1986 NSWRL season

Last updated
1986 New South Wales Rugby League
Teams13
Premiers Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta (4th title)
Minor premiers Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta (3rd title)
Matches played163
Points scored5212
Attendance1705156
Top points scorer(s) Canterbury colours.svg Terry Lamb (210)
Player of the year Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Mal Cochrane (Rothmans Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Phil Blake (13)
Balmain colours.svg Garry Schofield (13)

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.

Contents

Season summary

This season saw the opening of the new, 30,000 capacity Parramatta Stadium as the home ground for the Parramatta Eels [1] and on 29 June the final game was played at the old Sydney Sports Ground: Eastern Suburbs Roosters v North Sydney Bears. [2]

In total twenty-six regular season rounds were played from March till September, resulting in a top five of Parramatta, South Sydney, Canterbury-Bankstown (the defending premiers), Manly-Warringah and Balmain who battled it out in the finals (after Balmain had defeated North Sydney in a playoff for 5th spot). Parramatta completed a perfect season, winning the pre-season competition, the midweek Panasonic Cup, finishing the regular season as minor premiers, winning the grand final and farewelling their international long time stars Mick Cronin and Ray Price as victorious champions.

The 1986 season's Rothmans Medallist was Manly-Warringah hooker, Mal Cochrane. Parramatta's halfback, Peter Sterling won the Dally M Award as well as Rugby League Week's player of the year award. The Coca-Cola Rugby League Coach-of-the-Year award was given to George Piggins who took South Sydney to the finals in his first year as coach. [3]

The new management and marketing direction that had been undertaken by the NSWRL in the 1980s meant that at the end of this season the League was able to announce a profit of $3.7 million and an increase in attendance of 22%. [4]

23 of the 28 players selected to go on the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France at the end of the season were from the NSWRL. Like the Kangaroos of 1982 who went through their tour undefeated to earn the nickname "The Invincibles", the 1986 Kangaroos would also go through undefeated, earning the nickname "The Unbeatables"

Teams

The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with thirteen contesting the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, one from greater New South Wales and one from the Australian Capital Territory.

Balmain
Tigers
Balmain Jersey 1984.png

79th season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Frank Stanton
Captain: Wayne Pearce

Canberra
Raiders
Canberra Jersey 1984.png

5th season
Ground: Seiffert Oval
Coach: Don Furner
Captain: Dean Lance

Canterbury-Bankstown
Bulldogs
Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1984.png

52nd season
Ground: Belmore Oval
Coach: Warren Ryan
Captain: Steve Mortimer

Cronulla-Sutherland
Sharks
Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1985.png

20th season
Ground: Ronson Field
Coach: Jack Gibson
Captain: David Hatch

Eastern Suburbs
Roosters
Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1984.png

79th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Coach: Arthur Beetson
Captain: Hugh McGahan

Illawarra
Steelers
Illawarra Jersey 1984.png

5th season
Ground: Wollongong Showground
Coach: Brian Smith
Captain: Brian Hetherington

Manly-Warringah
Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Jersey 1985.png

40th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Bob Fulton
Captain: Paul Vautin

North Sydney
Bears
North Sydney Jersey 1985.png

79th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Coach: Brian Norton
Captain: Mark Graham

Parramatta
Eels
Parramatta Jersey 1986.png

40th season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium
Coach: John Monie
Captain: Ray Price

Penrith
Panthers
Penrith Jersey 1985.png

20th season
Ground: Penrith Stadium
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Royce Simmons

South Sydney
Rabbitohs
South Sydney Jersey 1986.png

79th season
Ground: Redfern Oval
Coach: George Piggins
Captain: Mario Fenech

St. George
Dragons
St George Jersey 1984.png

66th season
Ground: Sydney Cricket Ground
Coach: Roy Masters
Captain: Craig Young

Western Suburbs
Magpies
Western Suburbs Jersey 1984.png

79th season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval
Coach: Steve Ghosn
Captain: Ian Schubert

Advertising

1986 saw the NSWRL's agency, John Singleton Advertising produce an ad themed around the Gladiators photo and the then premiership trophy. The finished 60sec ad is presented with moving footage and stills from the 1963 grand final showing Provan and Summons embrace and stills shots of other 1970s champions including Bob Fulton, Arthur Beetson and John Sattler interspersed with 1985 season images.

The theme is of past heroes "who played it tough but played it fair" and the ad closes with the question as to who this year will claim the "Greatest Prize of All" - being the Winfield Cup Trophy, featuring the "Gladiators" statue.

Regular season

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526F1F2F3F4GF
Balmain Tigers CBY
+6
CAN
+6
PAR
−15
MAN
−2
STG
−15
XILA
+4
CRO
+20
WES
−3
PEN
+3
EAS
−10
NOR
−9
SOU
+17
CBY
+28
CAN
+16
PAR
−28
MAN
+5
STG
−6
XILA
−14
CRO
+2
WES
−30
PEN
+17
EAS
+8
NOR
−2
SOU
+18
NOR
+7
MAN
+7
SOU
+25
CBY
−12
Canberra Raiders MAN
−8
BAL
−6
ILA
−12
CRO
+14
WES
−10
PEN
−6
EAS
−17
NOR
+26
CBY
−6
SOU
−2
XPAR
−10
STG
+3
MAN
−7
BAL
−16
ILA
+14
CRO
−14
WES
+32
PEN
+16
EAS
+24
NOR
−21
CBY
−18
SOU
−5
XPAR
+7
STG
0
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs BAL
−6
CRO
+36
WES
0
PEN
+25
EAS
+7
NOR
−15
XSOU
+24
CAN
+6
PAR
+9
MAN
−14
STG
+3
ILA
+25
BAL
−28
CRO
−10
WES
+50
PEN
+5
EAS
+12
NOR
+20
XSOU
−9
CAN
+18
PAR
−1
MAN
−8
STG
+9
ILA
+6
XSOU
+14
PAR
−22
BAL
+12
PAR
−2
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks EAS
+10
CBY
−36
SOU
+14
CAN
−14
PAR
−22
MAN
−12
STG
−2
BAL
−20
ILA
+20
XWES
−17
PEN
−24
NOR
−21
EAS
−23
CBY
+10
SOU
0
CAN
+14
PAR
+14
MAN
−28
STG
+8
BAL
−2
ILA
+6
XWES
+14
PEN
−36
NOR
−7
Eastern Suburbs Roosters CRO
−10
PEN
+30
XNOR
−1
CBY
−7
SOU
−2
CAN
+17
PAR
−32
MAN
−6
STG
+5
BAL
+10
ILA
−10
WES
−2
CRO
+23
PEN
−20
XNOR
+7
CBY
−12
SOU
+18
CAN
−24
PAR
−2
MAN
+5
STG
−13
BAL
−8
ILA
+2
WES
+2
Illawarra Steelers NOR
−4
SOU
−3
CAN
+12
PAR
−4
MAN
−10
STG
+14
BAL
−4
XCRO
−20
WES
+26
PEN
−4
EAS
+10
CBY
−25
NOR
+6
SOU
−9
CAN
−14
PAR
−7
MAN
−2
STG
−12
BAL
+14
XCRO
−6
WES
−14
PEN
+2
EAS
−2
CBY
−6
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles CAN
+8
XSTG
−1
BAL
+2
ILA
+10
CRO
+12
WES
−10
PEN
+6
EAS
+6
NOR
+4
CBY
+14
SOU
−4
PAR
+12
CAN
+7
XSTG
+32
BAL
−5
ILA
+2
CRO
+28
WES
−2
PEN
0
EAS
−5
NOR
−6
CBY
+8
SOU
−5
PAR
−16
XBAL
−7
North Sydney Bears ILA
+4
WES
+16
PEN
−28
EAS
+1
XCBY
+15
SOU
−18
CAN
−26
PAR
−1
MAN
−4
STG
−12
BAL
+9
CRO
+21
ILA
−6
WES
+2
PEN
+4
EAS
−7
XCBY
−20
SOU
−24
CAN
+21
PAR
+4
MAN
+6
STG
−20
BAL
+2
CRO
+7
BAL
−7
Parramatta Eels XSTG
+30
BAL
+15
ILA
+4
CRO
+22
WES
+30
PEN
−4
EAS
+32
NOR
+1
CBY
−9
SOU
−7
CAN
+10
MAN
−12
XSTG
+13
BAL
+28
ILA
+7
CRO
−14
WES
+6
PEN
+6
EAS
+2
NOR
−4
CBY
+1
SOU
0
CAN
−7
MAN
+16
XXCBY
+22
XCBY
+2
Penrith Panthers WES
+8
EAS
−30
NOR
+28
CBY
−25
SOU
−7
CAN
+6
PAR
+4
MAN
−6
STG
+16
BAL
−3
ILA
+4
CRO
+24
XWES
+28
EAS
+20
NOR
−4
CBY
−5
SOU
+3
CAN
−16
PAR
−6
MAN
0
STG
−4
BAL
−17
ILA
−2
CRO
+36
X
South Sydney Rabbitohs STG
+18
ILA
+3
CRO
−14
WES
+15
PEN
+7
EAS
+2
NOR
+18
CBY
−24
XCAN
+2
PAR
+7
MAN
+4
BAL
−17
STG
−6
ILA
+9
CRO
0
WES
+7
PEN
−3
EAS
−18
NOR
+24
CBY
+9
XCAN
+5
PAR
0
MAN
+5
BAL
−18
XCBY
−14
BAL
−25
St. George Dragons SOU
−18
PAR
−30
MAN
+1
XBAL
+15
ILA
−14
CRO
+2
WES
+14
PEN
−16
EAS
−5
NOR
+12
CBY
−3
CAN
−3
SOU
+6
PAR
−13
MAN
−32
XBAL
+6
ILA
+12
CRO
−8
WES
+4
PEN
+4
EAS
+13
NOR
+20
CBY
−9
CAN
0
Western Suburbs Magpies PEN
−8
NOR
−16
CBY
0
SOU
−15
CAN
+10
PAR
−30
MAN
+10
STG
−14
BAL
+3
ILA
−26
CRO
+17
XEAS
+2
PEN
−28
NOR
−2
CBY
−50
SOU
−7
CAN
−32
PAR
−6
MAN
+2
STG
−4
BAL
+30
ILA
+14
CRO
−14
XEAS
−2
Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526F1F2F3F4GF

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels (P)2416172446280+16637
2 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 2415272353318+3536
3 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2415182428264+16435
4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2414192476379+9733
5 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 24130112403387+1630
6 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears 24130112362416-5430
7 St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons 24121112360402-4229
8 Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers 24111122446394+5227
9 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters 24100142334364-3024
10 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2491142310464-15423
11 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 2481152391413-2221
12 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies 2481152372538-16621
13 Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers 2470172310372-6218

Ladder progression

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
1 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 246810121214161616181820222426262830323234353537
2 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 24468101212141618202020222325252527293133343636
3 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 023577911131515171919192123252729293131313335
4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 24468101012141618182022242626283030313131333333
5 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 244446810101212121416181820202222242426282830
6 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears 24468101010101010121414161818202020222426262830
7 St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons 002466810101012121214141416182020222426282829
8 Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers 22444688101012141618202020222222232323232527
9 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters 024444666810101012121416161818182020202224
10 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 22444444688888101113151517171921232323
11 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 0002222444668881010121416161616182021
12 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies 00113355779111313131313131315151719192121
13 Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers 00222446688101012121212121214161616181818

Finals

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd
Playoff
Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 14-7 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears 2 September 1986 Sydney Cricket Ground Mick Stone 10,788
Qualifying Finals
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22-29 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 6 September 1986 Sydney Cricket Ground Kevin Roberts17,597
South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 2-16 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 7 September 1986 Sydney Cricket Ground Mick Stone24,573
Semi-finals
South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 11-36 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 13 September 1986 Sydney Cricket Ground Kevin Roberts27,035
Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 28-6 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14 September 1986 Sydney Cricket Ground Mick Stone32,499
Preliminary final
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28-16 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 21 September 1986 Sydney Cricket Ground Mick Stone32,341
Grand final
Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 4-2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28 September 1986 Sydney Cricket Ground Mick Stone45,843

Chart

Qualifying finalMajor semi-finalPreliminary finalGrand final
1 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta28 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta4
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury6 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury2
2 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury28
3 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury16Minor semi-final Balmain colours.svg Balmain16
South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney11
4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly22 Balmain colours.svg Balmain36
5 Balmain colours.svg Balmain29

Grand final

Parramatta EelsPositionCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
  1. Paul Taylor
FB
  1. Phil Sigsworth
2. Mick Delroy WG 2. Andrew Farrar
3. Mick Cronin CE 3. Michael Hagan
4. Steve Ella CE 4. Chris Mortimer
5. Eric Grothe Sr. WG 5. Steve O'Brien
6. Brett Kenny FE 6. Terry Lamb
7. Peter Sterling HB 7. Steve Mortimer (c)
13. Geoff Bugden PR 13. Peter Tunks
12. Michael Moseley HK 12. Mark Bugden
11. Terry Leabeater PR 11. Peter Kelly
10. Mark Laurie SR 10. Paul Dunn
9.John Muggleton SR 9. Steve Folkes
8. Ray Price (c) LK 8. Paul Langmack
18. Tony Chalmers Bench14. Geoff Robinson
52. Peter Wynn Bench15. David Boyd
John Monie Coach Warren Ryan

Eels coach John Monie had stepped into the large shoes left by Jack Gibson in 1984 and was under pressure to ensure Parramatta did not fall short for a third year. Eels legends Ray Price and Mick Cronin were in their farewell seasons and the Eels fans at least wanted to see them go out on a winning note. Everything had augured well right through the season with a Parramatta victory in the pre-season competition, the midweek National Panasonic cup and the minor premiership.

The Bulldogs on the other hand were building a dynasty under the Warren Ryan-coached style of uncompromising defence that had changed the game. In prop Peter Kelly, hooker Mark Bugden and three-quarter Andrew Farrar, Ryan possessed a number of defensive hitmen capable of carrying out his game plan.

Parramatta's Mick Cronin required a police escort to the match after being stuck in a traffic jam. [5]

The grand final was fifteen minutes old when Eels winger Mick Delroy was knocked out by a high shot from Farrar while Price suffered a constant barrage from Kelly throughout the first half. Referee Mick Stone at least initially appeared reluctant to send anyone off and Farrar and Kelly benefitted.

Stone also disallowed two near tries in the first half to Eels five-eighth Brett Kenny who was ultimately frustrated in his attempt to replicate the two tries per grand final statistic that he'd maintained in each of the 1981, 1982 and 1983 deciders.

It wasn't until Kelly was sin-binned for 10 minutes for a high tackle on Price that the Eels started to find gaps in the Bulldogs line. Two minutes before half time and still with 12 men Canterbury looked in trouble when Eric Grothe Sr. set off down the sideline with a clear path. A desperate Steve Mortimer cover-defending run brought Grothe down metres from the tryline. A minute later Cronin opened the scoring for the Eels with a successful penalty goal.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Canterbury five-eighth Terry Lamb levelled the score with a penalty goal after Peter Sterling was penalised for a late tackle on Steve Mortimer.

With eighteen minutes remaining, Canterbury replacement forward David Boyd was penalised for a high tackle on Price who had by now suffered an hour of ferocious Bulldog attention. Price appeared concussed and the Parramatta trainers unsuccessfully tried to convince him to leave the field. Cronin kicked the resultant penalty and the Eels again took a 2-point lead.

After Canterbury fullback Phil Sigsworth was sent off for a high shot on Kenny, the 12 remaining Bulldogs lifted a level and continued with attacking surges. Farrar was stopped by the Eels defence centimetres from the line, Lamb missed an opportunity to level with another penalty attempt and then right on the bell Parramatta forward Michael Moseley, in a career highlight moment, cut down Bugden as the Bulldogs hooker appeared certain to score.

Parramatta had taken on Canterbury at their own game - defence-focused trench warfare and managed to keep the game tryless and win the battle of attrition. In the process they halted Canterbury's hopes of three successive titles in the first try-less grand final.

Parramatta 4
Goals: Cronin 2

Canterbury-Bankstown 2
Goals: Lamb 1

Clive Churchill Medal: Peter Sterling (Parramatta) [6]

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 26.

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Cabramatta Two Blues, colloquially known as Cabra, is an Australian rugby league football club that was originally formed in 1919 and then later completely formed as the Two Blues in 1939. They have always based from the Parramatta Junior Leagues, and their junior teams compete in the Parramatta District Junior Rugby League Association. They currently compete in the Sydney Shield and have previously competed in the Ron Massey Cup however both sides did not field a side for the 2022 season in either competition. They play out of the Cabramatta, New South Wales, Sports Ground Complex which can fit up to 5,000 spectators. The Two Blues have won numerous A-Grade Titles with their last Premiership received in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby league in New South Wales</span>

Rugby league in New South Wales is the most popular spectator sport in the state, with the attendance and television audiences exceeding that of the various other codes of football. There are over 400,000 active rugby league participants, with a further 1 million playing the sport in schools, placing the sport second only to Soccer for the most played sport in the state. There is more than 500 active clubs, ten of which are professional teams competing in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Pritchard Mounties</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Mount Pritchard, NSW

The Mounties Rugby League Football Club is an Australian rugby league football club based in Mount Pritchard, New South Wales formed in 1927. They currently play in the Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield.

Ron Quinn is an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played for the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla-Sutherland in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition. Quinn is the cousin of Parramatta legend Mick Cronin.

Michael Pitman is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played for the Newtown Jets and Canterbury-Bankstown in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.

References

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  5. "Fans turn Parra blue and gold". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Digital. 2009-10-02. Archived from the original on 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
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