1976 New South Wales Rugby Football League | |
---|---|
Teams | 12 |
Premiers | ![]() |
Minor premiers | ![]() |
Matches played | 138 |
Points scored | 4390 |
Attendance | 1594183 |
Top points scorer(s) | ![]() |
Player of the year | ![]() |
Top try-scorer(s) | ![]() |
The 1976 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 69th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs 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 Manly-Warringah and Parramatta clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1976 Amco Cup.
This season Eastern Suburbs became the first rugby league team, and one of the first in Australian sport, to have a sponsor's name appear on their jersey. [1]
Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August resulting in a top five of Manly-Warringah, Parramatta, St. George, Eastern Suburbs and Canterbury-Bankstown, who battled it out in the finals.
In a one-off match that would form the foundation of the modern World Club Challenge, the previous season's premiers, Eastern Suburbs played British Champions St Helens R.F.C. on the 29th of June at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 26,865 turned out to see the Roosters beat the Saints 25 to 2.
This season Parramatta front-rower and captain Ray Higgs won both the Rothmans Medal and the Rugby League Week player of the year award.
The 1976 season also saw the retirement from the League of future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Graeme Langlands.
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balmain Tigers | CBY −1 | STG +13 | PAR +16 | NOR +8 | EAS +5 | PEN +14 | NEW +13 | SOU +17 | WES 0 | CRO −3 | MAN −14 | NEW −2 | CBY −17 | X | PAR −4 | NOR −10 | EAS +6 | PEN +7 | STG −11 | SOU +10 | WES +1 | CRO +2 | MAN −19 | ||||
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | BAL +1 | CRO 0 | MAN −10 | WES −7 | STG +2 | PAR +7 | NOR +17 | EAS −1 | PEN −17 | NEW +3 | SOU +13 | NOR 0 | BAL +17 | CRO −16 | MAN +4 | WES +9 | STG +1 | PAR 0 | EAS −23 | X | PEN −4 | NEW +16 | SOU +12 | EAS +9 | STG +16 | MAN −3 | |
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | MAN −12 | CBY 0 | STG −3 | PAR −19 | NOR +14 | EAS −11 | PEN +8 | NEW −4 | SOU +34 | BAL +3 | WES −13 | PEN +1 | MAN −11 | CBY +16 | STG −1 | PAR −23 | NOR +11 | EAS −20 | NEW +17 | X | SOU −3 | BAL −2 | WES +3 | ||||
Eastern Suburbs Roosters | WES −3 | PEN +4 | NEW +4 | SOU −1 | BAL −5 | CRO +11 | MAN +1 | CBY +1 | STG −3 | PAR 0 | NOR +31 | MAN −5 | WES +3 | PEN +7 | NEW +36 | SOU +10 | BAL −6 | CRO +20 | CBY +23 | X | STG −3 | PAR −7 | NOR +31 | CBY −9 | |||
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | CRO +12 | WES +4 | CBY +10 | STG +26 | PAR −3 | NOR +25 | EAS −1 | PEN +13 | NEW +51 | SOU +2 | BAL +14 | EAS +5 | CRO +11 | WES +22 | CBY −4 | STG −8 | PAR −4 | NOR +23 | X | PEN −1 | NEW +8 | SOU +23 | BAL +19 | X | PAR −6 | CBY +3 | PAR +3 |
Newtown Jets | PAR +3 | NOR −9 | EAS −4 | PEN −5 | WES −24 | SOU −18 | BAL −13 | CRO +4 | MAN −51 | CBY −3 | STG −8 | BAL +2 | PAR −24 | NOR −5 | EAS −36 | PEN −7 | WES −11 | SOU −15 | CRO −17 | X | MAN −8 | CBY −16 | STG −17 | ||||
North Sydney Bears | PEN −34 | NEW +9 | SOU −5 | BAL −8 | CRO −14 | MAN −25 | CBY −17 | STG −3 | PAR −36 | WES −29 | EAS −31 | CBY 0 | PEN +6 | NEW +5 | SOU −21 | BAL +10 | CRO −11 | MAN −23 | X | STG +7 | PAR +6 | WES −9 | EAS −31 | ||||
Parramatta Eels | NEW −3 | SOU +17 | BAL −16 | CRO +19 | MAN +3 | CBY −7 | STG −16 | WES +4 | NOR +36 | EAS 0 | PEN +2 | STG +11 | NEW +24 | SOU +14 | BAL +4 | CRO +23 | MAN +4 | CBY 0 | X | WES −12 | NOR −6 | EAS +7 | PEN +1 | STG +25 | MAN +6 | X | MAN −3 |
Penrith Panthers | NOR +34 | EAS −4 | WES 0 | NEW +5 | SOU −11 | BAL −14 | CRO −8 | MAN −13 | CBY +17 | STG +11 | PAR −2 | CRO −1 | NOR −6 | EAS −7 | WES +23 | NEW +7 | SOU −6 | BAL −7 | X | MAN +1 | CBY +4 | STG −3 | PAR −1 | ||||
South Sydney Rabbitohs | STG −21 | PAR −17 | NOR +5 | EAS +1 | PEN +11 | NEW +18 | WES −4 | BAL −17 | CRO −34 | MAN −2 | CBY −13 | WES −21 | STG −6 | PAR −14 | NOR +21 | EAS −10 | PEN +6 | NEW +15 | X | BAL −10 | CRO +3 | MAN −23 | CBY −12 | ||||
St. George Dragons | SOU +21 | BAL −13 | CRO +3 | MAN −26 | CBY −2 | WES −10 | PAR +16 | NOR +3 | EAS +3 | PEN −11 | NEW +8 | PAR −11 | SOU +6 | X | CRO +1 | MAN +8 | CBY −1 | WES +8 | BAL +11 | NOR −7 | EAS +3 | PEN +3 | NEW +17 | PAR −25 | CBY −16 | ||
Western Suburbs Magpies | EAS +3 | MAN −4 | PEN 0 | CBY +7 | NEW +24 | STG +10 | SOU +4 | PAR −4 | BAL 0 | NOR +29 | CRO +13 | SOU +21 | EAS −3 | MAN −22 | PEN −23 | CBY −9 | NEW +11 | STG −8 | X | PAR +12 | BAL −1 | NOR +9 | CRO −3 | ||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | F1 | F2 | F3 | GF |
Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin
Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 499 | 252 | +247 | 32 |
2 | ![]() | 22 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 347 | 238 | +109 | 30 |
3 | ![]() | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 328 | 298 | +30 | 28 |
4 | ![]() | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 399 | 250 | +149 | 27 |
5 | ![]() | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 361 | 337 | +24 | 27 |
6 | ![]() | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 318 | 287 | +31 | 25 |
7 | ![]() | 22 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 379 | 313 | +66 | 24 |
8 | ![]() | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 378 | 393 | -15 | 19 |
9 | ![]() | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 352 | 333 | +19 | 17 |
10 | ![]() | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 297 | 421 | -124 | 16 |
11 | ![]() | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 272 | 526 | -254 | 13 |
12 | ![]() | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 264 | 546 | -282 | 6 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
2 | ![]() | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
3 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 |
4 | ![]() | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 |
5 | ![]() | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 27 |
6 | ![]() | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 25 |
7 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 |
8 | ![]() | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 |
9 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
10 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
11 | ![]() | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
12 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Parramatta were first into the Grand final, triumphing 23–17 in a bloody and brutal major semi-final against Manly. Manly earned a grand final berth the following week, surviving a Canterbury comeback to win 15–12. [2]
Home | Score | Away | Match information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and time | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
Qualifying Finals | ||||||||
![]() | 31–6 | ![]() | 28 August 1976 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Greg Hartley | 28,264 | ||
![]() | 13–22 | ![]() | 29 August 1976 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 27,203 | ||
Semi-finals | ||||||||
![]() | 17–23 | ![]() | 4 September 1976 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Greg Hartley | 30,999 | ||
![]() | 9–25 | ![]() | 5 September 1976 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 27,261 | ||
Preliminary final | ||||||||
![]() | 15–12 | ![]() | 11 September 1976 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 31,381 | ||
Grand final | ||||||||
![]() | 10–13 | ![]() | 18 September 1976 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Gary Cook | 57,343 |
Parramatta | Position | Manly-Warringah |
---|---|---|
FB | ||
2. Jim Porter | WG | 2. Tom Mooney |
3. Ed Sulkowicz | CE | 3. Russel Gartner |
4. John Moran | CE | 4. Bob Fulton (c) |
5. Neville Glover | WG | 5. Rod Jackson |
6. John Peard | FE | 6. Alan Thompson |
7. John Kolc | HB | 7. Gary Stephens |
13. Graham Olling | PR | 13. John Harvey |
12. Ron Hilditch | HK | 12. Max Krilich |
11. Denis Fitzgerald | PR | 11. Terry Randall |
10. Geoff Gerard | SR | 10. Steve Norton |
9. Ray Higgs (c) | SR | 9. Phil Lowe |
8. Ray Price | LK | 8. Ian Martin |
14. Graeme Atkinson | Reserve | 14. Gary Thoroughgood |
15. John Baker | Reserve | 17. Mark Willoughby |
Terry Fearnley | Coach | Frank Stanton |
In 1976, after 30 years of competition, Parramatta reached their first grand final since their admission into the NSWRFL premiership in 1947. Their opponents were Manly-Warringah, who had also joined the premiership in 1947, but were playing in their eighth Grand final, having previously won in 1972 and 1973 with captain Bob Fulton, fullback Graham Eadie, forward Terry Randall and lock Ian Martin having played in those two premiership teams.
Jim Porter scored first, getting Parramatta to a 5–0 lead. A penalty goal to Graham Eadie closed the score to 5–2 before Alan Thompson sidestepped through to send Phil Lowe in for Manly's first and only try. Scores were locked 7–7 at half time.
Geoff Gerard scored an unconverted try for the Eels early in the second half, then two penalties gave Manly an 11–10 lead.
Parramatta missed a critical opportunity to win the game and their first ever premiership with ten minutes of the match remaining: 15 metres out from a wide-open tryline, [3] Eels winger Neville Glover dropped the pass from John Moran which would have given the Eels the match-winning try in the Paddington Hill corner. [4] [5] [6]
Another penalty gave Manly a 13–10 lead. In the frantic dying minutes Parramatta threw everything they had at the Manly defence including the infamous "flying wedge" of dubious legality which had Ron Hilditch at the apex of a phalanx of players driving him towards the line. The wedge was somehow stopped by Eadie a foot short of the try line.[ citation needed ]
The Manly defence held and the Sea Eagles secured their third premiership in five seasons, while the Eels would have to wait five more years for their first.
It was Bob Fulton's 213rd and final match for Manly after a brilliant ten-year career with the club and the grand final victory was largely credited to his experience and brilliance. [7] He was full of emotion as he accepted the J.J. Giltinan Shield and was able to end his playing career at Manly on the highest note. He would later return to the club as a successful coach in the 1980s but first he would finish his playing years and then commence coaching at Eastern Suburbs (Fulton would join Easts in 1977, unable to resist a big-money offer from the club that was backed by one of Australia's richest men and a big supporter of the future rugby league Immortal, Kerry Packer).
Manly's win was a triumph for the powerful triumvirate of Fulton, coach Frank Stanton and Secretary Ken Arthurson who would all go on to higher honours in the game. For Stanton, it was his first success in a coaching career which was to bring two premierships and two Ashes-winning Kangaroo tours. Arthurson had brought to the club players of a calibre to enable five Grand final appearances in the 1970s for four victories. He would go on to become the Chairman of the New South Wales Rugby League and later the Australian Rugby League.
Manly-Warringah 13 (Tries: Lowe. Goals: Eadie 5/6)
Parramatta 10 (Tries: Porter, Gerard. Goals: Peard 2/3)
Referee: Gary Cook
Attendance: 57,343
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
| Top 5 goal scorers
|
The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Commission. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) until 1984. From 1908 to 1994, the NSWRL ran Sydney's, then New South Wales', and eventually Australia's top-level rugby league club competition. The organisation is responsible for administering the New South Wales rugby league team.
Robert Fulton, also nicknamed "Bozo", was an Australian international rugby league footballer, coach and later commentator. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century. As a player Fulton won three premierships with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the 1970s, the last as captain. He represented the Australian national side on thirty-five occasions, seven times as captain. He had a long coaching career at the first grade level, taking Manly to premiership victory in 1987 and 1996. He coached the Australian national team in thirty-nine Tests. He was a New South Wales State selector and a national selector. He was a radio commentator with 2GB at the time of his death in 2021, aged 73. In 1981, he was selected as one of the initial four post-war "Immortals" of the Australian game and, in 2008, he was named in Australia's team of the century.
Kenneth Richard "Arko" Arthurson AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Affectionately known as "The Godfather of Manly", he played, coached and was later an administrator at the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership. Later he ran the NSWRL, and then the Australian Rugby League during the 1990s' Super League war, resigning in 1997 as part of the peace process for creating the unified National Rugby League.
The 1968 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 61st season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Twelve teams, including six Sydney-based foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and the WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between South Sydney and Manly-Warringah.
The 1981 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 74th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta and Newtown clubs. NSWRFL clubs also competed in the 1981 Tooth Cup and players from NSWRFL clubs were selected to represent the New South Wales team.
The 1972 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 65th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from across Sydney, competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match between the Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs clubs.
The 1974 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 67th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from across Sydney, competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match for the WD & HO Wills Cup between the Eastern Suburbs and Canterbury-Bankstown clubs. This season NSWRFL teams also competed for the inaugural Amco Cup.
The 1982 NSWRFL season was the 75th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and saw the New South Wales Rugby Football League’s first expansion since 1967 with the introduction of the first two clubs from outside the Sydney area in over half a century: the Canberra Raiders and the Illawarra Steelers. Thus a total of 14 clubs competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and newly-created Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta and Manly-Warringah clubs. This season, NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1982 KB Cup which was won by Manly-Warringah.
The 1983 NSWRFL season was the 76th season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Fourteen teams competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a replay of the previous year's grand final between the Parramatta and Manly-Warringah clubs. During the season, NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1983 KB Cup.
The 1973 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the sixty-sixth season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. Twelve district clubs from across the city, including six foundation clubs, competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland. This season also saw the introduction of an Under-23s competition to replace the former “Third Grade” as well as a five-team finals series.
Geoff Gerard is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An Australia international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football with Sydney clubs Parramatta, Manly Warringah and Penrith, and also spent time with English clubs Wakefield Trinity and Hull FC. From the time of his retirement in early 1989 to mid-1994 he held the record for the most career New South Wales Rugby League premiership first-grade games until overtaken by Terry Lamb. He holds the distinction of playing in the most first-grade grand finals (four) without ever winning one.
The 1975 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 68th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from across Sydney competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match for the WD & HO Wills Cup between the Eastern Suburbs and St. George clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1975 Amco Cup.
The 1978 NSWRFL season was the 71st season of the NSWRFL Premiership, Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, and Australia's first. 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 Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs that was drawn and had to be re-played. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1978 Amco Cup.
The history of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles dates back to 1932 when the Manly-Warringah Junior Rugby Football League was founded. In 1947 the New South Wales Rugby Football League included two additional teams: Manly-Warringah DRLFC and Parramatta DRLFC. The new club adopted the nickname "Sea Eagles" and went on to compete in every season of top-level rugby league until merging with the nearby North Sydney Bears to form the Northern Eagles club at the end of 1999. After three years the joint-venture team was disbanded with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles returning as a sole entity once more to the National Rugby League.
Mike Anthony Eden is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. The slightly built Eden played for Manly-Warringah, Eastern Suburbs, Parramatta and the Gold Coast in the NSWRL premiership. Originally appearing in the halves, he later played at fullback.
Russel Gartner, also known by the nickname of "Frog eyes", is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An international representative three-quarter, He played for Manly, Balmain and Easts in the NSWRFL premiership.
Jim Porter is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. An Australia national representative winger, he played his club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership with the Eastern Suburbs club and Parramatta. With the Australian team he won the 1975 World Cup, and he also made an appearance for NSW City in 1974.
The 1973 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 27th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947. Manly went into the 1973 season as the reigning premiers having won the 1972 Grand Final defeating Eastern Suburbs 19-14.
The 1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 30th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947.
The 1978 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 32nd in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947.