1988 NSWRL season

Last updated

1988 New South Wales Rugby League premiership
Teams16
Premiers Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown (6th title)
Minor premiers Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland (1st title)
Matches played183
Points scored6,559
Attendance1,966,658
Top points scorer(s) Canberra colours.svg Gary Belcher (218)
Player of the year Cronulla colours.svg Barry Russell (Rothmans Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Canberra colours.svg John Ferguson (20)

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.

Contents

Season summary

1988 was the year of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, and on 4 March, the season opened with the first game of rugby league played at the newly built Sydney Football Stadium. [1] The St. George Dragons defeated the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 24–14. Easts and South Sydney would use the SFS as their home venue from 1988. This saw the end of both the Sydney Sports Ground (which closed due to the building of the SFS) and Redfern Oval as regular venues.

The brand new Brisbane Broncos club, featuring Australian Kangaroos captain Wally Lewis and starting their first ever season of football, played their first match against the previous season's premiers the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and won 44–10.

Eventual grand finalists the Balmain Tigers had a dreadful start to the season with six wins and five losses by the end of the first full round. But their plight was rescued by a masterstroke from their chief executive Keith Barnes. The Great Britain side was touring Australia that season and in strict secrecy Barnes negotiated to have the English captain and centre Ellery Hanley – judged the best player in the English competition the previous season and an undoubted world-class player – to join the Tigers. Barnes got to the NSWRL to register Hanley at 4:55 pm on 30 June, just five minutes inside the deadline for signing players for that season.

The 1988 season's Rothmans Medallist was Cronulla-Sutherland's Barry Russell. [2] The Dally M Award went to Russell's teammate Gavin Miller, and Rugby League Week gave its player of the year award to Balmian's hooker, Ben Elias.

Twenty-two regular season rounds were played in total from March till August, with Cronulla-Sutherland winning their first ever minor premiership since joining the competition in 1967. Penrith and Balmain finished on equal points in fifth place and played each other for the place in the top five, alongside Cronulla, Canterbury, Canberra and Manly.

The grand finals;

The Tests;

The State of Origin;

Teams

This season saw the premiership's first expansion since 1982 with the addition of three newly created teams: the Brisbane Broncos, the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants and the Newcastle Knights. [3] This brought the League another step closer to becoming a national competition as a total of sixteen teams, the largest number in the tournament's history, contested the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one from the Australian Capital Territory.

Balmain
Tigers
Balmain Jersey 1984.png

81st season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Warren Ryan
Captain: Wayne Pearce

Brisbane
Broncos
Brisbane Jersey 1988.png

1st season
Ground: Lang Park
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Wally Lewis

Canberra
Raiders
Canberra Jersey 1988.png

7th season
Ground: Seiffert Oval
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Dean Lance

Canterbury-Bankstown
Bulldogs
Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1984.png

54th season
Ground: Belmore Oval
Coach: Phil Gould
Captain: Peter Tunks

Cronulla-Sutherland
Sharks
Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1985.png

22nd season
Ground: Caltex Field
Coach: Allan Fitzgibbon
Captain: David Hatch

Eastern Suburbs
Roosters
Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1984.png

81st season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: Arthur Beetson
Captain: Hugh McGahan

Gold Coast-Tweed
Giants
Gold Coast Jersey 1988.png

1st season
Ground: Seagulls Stadium
Coach: Bob McCarthy
Captain: Billy Johnstone

Illawarra
Steelers
Illawarra Jersey 1984.png

7th season
Ground: Wollongong Stadium
Coach: Terry Fearnley
Captain: Perry HaddockPaul Upfield

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

42nd season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Bob Fulton
Captain: Paul Vautin

Newcastle
Knights
Newcastle Jersey 1988.png

1st season
Ground: Newcastle ISC
Coach: Allan McMahon
Captain: Sam Stewart

North Sydney
Bears
North Sydney Jersey 1985.png

81st season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Coach: Frank Stanton
Captain: Mark Graham

Parramatta
Eels
Parramatta Jersey 1986.png

42nd season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium
Coach: John Monie
Captain: Peter Sterling

Penrith
Panthers
Penrith Jersey 1985.png

22nd season
Ground: Penrith Stadium
Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Royce Simmons

South Sydney
Rabbitohs
South Sydney Jersey 1985.png

81st season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: George Piggins
Captain: Mario Fenech

St. George
Dragons
St George Jersey 1984.png

68th season
Ground: Belmore Sports Ground
Coach: Ted Glossop
Captain: Craig Young

Western Suburbs
Magpies
Western Suburbs Jersey 1985.png

81st season
Ground: Orana Park
Coach: Laurie FreierJohn Bailey
Captain: Ian Schubert

Advertising

1988 saw the NSWRL move their advertising account from John Singleton Advertising to Hertz Walpole Advertising. There was initially however no shift in the prior campaign direction. For the second year running a visual and vocal performance by Australian rock journeyman John "Swanee" Swan was used. Swanee recorded a purpose-written jingle entitled "The Greatest Game of All" and a rock-clip style ad was shot on a stage setting with smoke, lights and fireworks. The performance footage was interspersed with game action.

Five years later Swan's younger brother Jimmy Barnes would also feature in an NSWRL season advertisement performing alongside Tina Turner.

Regular season

Team12345678910111213141516171819202122F1F2F3F4GF
Balmain Tigers NOR
+20
PAR
−20
NEW
−4
WES
+3
MAN
+2
PEN
−10
BRI
+8
STG
+8
SOU
−9
CBY
+11
CRO
−2
EAS
+10
GCG
+14
CAN
−24
ILA
+12
NOR
+10
PAR
+16
NEW
+2
WES
+6
MAN
−4
PEN
+2
BRI
+10
PEN
+20
MAN
+13
CAN
+8
CRO
+7
CBY
−12
Brisbane Broncos MAN
+34
PEN
+2
WES
+34
NOR
+12
PAR
+6
NEW
+14
BAL
−8
CRO
−30
EAS
+4
GCG
−3
CAN
−20
ILA
+22
STG
+4
SOU
−12
CBY
−15
MAN
+18
PEN
+2
WES
+26
NOR
+18
PAR
−8
NEW
+16
BAL
−10
Canberra Raiders ILA
+20
STG
+24
SOU
+28
CBY
−5
CRO
+18
EAS
+36
GCG
+44
PAR
−28
WES
+14
NOR
−8
BRI
+20
PEN
−6
MAN
−6
BAL
+24
NEW
+18
ILA
+9
STG
+16
SOU
+33
CBY
−7
CRO
−22
EAS
+8
GCG
+20
XCBY
−1
BAL
−8
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs GCG
+11
CRO
+4
EAS
+4
CAN
+5
ILA
−6
STG
+14
SOU
+4
PEN
+6
MAN
−18
BAL
−11
NEW
+18
PAR
+28
WES
+25
NOR
−12
BRI
+15
GCG
+15
CRO
−8
EAS
+15
CAN
+7
ILA
+6
STG
+26
SOU
−4
XCAN
+1
CRO
+18
XBAL
+12
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks SOU
−1
CBY
−4
GCG
+1
EAS
0
CAN
−18
ILA
+18
STG
+16
BRI
+30
PEN
+22
MAN
−14
BAL
+2
NEW
0
PAR
+5
WES
+36
NOR
+4
SOU
+2
CBY
+8
GCG
+20
EAS
+18
CAN
+22
ILA
+8
STG
+2
XXCBY
−18
BAL
−7
Eastern Suburbs Roosters STG
−10
SOU
−2
CBY
−4
CRO
0
GCG
+18
CAN
−36
ILA
−4
NOR
0
BRI
−4
PEN
+22
MAN
+4
BAL
−10
NEW
+16
PAR
−4
WES
0
STG
+21
SOU
−25
CBY
−15
CRO
−18
GCG
+24
CAN
−8
ILA
−21
Gold Coast-Tweed Giants CBY
−11
ILA
0
CRO
−1
STG
−8
EAS
−18
SOU
−12
CAN
−44
WES
−20
NOR
−4
BRI
+3
PEN
−35
MAN
−28
BAL
−14
NEW
+9
PAR
+3
CBY
−15
ILA
+15
CRO
−20
STG
−2
EAS
−24
SOU
0
CAN
−20
Illawarra Steelers CAN
−20
GCG
0
STG
+16
SOU
−13
CBY
+6
CRO
−18
EAS
+4
NEW
+8
PAR
−22
WES
+16
NOR
−29
BRI
−22
PEN
−34
MAN
−16
BAL
−12
CAN
−9
GCG
−15
STG
−2
SOU
−2
CBY
−6
CRO
−8
EAS
+21
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles BRI
−34
NOR
+26
PAR
+52
NEW
+32
BAL
−2
WES
+20
PEN
−22
SOU
−14
CBY
+18
CRO
+14
EAS
−4
GCG
+28
CAN
+6
ILA
+16
STG
+16
BRI
−18
NOR
+4
PAR
+30
NEW
+8
BAL
+4
WES
−3
PEN
+14
XBAL
−13
Newcastle Knights PAR
−24
WES
+4
BAL
+4
MAN
−32
PEN
−6
BRI
−14
NOR
−34
ILA
−8
STG
−12
SOU
+7
CBY
−18
CRO
0
EAS
−16
GCG
−9
CAN
−18
PAR
+1
WES
−10
BAL
−2
MAN
−8
PEN
−11
BRI
−16
NOR
+32
North Sydney Bears BAL
−20
MAN
−26
PEN
−27
BRI
−12
WES
+7
PAR
+4
NEW
+34
EAS
0
GCG
+4
CAN
+8
ILA
+29
STG
−8
SOU
0
CBY
+12
CRO
−4
BAL
−10
MAN
−4
PEN
−5
BRI
−18
WES
+4
PAR
+6
NEW
−32
Parramatta Eels NEW
+24
BAL
+20
MAN
−52
PEN
−2
BRI
−6
NOR
−4
WES
−2
CAN
+28
ILA
+22
STG
−12
SOU
+8
CBY
−28
CRO
−5
EAS
+4
GCG
−3
NEW
−1
BAL
−16
MAN
−30
PEN
−4
BRI
+8
NOR
−6
WES
+4
Penrith Panthers WES
+20
BRI
−2
NOR
+27
PAR
+2
NEW
+6
BAL
+10
MAN
+22
CBY
−6
CRO
−22
EAS
−22
GCG
+35
CAN
+6
ILA
+34
STG
+4
SOU
+8
WES
+12
BRI
−2
NOR
+5
PAR
+4
NEW
+11
BAL
−2
MAN
−14
BAL
−20
South Sydney Rabbitohs CRO
+1
EAS
+2
CAN
−28
ILA
+13
STG
+32
GCG
+12
CBY
−4
MAN
+14
BAL
+9
NEW
−7
PAR
−8
WES
+8
NOR
0
BRI
+12
PEN
−8
CRO
−2
EAS
+25
CAN
−33
ILA
+2
STG
−2
GCG
0
CBY
+4
St. George Dragons EAS
+10
CAN
−24
ILA
−16
GCG
+8
SOU
−32
CBY
−14
CRO
−16
BAL
−8
NEW
+12
PAR
+12
WES
+2
NOR
+8
BRI
−4
PEN
−4
MAN
−16
EAS
−21
CAN
−16
ILA
+2
GCG
+2
SOU
+2
CBY
−26
CRO
−2
Western Suburbs Magpies PEN
−20
NEW
−4
BRI
−34
BAL
−3
NOR
−7
MAN
−20
PAR
+2
GCG
+20
CAN
−14
ILA
−16
STG
−2
SOU
−8
CBY
−25
CRO
−36
EAS
0
PEN
−12
NEW
+10
BRI
−26
BAL
−6
NOR
−4
MAN
+3
PAR
−4
Team12345678910111213141516171819202122F1F2F3F4GF

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

Ladder

TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 221624507330+17734
2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (P)221606412268+14432
3 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 221507596346+25030
4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 221507538347+19130
5 Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers 221507394258+13630
6 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 221507402341+6130
7 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 221408474368+10628
8 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 221228425383+4224
9 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears 229211366424−5820
10 St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons 229013352493−14118
11 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 228014359412−5316
12 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters 226313387443−5615
13 Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers 226115353510−15713
14 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights 225116270460−19011
15 New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants 224216238484−24610
16 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies 224117287493−2069

Ladder progression

Team12345678910111213141516171819202122
1 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 002335791111131416182022242628303234
2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 246881012141414161820202224242628303232
3 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 246681012121414161616182022242626262830
4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 024668881012121416182020222426282830
5 Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers 224681012121212141618202224242628303030
6 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 2224668101012121416161820222426262830
7 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 2468101212121414141618181820222426262828
8 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 244681010121212121415171717191921212224
9 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears 00002467911131314161616161616182020
10 St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons 2224444468101212121212121416181818
11 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 2444444688101010121212121212141416
12 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters 00013334468810101113131313151515
13 Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers 01335579911111111111111111111111113
14 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights 02444444466777799999911
15 New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants 011111111333357799991010
16 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies 0000002444444455777799

Finals

Balmain had staged a gripping charge for the final five, winning nine of their last eleven games including five in a row to leave them in equal fifth spot with the Penrith Panthers at the regular season's end. They then won four sudden death finals to make it to the Grand final.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd
Playoff
Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers 8–28 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 16 August 1988 Parramatta Stadium Mick Stone 14,206
Qualifying Finals
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6–19 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 20 August 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Mick Stone25,327
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 19–18 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 21 August 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Graham Annesley 19,259
Semi-finals
Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 6–14 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 27 August 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Mick Stone28,879
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8–26 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28 August 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Graham Annesley31,684
Preliminary final
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2–9 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 4 September 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Mick Stone34,848
Grand final
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24–12 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 11 September 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Mick Stone40,000

Chart

Qualifying finalMajor semi-finalPreliminary finalGrand final
1 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland82 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury24
2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury265 Balmain colours.svg Balmain12
2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury191 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland2
3 Canberra colours.svg Canberra18Minor semi-final5 Balmain colours.svg Balmain9
3 Canberra colours.svg Canberra6
4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly65 Balmain colours.svg Balmain14
5 Balmain colours.svg Balmain19

Grand final

Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsPositionBalmain Tigers
  1. Jason Alchin
FB
  1. Garry Jack
2. Glen Nissen WG 2. Russell Gartner
3. Tony Currie CE 3. Ellery Hanley
4. Andrew Farrar CE 4. Michael Pobjie
5. Robin Thorne WG 5. Ross Conlon
6. Terry Lamb FE 6. Mick Neil
7. Michael Hagan HB 7. Gary Freeman
13. Paul Dunn PR 13. Bruce McGuire
12. Joe Thomas HK 12. Benny Elias
11. Peter Tunks (c) PR 11. Kerry Hemsley
10. David Gillespie SR 10. Paul Sironen
9. Steve Folkes SR 9. David Brooks
8. Paul Langmack LK 8. Wayne Pearce (c)
14. Mark Bugden Bench14. Scott Gale
15. Brandon Lee Bench18. Kevin Hardwick
18. Steve Mortimer Bench19. Steve Edmed
23. Darren McCarthy Bench
Phil Gould Coach Warren Ryan

This was the first grand final not to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Following Balmain's extraordinary late season run in winning thirteen of fifteen games, the stage was set for a grand final of great appeal. 1980s master coach Warren Ryan of Balmain was up against the club he had coached for four years to three grand finals and two premierships, as well as being matched against the man who had replaced him at Canterbury – Phil Gould. It was master against pupil. At just 30 years of age, Gould was vying not only to become the youngest coach to win a grand final but the first since Balmain's Leo Nosworthy in 1969 to steer a team to premiership victory in his first season coaching the top-grade.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs faced the Balmain Tigers on 11 September 1988 in the first grand final played at the Sydney Football Stadium and the last game for Steve Mortimer. The match was played early so that Channel Ten could broadcast the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The Australian national anthem was performed by Glenn Shorrock.

After five minutes Peter Tunks was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for treading on Ben Elias. The first points of the match were scored shortly after from Terry Lamb's successful penalty kick. Another penalty kick from Lamb put the Bulldogs in front 4 nil. However Balmain grabbed the first try an Elias put up a bomb and was first to the ball ahead of Bulldog Jason Alchin. Conlon's conversion from in front gave the Tigers the lead for first time at 6–4. [4]

A highly controversial tackle by Terry Lamb put Balmain's in form British import Ellery Hanley out of the game before the 30-minute mark had been reached. [5] Hanley staggered off, heavily concussed, with the score at 6–4. Under the rules of the time, Hanley was allowed 10 minutes to recover in the head bin. If he could not return he would need to be replaced. He returned just before half-time and stood, out-of-sorts, on the wing. The Bulldogs then ran in a 70-metre try from broken play and went to the break with a lead of 10–8.

Hanley did not return after half-time and the Bulldogs started to dominate. A great Canterbury team try to Michael Hagan sealed the match. Bruce McGuire scored Balmain's second try late in the match although the outcome was already clear. The match ended on a sentimental note when Gould called the Bulldogs' representative star, former captain and 271-game veteran, Steve Mortimer to the sideline. He was less than fully fit and had his arm heavily padded to protect the wrist he had broken early in the season. However Mortimer had been named as a fresh reserve as tribute to his previous club contributions and the match ended with him moving to dummy half and taking the ball up for the last time.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24
Tries: Nissen, Hagan, Gillespie, Lamb
Goals: Lamb 4

Balmain Tigers 12
Tries: Elias, McGuire
Goals: Conlon 2

Clive Churchill Medal: Paul Dunn (Canterbury) [6]

Player statistics

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

1988 Transfers

Players

Player1987 Club1988 Club
Gavin Hanrahan Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Phil Sigsworth Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Retirement
Terry Fahey Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Retirement
Jay Hoffman Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Retirement
Terry Regan Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
David Boyd Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Glen Frendo Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Pat Jarvis Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Peter Kelly Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers
Chris Mortimer Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers
Peter Mortimer Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
Phil Hurst Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders
Jim Leis Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement
Brian Battese Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders
Kevin Hastings Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Retirement
Glen Leggett Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers
Terry Matterson Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Gary Prohm Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Retirement
Tony Rampling Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Robert Simpkins Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Brad Tessmann Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
John Tobin Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Retirement
Graeme Bradley Illawarra colours.svg Illawarra Steelers Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers
Chris Close Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Mitchell Cox Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Retirement
Ron Gibbs Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Marty Gurr Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
Martin Meredith Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Faxcolours.svg Halifax
Simon Brockwell North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears Retirement
Olsen Filipaina North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears Retirement
Paul McCaffery North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C.
Don McKinnon North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Graeme Atkins Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Retirement
Michael Eden Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Ernie Garland Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies
Neil Hunt Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Stan Jurd Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Retirement
Ken Wolffe Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Retirement
Darryl Brohman Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Retirement
Tony Butterfield Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Warren Fenton Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Retirement
Ben Gonzales Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Chris Houghton Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders
Craig Izzard Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Brandon Lee Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
David Liddiard Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Glenn Miller Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Mark Robinson Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Joe Vitanza Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Neil Baker South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers
Michael Pobjie South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers
Mark Ross South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Glenn Burgess St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Bronko Djura St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
John Fifita St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons Castleford colours.svg Castleford
Marc Glanville St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Chris Johns St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Billy Johnstone St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Billy Noke St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Brian Quinton St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Tony Townsend St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
John Bilbija Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Brett Clark Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons
John Elias Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Craig Ellis Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Retirement
Paul Sheahan Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Gary Webster Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Retirement
Les White Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Grant Rix Valleys colours.svg Fortitude Valley Diehards (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Allan Langer Ipswich Colours.svg Ipswich Jets (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Kerrod Walters Ipswich Colours.svg Ipswich Jets (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Geoff Bagnall Norths Devils colours.svg Norths Devils (BRL) New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Greg Dowling Norths Devils colours.svg Norths Devils (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Trevor Bailey Brothers Colours.svg Past Brothers (BRL) St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons
Peter Gill Brothers Colours.svg Past Brothers (BRL) St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons
Joe Kilroy Brothers Colours.svg Past Brothers (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Clinton Mohr Brothers Colours.svg Past Brothers (BRL) St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons
Gary Smith Brothers Colours.svg Past Brothers (BRL) North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears
Greg Conescu Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Jeff Doyle Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Bryan Niebling Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Wally Lewis Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Gene Miles Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Colin Scott Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Brett Atkins Castleford colours.svg Castleford Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Neil James Faxcolours.svg Halifax New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Kerry Boustead HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears
Mark Hohn Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Peter Smith Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Gary Bridge Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Steve Halliwell Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity New Zealand colours.svg Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Paul Bishop Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Joe Ropati Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Ellery Hanley Wigancolours.svg Wigan Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers
Adrian Shelford Wigancolours.svg Wigan Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Tony Kemp Doncaster Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights

Coaches

Coach1987 Club1988 Club
Wayne Bennett Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Warren Ryan Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers
Tim Sheens Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders

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References

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  2. Paul Tait & Heather Smith (1 September 1988). "Cool Russell is ready to shoulder the burden for Sharks". The Sydney Morning Herald . Australia: Fairfax. p. 50. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  3. "History of the Premiership". centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au. Australian Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  4. Weidler, Danny (11 September 1988). "Minutes that mattered". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Digital. p. 3. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  5. Coady, Ben (28 September 2009). "Grand final dramas". WA Today. Australia: Fairfax Digital. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
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