2004 NRL season

Rugby league competition April 2014 September 2020 2004 National Rugby League 100px 15 Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 8th Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters 16th 189 9,086 15,929 3,010,639 Canterbury 16 Hazem El Masri (342) 16px Amos Roberts (23) Newcastle 16 Danny Buderus Dally M Medal South Sydney Rabbitohs 7th 2003 2005 The 2004 NRL season (also known as the 2004 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra) was the 97th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the seventh run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen clubs competed during the regular season before the top eight finishing teams contested the finals series. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs defeated the Sydney Roosters in the 2004 NRL grand final and in doing so claimed their eighth premiership. Pre-season The beginning of the season was largely overshadowed with several Bulldogs players questioned by police in relation to an alleged rape of a 20-year-old Coffs Harbour woman. abc.net.au Bulldogs' accuser gives statement to police ABC News Australia ABC 24 February 2004 http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/200402/s1051920.htm 6 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110629005311/http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/200402/s1051920.htm 29 June 2011 dead An independent investigator, former New South Wales chief of detectives, would later fail to find any evidence of misconduct on behalf of the players, and no charges were pressed. The 2004 World Club Challenge was held on Friday, 13 February 2004, at the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield, England. The game was contested by Bradford Bulls and Penrith Panthers and won by the home team. The salary cap for the 2004 season was A$3.25 million per club for their 25 highest-paid players.http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/663927 https://web.archive.org/web/20121005184004/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/663927 dead 5 October 2012 NRL salary cap guide | | ONE SPORT tvnz.co.nz 22 February 2006 18 August 2012 Regular season Due to a perceived emphasis in the game on defence, NRL referees were instructed to call out "surrender tackle" this season when ball carriers submit at the ruck, signalling the defence to slow down the tackle in order for defenders to reset. Masters Roy Attacking ploy beaten into submission The Sydney Morning Herald Australia Fairfax Digital 20 January 2005 http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/Attacking-ploy-beaten-into-submission/2005/01/19/1106110816673.html 27 December 2009 The first round of the season began on Friday, 12 March with 2003 champions, the Penrith Panthers losing 14–20 to the Newcastle Knights before a crowd of 19,936 at Penrith Stadium. Masters, Roy Roy Masters (rugby league) Knights clean up as Penrith discovers success is a wet cake of soap The Sydney Morning Herald Australia Fairfax Media 13 March 2004 http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/12/1078594571784.html 6 March 2011 During a match between the Broncos and the Tigers, the Broncos fielded 14 men at one stage of the Campbelltown Stadium match. In the 60th minute, Brisbane's Shane Webcke knocked out by Tiger Bryce Gibbs. Corey Parker was brought onto the ground while Webcke was still being assisted off. Parker immediately scored off a Darren Lockyer pass and started a Broncos revival (they trailed 24–8 at halftime) which later saw them win 24–32. But, after the fourteenth man was investigated, the Broncos were stripped of the two competition points, Gould Phil Winning the war on error The Sun-Herald Australia Fairfax 4 April 2004 http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/03/1080941729058.html 4 December 2009 which were reinstated weeks later. A significant comeback was seen in a round 25 clash between the St George Dragons and Manly. Trailing 34–10 after 53 minutes, St. George Illawarra came back to win the match 36–34. This match stood in second-place in the rankings of the biggest comebacks in Australian premiership history. Several players and coaches also made the headlines for the wrong reasons. Jamie Lyon walked out on the Parramatta club after the first round citing burnout and dissatisfaction with living in Sydney, and would later move to the UK for a successful Super League career. Coaches Daniel Anderson and Paul Langmack would have their contracts terminated at the New Zealand Warriors and South Sydney Rabbitohs respectively. Andrew Johns was injured in Newcastle's third game of the season against Parramatta, and subsequently missed the remainder of the season. The Knights missed the finals of the NRL for the first time since 1996. 2004 was also notable for the emergence of teenage players Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs) and Karmichael Hunt (Brisbane Broncos), and their performances, mature beyond their years, would be critical to the fortunes of their clubs. A quirk of the draw meant that the Sydney Roosters did not play a premiership match in Queensland during the season, while there was only one Queensland derby contested during the regular season, in round six in Townsville.http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2004/results.html NRL 2004 - Results Rugby League Project 19 March 2018 The grand finals: Canterbury 16 Canterbury Bulldogs vs Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters (NRL) St George 16 St George Illawarra Dragons vs Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters (NSW Cup) Cronulla 16 Cronulla Sharks vs Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters (NSW Jersey Flegg Cup) The winners in all grades were: Canterbury 16 Canterbury Bulldogs (Seniors Grade) Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters (NSW Cup) Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters (NSW Jersey Flegg Cup) The test match Australia 16 Australia vs NZ 16 New Zealand The State Of Origin Series Queensland 16 Queensland vs New South Wales 16 New South Wales Teams The line-up of fifteen teams for the 2004 premiership remained unchanged from the previous season. Brisbane Broncos 17th seasonGround: Suncorp StadiumCoach: Wayne BennettCaptain: Gorden TallisCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 70th seasonGround: Sydney Showground & Telstra StadiumCoach: Steve FolkesCaptain: Steve PriceCanberra Raiders 23rd seasonGround: Canberra StadiumCoach: Matthew ElliottCaptain: Simon WoolfordCronulla-Sutherland Sharks 38th seasonGround: Toyota StadiumCoach: Stuart RaperCaptain: Brett KimmorleyManly Warringah Sea Eagles 55th seasonGround: Brookvale OvalCoach: Des HaslerCaptain: Steve MenziesMelbourne Storm 7th seasonGround Olympic ParkCoach: Craig BellamyCaptain: Stephen KearneyNewcastle Knights 17th seasonGround: EnergyAustralia StadiumCoach: Michael HaganCaptain: Andrew JohnsNew Zealand Warriors 10th seasonGround: Ericsson StadiumCoach: Daniel Anderson → Tony KempCaptain: Stacey JonesNorth Queensland Cowboys 10th seasonGround: Dairy Farmers StadiumCoach: Graham MurrayCaptain: Travis NortonParramatta Eels 58th seasonGround: Parramatta StadiumCoach: Brian SmithCaptain: Nathan CaylessPenrith Panthers 38th seasonGround: Penrith Football StadiumCoach: John LangCaptain: Craig GowerSouth Sydney Rabbitohs 95th seasonGround: Aussie StadiumCoach: Paul Langmack → Arthur KitinasCaptain: Bryan FletcherSt. George Illawarra Dragons 6th seasonGround: OKI Jubilee Stadium & WIN StadiumCoach: Nathan BrownCaptain: Trent BarrettSydney Roosters 97th seasonGround: Aussie StadiumCoach: Ricky StuartCaptain: Brad FittlerWests Tigers 5th seasonGround: Campbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt OvalCoach: Tim SheensCaptain: Scott Sattler & Darren Senter Advertising In 2004 the NRL and their advertising agency MJW Hakuhodo continued with their use of the Hoodoo Gurus' 1987 hit "What's My Scene" with reworked lyrics as "That's My Team". In addition to the big 60-second season launch TV commercial, three shorter executions were produced: one targeting young men, another targeting women and one aimed at families. In a year where sexual assault allegations damaged perceptions and the reputation of the code, retaining female fans was seen as a massive challenge.http://www.bandt.com.au/news/f1/0c01e3f1.asp B&T magazine article 2004 5 June 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070926222814/http://www.bandt.com.au/news/f1/0c01e3f1.asp 26 September 2007 dead Statistics and records Anthony Minichiello ran 4,590 metres with the ball in 2004, more than any other player in the competition.Proszenko Adrian Gallen set to smash record http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/gallen-set-to-smash-record-20120505-1y5lo.html 7 May 2012 The Sydney Morning Herald 6 May 2012 Hazem El Masri's tally of 342 points from 2004 still stands as the individual record for most points scored in a season in Australian club rugby league history. The St. George Illawarra Dragons's club record for their biggest comeback was set at 24 points when they came from 34–10 down with only 25 minutes remaining to win 36–34 against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. The Brisbane Broncos' 10–0 loss to the Cowboys was their first ever against the Townsville-based club, and the first time they had been held scoreless in Queensland. The Wests Tigers were held scoreless in consecutive weeks (rounds 15 and 16), those two rounds, the Tigers conceded 50+ points, a 50–0 loss to St. George Illawarra Dragons in round 15 and a 56–0 loss to the Sydney Roosters in round 16. Also the Tigers were held scoreless twice against the Roosters, the other time, a 22–0 scoreline in round 9. The North Queensland Cowboys' round 25 clash against the Wests Tigers was their first match broadcast by the Nine Network since round 1, 1995. Ladder Finals series To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre final eight system. The North Queensland Cowboys qualified for the finals for the first time in their ten-year history, and shocked everybody by finishing just one game short of the grand final. During the finals, they won their first ever game against Queensland rivals Brisbane, thus ending the career of Brisbane stalwart Gorden Tallis. Also retiring after the 2004 finals series were Brad Fittler, Ryan Girdler and Kevin Campion. St. George Illawarra Dragons almost capped a remarkable comeback when they trailed 24–0 only after half an hour of play to come back to only lose 31–30 against the Penrith Panthers in the first Qualifying Final. In doing so St. George Illawarra became the first team to finish fifth to bow out after the first week of the finals, giving Penrith a home preliminary final; despite leading 8–4 at halftime in their preliminary final against Canterbury, they lost 30–14, thus ending their premiership defence. Another notable game was the seventh-placed North Queensland Cowboys reaching the finals for the first time and upsetting the second-placed and competition favourites the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30–22 in the 3rd qualifying final. North Queensland also defeated the Brisbane Broncos for the first time ever during the semi-finals but were unable to reach the grand final when they lost to the Sydney Roosters in the Preliminary Final. The North Queensland vs Brisbane semi-final was originally fixtured to be played at Aussie Stadium, however, at the behest of both clubs, and in accordance with Aussie Stadium management, the NRL agreed to move the game to Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-09-13/nrl-confirms-townsville-final/2043508 NRL confirms Townsville final ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 13 September 2004 28 July 2020 North Queensland won the game 10–0, giving them their first ever win over Brisbane and eliminating from the finals in the process. The game was Broncos' captain and club legend Gorden Tallis' last, who coincidentally was born and raised in Townsville.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-09-18/cowboys-one-win-away-from-grand-final/554666 Cowboys one win away from grand final ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Katie Franklin 18 September 2004 28 July 2020 The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs claimed their 8th premiership title by beating the Sydney Roosters in the grand final. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Qualifying Finals 23px Penrith Panthers31 – 30 St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons10 September 2004Penrith Football StadiumSean Hampstead21,963 Brisbane Brisbane Broncos14 – 31 Melbourne Melbourne Storm11 September 2004Suncorp StadiumSteve Clark31,100 Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs22 – 30 North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys11 September 2004Telstra StadiumTim Mander18,371 Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters38 – 12 Canberra Canberra Raiders12 September 2004Aussie StadiumPaul Simpkins18,375 Semi-finals North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys10 – 0 Brisbane Brisbane Broncos18 September 2004Dairy Farmers Stadium¹Tim Mander24,989 Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs43 – 18 Melbourne Melbourne Storm19 September 2004Aussie StadiumPaul Simpkins23,750 Preliminary Finals 23px Penrith Panthers14 – 30 Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs25 September 2004Aussie StadiumTim Mander37,868 Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters19 – 16 North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys26 September 2004Telstra StadiumPaul Simpkins43,048 ¹ Game relocated to Dairy Farmers Stadium, the Cowboys' home ground, from Aussie Stadium. Cowboys designated home team despite the Broncos finishing higher on the table. Finals Chart Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney 38 St. George 16 St. George Illawarra 30 Canberra 16 Canberra 12 16px Penrith 31 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 22 Melbourne 16 Melbourne 31 North Queensland 16 North Queensland 30 Brisbane 16 Brisbane 14 North Queensland 16 North Queensland 10 Brisbane 16 Brisbane 0 Melbourne 16 Melbourne 18 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 43 Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney 19 North Queensland 16 North Queensland 16 16px Penrith 14 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 30 Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney 13 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 16 Grand Final 2004 NRL Grand Final scoreboard Player statistics The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 26. Top 5 point scorers PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals288Canterbury Hazem El Masri111220208North Queensland Josh Hannay8880192Wests Tigers Brett Hodgson11740180Manly Andrew Walker5800162Brisbane Michael De Vere8650 Top 5 try scorers TriesPlayer2323px Amos Roberts18Manly Scott Donald17Eastern Suburbs Ryan Cross17St. George Matt Cooper16Canterbury Willie Tonga Top 5 goal scorers GoalsPlayer122Canterbury Hazem El Masri88North Queensland Josh Hannay80Manly Andrew Walker74Wests Tigers Brett Hodgson65Brisbane Michael De Vere 2004 Transfers Players Player2003 Club2004 Club Andrew Gee Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Retirement Scott Prince Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Richard Swain Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Hull FC Super League: Hull F.C. Rod Jensen Canberra Canberra Raiders North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Jamahl Lolesi Canberra Canberra Raiders Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Michael Monaghan Canberra Canberra Raiders Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Sean Rutgerson Canberra Canberra Raiders Salford City Super League: Salford City Reds Shane Marteene Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Travis Norton Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Steve Reardon Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement Nigel Vagana Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Aaron Cannings Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Parramatta Parramatta Eels Luke Dorn Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Tony Jensen Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Danny Lima Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Warrington Super League: Warrington Wolves Nathan Long Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Ben MacDougall Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Melbourne Melbourne Storm Kevin McGuinness Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Salford City Super League: Salford City Reds Mark Shipway Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Salford City Super League: Salford City Reds Marcus Bai Melbourne Melbourne Storm Leeds Super League: Leeds Rhinos Junior Langi Melbourne Melbourne Storm Parramatta Parramatta Eels Aaron Moule Melbourne Melbourne Storm Widnes Super League: Widnes Vikings Robbie Ross Melbourne Melbourne Storm Retirement Mitchell Sargent Melbourne Melbourne Storm North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Adam MacDougall Newcastle Newcastle Knights South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Tim Maddison Newcastle Newcastle Knights Retirement Sean Rudder Newcastle Newcastle Knights Castleford Super League: Castleford Tigers John Carlaw 23px New Zealand Warriors St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Ali Lauiti'iti 23px New Zealand Warriors Leeds Super League: Leeds Rhinos Logan Swann 23px New Zealand Warriors Bradford Super League: Bradford Bulls John Buttigieg North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Paul Dezolt North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys 23px New Zealand Warriors Paul McNicholas North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Hull FC Super League: Hull F.C. Chris Muckert North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Parramatta Parramatta Eels Shane Muspratt North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Parramatta Parramatta Eels David Thompson North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Alex Chan Parramatta Parramatta Eels Melbourne Melbourne Storm Shayne Dunley Parramatta Parramatta Eels Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Paul Green Parramatta Parramatta Eels Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Daniel Heckenberg Parramatta Parramatta Eels Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Brett Hodgson Parramatta Parramatta Eels Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Jason Moodie Parramatta Parramatta Eels Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Pat Richards Parramatta Parramatta Eels Wests Tigers Wests Tigers David Solomona Parramatta Parramatta Eels Wakefield Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Darren Treacy Parramatta Parramatta Eels Retirement Geoff Bell 23px Penrith Panthers Retirement Shane Elford 23px Penrith Panthers Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Chris Hicks 23px Penrith Panthers Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Ben Roarty 23px Penrith Panthers Huddersfield Super League: Huddersfield Giants Scott Sattler 23px Penrith Panthers Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Colin Ward 23px Penrith Panthers Retirement Jamie Fitzgerald South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Newcastle Newcastle Knights Andrew Hart South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs London Super League: London Broncos Duncan MacGillivray South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Wakefield Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Wade McKinnon South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Parramatta Parramatta Eels Frank Puletua South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs 23px Penrith Panthers Russell Richardson South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Newcastle Newcastle Knights John Cross St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement Chris Leikvoll St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Warrington Super League: Warrington Wolves Amos Roberts St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons 23px Penrith Panthers Hassan Saleh St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Craig Stapleton St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Parramatta Parramatta Eels Eric Grothe Jr. Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Parramatta Parramatta Eels Andrew Lomu Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Todd Payten Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Robbie Beckett Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Retirement Nick Bradley-Qalilawa Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Terry Hill Wests Tigers Wests Tigers N/A Willie Manu Wests Tigers Wests Tigers South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Luke O'Donnell Wests Tigers Wests Tigers North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Corey Pearson Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Parramatta Parramatta Eels Steve Trindall Wests Tigers Wests Tigers London Super League: London Broncos Lincoln Withers Wests Tigers Wests Tigers St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Mark Lennon Castleford Super League: Castleford Tigers Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Andrew Frew Halifax Super League: Halifax St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Scott Logan Hull FC Super League: Hull F.C. South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Tony Martin London Super League: London Broncos 23px New Zealand Warriors Chris Thorman London Super League: London Broncos Parramatta Parramatta Eels Darren Smith St. Helens Super League: St. Helens Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Nick Graham Wigan Super League: Wigan Warriors Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Andrew Walker ACT Brumbies (Super 12) Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Sources and Footnotes External links NRL official website