1980 NSWRFL season

Last updated
1980 New South Wales Rugby Football League
Teams12
Premiers Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown (3rd title)
Minor premiers Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs (14th title)
Matches played138
Points scored4415
Attendance1498634
Top points scorer(s) Canterbury colours.svg Steve Gearin (220)
Player of the year Newtown colours.svg Geoff Bugden (Rothmans Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Western Suburbs colours.svg John Ribot (16)
Balmain colours.svg Wayne Wigham (16)

The 1980 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 73rd 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 WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Canterbury-Bankstown and Eastern Suburbs clubs. NSWRFL clubs also competed in the 1980 Tooth Cup and players from NSWRFL clubs were selected to represent the New South Wales team.

Contents

Season summary

Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, resulting in a top five of Easts, Canterbury, Wests, St. George and Souths who battled it out in the finals.

The 1980 season also saw the retirement from the League of future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Arthur Beetson.

Mid-way through the season, players contracted to NSWRFL clubs were selected to represent the New South Wales team in two games against the Queensland team in 1980. After that the experimental 1980 State of Origin game was played, and NSWRFL clubs' players represented Queensland for the first time.

The 1980 season's Rothmans Medallist was Newtown prop Geoff Bugden. The inaugural Dally M Award, named in honour of rugby league's first "Master" Dally Messenger, went to South Sydney's Robert Laurie. Rugby League Week gave its player of the year award to Eastern Suburbs' halfback Kevin Hastings.

Teams

Balmain
Balmain Jersey 1978.png

73rd season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Dennis Tutty
Captain: Allan McMahon

Canterbury-Bankstown
Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1979.png

46th season
Ground: Belmore Oval
Coach: Ted Glossop
Captain: George Peponis

Cronulla-Sutherland
Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1978.png

14th season
Ground: Endeavour Field
Coach: Tommy Bishop
Captain: Greg Pierce

Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1980.png

73rd season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Bob Fulton
Captain: Royce Ayliffe

Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Jersey 1980.png

34th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Allan Thomson
Captain: Max KrilichGraham Eadie

Newtown
Newtown Jersey 1979.png

73rd season
Ground: Henson Park
Coach: Warren Ryan
Captain: Tommy Raudonikis

North Sydney
North Sydney Jersey 1980.png

73rd season
Ground:North Sydney Oval
Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Kevin Wilson

Parramatta
Parramatta Jersey 1980.png

34th season
Ground: Cumberland Oval
Coach: John Peard
Captain: Ray PriceRon Hilditch

Penrith
Penrith Jersey 1980.png

14th season
Ground: Penrith Park
Coach: Len Stacker
Captain: Tim Sheens

South Sydney
South Sydney Jersey 1980.png

73rd season
Ground: Redfern Oval
Coach: Bill Anderson
Captain: Robert LaurieNathan Gibbs

St. George
St George Jersey 1979.png

60th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval
Coach: Harry Bath
Captain: Craig Young

Western Suburbs
Western Suburbs Jersey 1978.png

73rd season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval
Coach: Roy Masters
Captain: Warren Boland

Ladder

TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 221426339249+9030
2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown (P)221507361334+2730
3 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 221408429308+12128
4 St. George colours.svg St. George 221327367321+4628
5 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 221219392318+7425
6 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 221129420317+10324
7 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 221129335354-1924
8 Newtown colours.svg Newtown 2211110348357-923
9 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 229211350346+420
10 Balmain colours.svg Balmain 227015330382-5214
11 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney 226115282405-12313
12 Penrith colours.svg Penrith 222119294556-2625

Finals

HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Date and timeVenueRefereeCrowd
Qualifying Finals
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown 22–17 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 6 September 1980 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 21,948
St. George colours.svg St. George 16–5 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 7 September 1980 Sydney Cricket Ground Jack Danzey 33,552
Semi-finals
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 7–13 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown 13 September 1980 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 28,883
Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 13–7 St. George colours.svg St. George 14 September 1980 Sydney Cricket Ground Jack Danzey 28,451
Preliminary final
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 41–5 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 20 September 1980 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 28,596
Grand final
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown 18–4 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 27 September 1980 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 52,881

Chart

Qualifying finalMajor semi-finalPreliminary finalGrand final
1 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs7 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury18
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury13 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs4
2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury22 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs41
3 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs17Minor semi-final Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs5
Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs13
4 St. George colours.svg St. George16 St. George colours.svg St. George7
5 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney5

Grand final

Canterbury-BankstownPositionEastern Suburbs
  1. Greg Brentnall
FB
  1. Marty Gurr
2. Chris Anderson WG 2. David Michael
3. Chris Mortimer CE 3. Kerry Boustead
4. Peter Mortimer CE 4. Noel Cleal
5. Steve Gearin WG 5. Steve McFarlane
6. Garry Hughes FE 6. Ken Wright
7. Steve Mortimer HB 7. Kevin Hastings
8. Mark Hughes LF 8. Gary Warnecke
9. Steve Folkes SR 9. Des O'Reilly
10. Graeme Hughes SR 10. John Tobin
11. Geoff Robinson PR 11. Royce Ayliffe (c)
12. George Peponis (c) HK 12. John Lang
13. John Coveney PR 13. John Harvey
Ted Glossop Coach Bob Fulton

Canterbury's loss of long serving fullback Stan Cutler with a broken leg suffered in the major semi-final, and the Roosters' form in the preliminary final resulted in Easts being warm favourites. But the Bulldogs, boasting two sets of brothers in the Hughes and Mortimers came ready to play expansive football. The Roosters began well and Noel Cleal was a constant threat but Canterbury's forwards led by Robinson and Coveney began to get on top. Canterbury's Chris Anderson scored the first try of the match after receiving a blatantly forward pass [1] from Chris Mortimer in the lead up. The Roosters hit back and only desperate cover defence from Steve Mortimer on Easts' winger Steve McFarlane prevented a Roosters try. Ken Wright kicked two penalty goals for the tricolours, resulting in a 7–4 lead to the Bulldogs at half time.

After the break Steve Gearin edged the Bulldogs clear with three successive goals after aggressive play from the Roosters – led by John Tobin's focus on the Hughes brothers – was penalised by referee Greg Hartley. The final Canterbury try by Gearin has been ranked amongst the best of all-time. Five minutes from full-time Greg Brentnall raced downfield and put up a high kick. Gearin followed through at speed and outjumped opposing winger David Michael, catching the ball on the full to score and secure a Bulldogs victory. [2]

It was Canterbury's third premiership and had come after a wait of thirty-eight years. It was the last Grand final to be played on a Saturday afternoon with the deciders since then being played on a Sunday.

Referee: Greg Hartley

Canterbury-Bankstown 18 (Tries: Anderson, Gearin. Goals: Gearin 6 from 6)

Eastern Suburbs 4 (Goals: Wright 2)

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs</span> Australian rugby league club

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the NRL Telstra Premiership, as well as competitions facilitated by the New South Wales Rugby League, including the Canterbury Cup NSW, the Jersey Flegg Cup, Harvey Norman Women's Premiership, Tarsha Gale Cup, S. G. Ball Cup and the Harold Matthews Cup.

Steve Gearin is an Australian former rugby league footballer who represented Canterbury, St George and Manly in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) during the 1970s and 1980s. A key member of the Bulldogs during the 'entertainers' era, one of his finest moments was kicking six conversions from six attempts in Canterbury's 1980 Grand Final victory. He was the top point scorer in the NSWRL in 1980 and 1984.

John Coveney is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales state representative forward, he played in the NSWRFL Premiership for Canterbury-Bankstown, with whom he won the 1980 Grand final and also Western Suburbs.

The history of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs stretches from the 1930s to the present day. Based in Belmore, a suburb of Sydney, the Bulldogs in 1935 were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) competition, a predecessor of the current NRL competition.

1960's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 53rd season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. Ten teams from across the city competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between St. George and Eastern Suburbs.

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 1988 NSWRL season was the 81st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and saw the first expansion of the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership outside the borders of New South Wales, and another expansion outside of Sydney, with the addition of three new teams: the Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast-Tweed Giants. The largest NSWRL premiership yet, sixteen clubs competed during the 1988 season, with the J J Giltinan Shield for minor premiers going to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The finals culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Balmain Tigers. This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1988 Panasonic 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 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.

The 1985 New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the seventy-eighth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Thirteen teams competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Canterbury-Bankstown and St. George clubs. This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1985 National Panasonic Cup.

The 1984 New South Wales Rugby League season was the 77th season of competition between the top professional rugby league football clubs within New South Wales. With the departure from the first grade competition of Sydney foundation club the Newtown Jets at the close of the previous season, 1984 saw thirteen teams compete for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Canterbury-Bankstown and Parramatta clubs. NSWRL teams also competed for the 1984 National Panasonic Cup.

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 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.

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 1979 NSWRFL season was the 72nd season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve New South Wales Rugby Football League clubs 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 Canterbury-Bankstown clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed in the 1979 Amco Cup.

The 1938 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-first season of Sydney’s top-grade rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. The withdrawal of the University club at the end of the previous season saw eight teams from across the city contest the premiership, which lasted from April until September and culminated in Canterbury-Bankstown's victory over Eastern Suburbs in the final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Louis</span> Australian RL coach and former rugby league footballer

Peter Louis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for Sydney's Canterbury-Bankstown club in the 1960s as well as in the country for Woy Woy's club. Louis then started coaching there before returning to Sydney, eventually becoming head coach of the North Sydney Bears in the 1990s. After almost seven seasons he became the National Rugby League referees' coach.

David Michael is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for Eastern Suburbs in NSWRL competition during the 1980s. He played as a wing.

Gary Warnecke is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs in NSWRL competition during the 1970s and 1980s.

References

  1. Haddan p217
  2. Haddan pp214-217