2002 NRL Grand Final

National Rugby League championship game August 2020 April 2015 2002 NRL Grand Final Telstra Stadium (493858708).jpg Telstra Stadium, where the match was played 50pxNew ZealandWarriors 50pxSydneyRoosters NZL 16px SYD Sydney 16 2 6 8 6 24 30 6 October 2002 Telstra Stadium Sydney, NSW, Australia Clive Churchill Medal Craig Fitzgibbon (SYD) Australian National anthem NZ National anthem David Campbell Jenny Morris Bill Harrigan 80,130 Nine Network Ken Sutcliffe (host) Ray Warren Peter Sterling Paul Vautin Andrew Voss (sideline) NRL Grand Final 2001 2003 The 2002 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2002 NRL season. It took place on Sunday, 6 October 2002, at Sydney's Telstra Stadium. 80,130 people saw the Sydney Roosters beat the New Zealand Warriors 30–8. The Clive Churchill Medalist was Craig Fitzgibbon of the Sydney Roosters. The match was also broadcast live in the United States by Fox Sports World. National Rugby League Grand Final, Live on Fox Sports World This Sunday Business Wire Los Angeles Gale Group 2003-10-03 Background 2002 NRL season 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. Fifteen teams competed for the Minor premiership which, after the Bulldogs were relegated to the bottom of the ladder for salary cap breaches, was claimed by the New Zealand Warriors. The top eight finishing teams were then reduced to two over the finals series. Sydney Roosters The 2002 Sydney Roosters season was the 95th in the club's history. Coached by Ricky Stuart and captained by Brad Fittler, they finished the NRL's 2002 Premiership regular season in 4th place. New Zealand Warriors 2002 New Zealand Warriors season The 2002 New Zealand Warriors season was the 8th in the club's history. Coached by Daniel Anderson and captained by Stacey Jones and Kevin Campion, they finished the NRL's 2002 Premiership regular season in 1st place. Teams It was the final game for Warriors fullback Ivan Cleary and Roosters winger Brett Mullins before their playing retirements.http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/sport-archived2/5205367/Ivan-Cleary-bids-early-farewell-to-Warriors Ivan Cleary bids early farewell to Warriors 29 June 2011 1 August 2018 Stuff.co.nz n center New Zealand Warriors blue black white Sydney Roosters navy white red 17 s n Daniel Anderson Ivan Cleary 1 Justin Murphy 2 John Carlaw 3 Clinton Toopi 4 Francis Meli 5 Motu Tony 6 Stacey Jones (c) 7 Jerry Seu Seu 8 PJ Marsh 9 Mark Tookey 10 Ali Lauiti'iti 11 Awen Guttenbeil 12 Kevin Campion 13 Lance Hohaia 14 Richard Villasanti 15 Wairangi Koopu 16 Logan Swann 17 Ricky Stuart Luke Phillips 1 Brett Mullins 2 Shannon Hegarty 3 Justin Hodges 4 Anthony Minichiello 5 Brad Fittler (c) 6 Craig Wing 7 Jason Cayless 8 Simon Bonetti 9 Peter Cusack 10 Adrian Morley 14 Craig Fitzgibbon 12 Luke Ricketson 13 Bryan Fletcher 11 Andrew Lomu 15 Chris Flannery 16 Michael Crocker 17 RLP Match details Both teams entered the cauldron of Telstra Stadium with great form heading into the contest. The Warriors had won their 2 Finals matches they had had. In Week 1 they beat the Canberra Raiders 36–20 in Auckland, before beating the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16–10 at Telstra Stadium. The Roosters had beaten the Sharks 32–20 at the Sydney Football Stadium, then beating the Newcastle Knights in Sydney. Finally they beat the Brisbane Broncos (whom the Roosters were beaten by in the 2000 decider) in Sydney again. A pre-match performance by Billy Idol was attempted but due to a power outage had to be aborted.AAP Australian Associated Press Idol cancelled due to NRL power shortage http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/06/1033538848105.html 30 August 2011 The Sydney Morning Herald 7 October 2002 1st half The opening minutes were spent with both teams trading blows, the Roosters mainly with the upper hand. However it took till the 23rd minute for the deadlock to be broken, the Roosters scoring through Shannon Hegarty. Craig Fitzgibbon converted the try and the Sydney Roosters led 6–0. Soon, the Warriors found their rhythm and Ivan Cleary got a penalty goal to make the score 6–2 to the Roosters. It remained that way to half time, the Sydney Roosters holding the upper hand over the New Zealand Warriors. 2nd half The second half started rather differently. Within 6 minutes the New Zealand Warriors took the lead. Stacey Jones darted over and the Warriors had the lead when Ivan Cleary converted from in front for a 6–8 score to the New Zealand Warriors. As the game approached its final quarter, a brilliant 40–20 from Roosters five-eighth and captain Brad Fittler saw the Roosters outfit on the front foot again. Craig Wing crashed over, Craig Fitzgibbon converted and the Roosters had a 12–8 lead. It looked as though it was going to be a tense finish but tries to Fitzgibbon, Chris Flannery and Bryan Fletcher as well as 3 conversions from Fitzgibbon meant the Sydney Roosters ran out 30–8 victors over the New Zealand Warriors. The grand final victory ended a 27-year premiership drought at the club.https://www.smh.com.au/sport/roosters-end-title-drought-20021006-gdfp96.html/ Roosters end title drought The Sydney Morning herald 6 October 2002 Match summary #f1f5fc 2002 NRL Grand Final Sunday, 6 October 19:00 AEST (UTC+10) New Zealand Warriors 16px Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters 8 – 30 2–6 6–24 ReportMiddleton David Rugby League 2003 21 April 2024 Harper Sports Sydney 978-0732277536 182–183 1Jones 46 2Cleary pen 29 47 (2/2) 5Hegarty 23Wing 57Fitzgibbon 65Flannery 71Fletcher 74 5Fitzgibbon 25 59 66 71 76 (5/5) Telstra Stadium, Sydney 80,1302002 NRL Grand Final https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2002/grand-final/sydney-vs-warriors/summary.html Rugby League Project 8 March 2023 Bill Harrigan Steve Richards, Shayne Hayne Clive Churchill Medal Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney) World Club Challenge 2003 World Club Challenge The Sydney Roosters' victory in the Grand Final meant that they gained the right to travel to England and play in the World Club Challenge against the winners of the 2002 Super League grand final winners, St. Helens. References External links 2002 NRL Grand Final at NRL.com Match replay at NRL.com 2002 NRL Grand Final at rugbyleagueproject.org 2002 Category:Sydney Roosters matches Category:New Zealand Warriors matches Grand final Category:October 2002 sports events in Australia