bath who had played in the drawn 1953–54 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in England, and whose Warrington side won the replay in front of a then record crowd of over 102,000. The 1977 VFL grand final played the same day, also finished as a draw and would need to be replayed. With a strong breeze at their backs, St George began the match in a determined fashion and were soon in front 7–0 when John Jansen scored following a great forward charge by tireless front rower Bruce Starkey; the final pass, though was at least a metre forward. Twelve minutes into the second half, St George furthered their lead with a penalty goal to Ted Goodwin. Led by Steve Edge, Craig Young and Robert Stone, with the ruthlessness of Rod Reddy and the experience of veteran Barry Beath, the strong Dragons forward pack laid a good foundation and as the match wore on their backline took advantage. Robert Finch and Graham Quinn began to find room in the centres, and the halves John Bailey and Rod McGregor started to outpace their older opposition. A field goal from Goodwin took the score to 10–0 and then after Parramatta were found offside, Goodwin kicked another penalty goal. An incident occurred when touch judge Brian Barry was hit by a projectile from the crowd and collapsed. He had to be replaced by a referees' official, Ray O'Donnell, who was wearing normal street attire. For the remainder of the match top referee Jack Danzey acted as touch judge on the eastern side. Late in the match, Robert Stone found the ball and ran 30 metres to score a rare forward's try right in front of the St. George faithful who, as per the club's tradition, had massed in the Sheridan Stand. With a scoreline of 17–0 the Dragons had the game but then, following a wonderful display of backing up, Saints were awarded a penalty try by referee Gary Cook when John Bailey was taken out by the tired defence. After Goodwin's final conversion and 180 minutes of bone-crushing football, St George were declared the 1977 champions, winning their club's 14th premiership 22–0.Form over five years https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XftjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=feYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=630,6357490 19 June 2011 The Sun-Herald 19 March 1978 It was a fitting farewell for the stalwart Dragons second rower Barry Beath, the last Dragon to retire who had been involved as a player in their unbeaten eleven-year run of the mid 50s to 60s. Beath is credited with the unusual statistic of winning a premiership in his first season (1966) and his last (1977), but none in ten seasons between. St. George 22 (Tries: Jansen, Stone, Bailey. Goals: Goodwin 6. Field Goal: Goodwin) Parramatta 0 Player statistics The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22. Top 5 point scorers PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals213Parramatta Mick Cronin7952175Balmain Greg Cox3830146Cronulla Steve Rogers11561141North Sydney John Gray3660137Manly Graham Eadie3640 Top 5 try scorers TriesPlayer17Manly Russel Gartner14Eastern Suburbs Bob Fulton14North Sydney Barry Wood12Parramatta Jim Porter12Balmain Mike Fish12Western Suburbs Ron Giteau12South Sydney Terry Fahey Top 5 goal scorers GoalsPlayer95Parramatta Mick Cronin83Balmain Greg Cox66North Sydney John Gray64Manly Graham Eadie56Cronulla Steve Rogers References External links 1977 Tied Rugby League Grand final at eraofthebiff.com 1977 Grand final Replay at eraofthebiff.com Results:1971-80 at rabbitohs.com.au 1977 J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup at rleague.comJanuary 2025 medicmedic NSWRFL season 1977 at rugbyleagueproject.org St. George 1977 season at showroom.com.au Greenwood, Geoff. Australian Rugby League's Greatest Games. Rugby League Tables – Season 1977 The World of Rugby League When an American bled for Newtown – article at leaguehq.com.au Category:New South Wales Rugby League premiership NSWRFL season