1991 New South Wales Rugby League | |
---|---|
Teams | 16 |
Premiers | Penrith (1st title) |
Minor premiers | Penrith (1st title) |
Matches played | 183 |
Points scored | 6376 |
Average attendance | 13,187 |
Attendance | 2,413,218 |
Top points scorer(s) | Daryl Halligan (196) |
Player of the year | Ewan McGrady (Rothmans Medal) |
Top try-scorer(s) | Alan McIndoe (19) |
The 1991 NSWRL season was the eighty-fourth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. This year the New South Wales Rugby League experimented with a draft system for the first time. Sixteen clubs competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup premiership during the season, which culminated in a replay of the previous year's grand final between the Canberra Raiders and the Penrith Panthers. [1]
The 1991 New South Wales Rugby League season started with controversy. For the first time a draft system which had been developed was put into operation. The draft allowed teams to recruit players on a roster system based on where the club finished the previous year. It ran in reverse order with the wooden spooners getting first choice and the premiers last. The draft lasted just the one season before being defeated in the courts by players and coaches opposed to its limitations. [2] The controversy started after Terry Hill, who had agreed to join the Warren Ryan coached Western Suburbs, was drafted to play for Easts. Hill appealed his drafting, though his appeal was initially overturned and he eventually agreed to a three-year contract with the Roosters. However, by the end of 1991 the High Court had overturned the draft system and in 1992 Hill was given a release and he was able to move on to Wests.
In 22 rounds of regular season football which lasted from March till August, eventual premiers Penrith won 17 games, drew one and lost only four. The Panthers finished on 35 premiership points and took their first minor premiership ahead of Manly and Norths (both 29 points), Canberra on 28 with Wests sneaking in on 27 points after beating Canterbury 19–14 in a play off.
On 24 July it was revealed that the Canberra Raiders had substantially breached their $1.5 million salary cap for 1991. [3]
The record for attendance at a match at Campbelltown Stadium was set this season with a crowd figure of 21,527 for a game between Western Suburbs and St. George. Also this season the NSWRL took a match between St. George and Balmain to the Adelaide Oval and it was met with success as 28,884 spectators (the highest non-finals attendance of the season) turned out for the game on a cold and wet Friday night in June. The game was taken to Adelaide not only for the NSWRL to expand into traditional Australian Rules Football strongholds, but also as the Dragons long time major sponsor Penfolds is an Adelaide-based company.
The 1991 season's Rothmans Medal was awarded to Canterbury-Bankstown's Ewan McGrady, who was also named as Rugby League Week's player of the year. The Dally M Award was won by St. George's Michael Potter, the first fullback to do so.
The number of teams competing remained unchanged for the third consecutive year, with sixteen clubs contesting the premiership, including five inner Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from greater Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one from the Australian Capital Territory. [4]
1991 again saw the NSWRL use Tina Turner's 1989 version of "The Best" in their advertising. The league's ad agency Hertz Walpole had sufficient extra footage from her 1990 visit to Sydney to add fresh images of Tina to other recent shots of the 1990 finals series and 1991 pre-season training images.
The finished 1991 ad in its full length version shows Tina performing the song in the glamorous surroundings of Boomerang, a palatial harbour-side Sydney mansion. She climbs the Sydney Harbour Bridge and a spectacular final helicopter pull-back shot shows her belting out the anthem from the apex of the bridge. In those days before public access via the commercial BridgeClimb operation this image was as fantastic notionally as it was visually.
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | GF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balmain Tigers | CBY −10 | CRO −40 | NEW 0 | EAS −9 | ILA −3 | PEN −14 | SOU −5 | PAR −1 | BRI +10 | NOR −10 | GCS +8 | WES +13 | MAN +16 | STG −14 | CAN −20 | CBY −2 | CRO +14 | NEW +9 | EAS +18 | ILA +10 | PEN −29 | SOU −2 | |||||
Brisbane Broncos | MAN +10 | STG −8 | CAN +14 | PAR +13 | NOR −5 | GCS +26 | WES −1 | EAS −8 | BAL −10 | CRO +38 | CBY −2 | SOU +16 | PEN +8 | ILA −17 | NEW +10 | MAN −26 | STG −2 | CAN +10 | PAR +24 | NOR +38 | GCS +2 | WES +14 | |||||
Canberra Raiders | NOR −5 | PAR +38 | BRI −14 | GCS +2 | WES −12 | MAN −34 | STG +16 | CRO +16 | CBY +2 | SOU −8 | PEN +20 | ILA −7 | NEW +12 | EAS −8 | BAL +20 | NOR +16 | PAR +14 | BRI −10 | GCS +6 | WES +28 | MAN +1 | STG +32 | X | WES +14 | MAN +8 | NOR +16 | PEN −7 |
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | BAL +10 | EAS +10 | ILA −40 | PEN −20 | SOU −7 | NEW +28 | CRO 0 | STG +10 | CAN −2 | PAR +18 | BRI +2 | NOR +9 | GCS +4 | WES −9 | MAN −10 | BAL +2 | EAS −20 | ILA +7 | PEN −4 | SOU +38 | NEW +14 | CRO +10 | WES −5 | ||||
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | NEW −20 | BAL +40 | EAS −4 | ILA 0 | PEN −7 | SOU +14 | CBY 0 | CAN −16 | PAR −10 | BRI −38 | NOR −9 | GCS +4 | WES −2 | MAN 0 | STG +2 | NEW +8 | BAL −14 | EAS +34 | ILA −38 | PEN +2 | SOU +7 | CBY −10 | |||||
Eastern Suburbs Roosters | SOU −6 | CBY −10 | CRO +4 | BAL +9 | NEW 0 | ILA −21 | PEN −26 | BRI +8 | NOR +2 | GCS +26 | WES +8 | MAN −8 | STG −14 | CAN +8 | PAR −22 | SOU +2 | CBY +20 | CRO −34 | BAL −18 | NEW −10 | ILA −34 | PEN −34 | |||||
Gold Coast Seagulls | WES −6 | MAN −18 | STG 0 | CAN −2 | PAR +8 | BRI −26 | NOR −10 | ILA −42 | NEW +4 | EAS −26 | BAL −8 | CRO −4 | CBY −4 | SOU −16 | PEN −26 | WES −14 | MAN −4 | STG −8 | CAN −6 | PAR −20 | BRI −2 | NOR −22 | |||||
Illawarra Steelers | PEN −22 | SOU +18 | CBY +40 | CRO 0 | BAL +3 | EAS +21 | NEW −14 | GCS +42 | WES −1 | MAN +14 | STG −8 | CAN +7 | PAR −2 | BRI +17 | NOR −22 | PEN −6 | SOU +12 | CBY −7 | CRO +38 | BAL −10 | EAS +34 | NEW +6 | |||||
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | BRI −10 | GCS +18 | WES +4 | NOR +4 | STG +3 | CAN +34 | PAR +12 | SOU +9 | PEN −24 | ILA −14 | NEW −1 | EAS +8 | BAL −16 | CRO 0 | CBY +10 | BRI +26 | GCS +4 | WES −1 | NOR +15 | STG +2 | CAN −1 | PAR +10 | X | NOR −12 | CAN −8 | ||
Newcastle Knights | CRO +20 | PEN 0 | BAL 0 | SOU +10 | EAS 0 | CBY −28 | ILA +14 | NOR −15 | GCS −4 | WES −29 | MAN +1 | STG −8 | CAN −12 | PAR −30 | BRI −10 | CRO −8 | PEN −14 | BAL −9 | SOU +16 | EAS +10 | CBY −14 | ILA −6 | |||||
North Sydney Bears | CAN +5 | WES +3 | PAR +14 | MAN −4 | BRI +5 | STG +7 | GCS +10 | NEW +15 | EAS −2 | BAL +10 | CRO +9 | CBY −9 | SOU +2 | PEN −8 | ILA +22 | CAN −16 | WES +4 | PAR +6 | MAN −15 | BRI −38 | STG 0 | GCS +22 | X | MAN +12 | PEN −2 | CAN −16 | |
Parramatta Eels | STG −26 | CAN −38 | NOR −14 | BRI −13 | GCS −8 | WES −35 | MAN −12 | BAL +1 | CRO +10 | CBY −18 | SOU −8 | PEN −6 | ILA +2 | NEW +30 | EAS +22 | STG −28 | CAN −14 | NOR −6 | BRI −24 | GCS +20 | WES −8 | MAN −10 | |||||
Penrith Panthers | ILA +22 | NEW 0 | SOU +14 | CBY +20 | CRO +7 | BAL +14 | EAS +26 | WES −4 | MAN +24 | STG +2 | CAN −20 | PAR +6 | BRI −8 | NOR +8 | GCS +26 | ILA +6 | NEW +14 | SOU +11 | CBY +4 | CRO −2 | BAL +29 | EAS +34 | X | X | NOR +2 | X | CAN +7 |
South Sydney Rabbitohs | EAS +6 | ILA −18 | PEN −14 | NEW −10 | CBY +7 | CRO −14 | BAL +5 | MAN −9 | STG −24 | CAN +8 | PAR +8 | BRI −16 | NOR −2 | GCS +16 | WES −2 | EAS −2 | ILA −12 | PEN −11 | NEW −16 | CBY −38 | CRO −7 | BAL +2 | |||||
St. George Dragons | PAR +26 | BRI +8 | GCS 0 | WES +2 | MAN −3 | NOR −7 | CAN −16 | CBY −10 | SOU +24 | PEN −2 | ILA +8 | NEW +8 | EAS +14 | BAL +14 | CRO −2 | PAR +28 | BRI +2 | GCS +8 | WES 0 | MAN −2 | NOR 0 | CAN −32 | |||||
Western Suburbs Magpies | GCS +6 | NOR −3 | MAN −4 | STG −2 | CAN +12 | PAR +35 | BRI +1 | PEN +4 | ILA +1 | NEW +29 | EAS −8 | BAL −13 | CRO +2 | CBY +9 | SOU +2 | GCS +14 | NOR −4 | MAN +1 | STG 0 | CAN −28 | PAR +8 | BRI −14 | CBY +5 | CAN −14 | |||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | GF |
Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin
Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Penrith (P) | 22 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 483 | 250 | +233 | 35 |
2 | Manly-Warringah | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 391 | 299 | +92 | 29 |
3 | North Sydney | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 345 | 303 | +42 | 29 |
4 | Canberra | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 452 | 327 | +125 | 28 |
5 | Canterbury-Bankstown | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 424 | 374 | +50 | 27 |
6 | Western Suburbs | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 359 | 311 | +48 | 27 |
7 | Brisbane | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 470 | 326 | +144 | 26 |
8 | Illawarra | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 451 | 291 | +160 | 25 |
9 | St. George | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 388 | 320 | +68 | 25 |
10 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 384 | 441 | -57 | 19 |
11 | Eastern Suburbs | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 337 | 487 | -150 | 19 |
12 | Balmain | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 351 | 412 | -61 | 17 |
13 | Newcastle | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 308 | 424 | -116 | 15 |
14 | South Sydney | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 370 | 513 | -143 | 14 |
15 | Parramatta | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 351 | 534 | -183 | 12 |
16 | Gold Coast | 22 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 240 | 492 | -252 | 5 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Penrith Panthers | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
2 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 29 |
3 | North Sydney Bears | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 29 |
4 | Canberra Raiders | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 |
5 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 |
6 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 |
7 | Brisbane Broncos | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 |
8 | Illawarra Steelers | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 25 |
9 | St. George Dragons | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
10 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 |
11 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
12 | Balmain Tigers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
13 | Newcastle Knights | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
14 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 |
15 | Parramatta Eels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
16 | Gold Coast Seagulls | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
Playoff | ||||||||
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 14–19 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 27 August 1991 | Parramatta Stadium | Bill Harrigan | 17,022 | ||
Preliminary Semi-finals | ||||||||
Canberra Raiders | 22–8 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 31 August 1991 | Sydney Football Stadium | Eddie Ward | 24,792 | ||
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 16–28 | North Sydney Bears | 1 September 1991 | Sydney Football Stadium | Bill Harrigan | 32,878 | ||
Semi-finals | ||||||||
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 26–34 | Canberra Raiders | 7 September 1991 | Sydney Football Stadium | Bill Harrigan | 34,707 | ||
Penrith Panthers | 16–14 | North Sydney Bears | 8 September 1991 | Sydney Football Stadium | Eddie Ward | 38,635 | ||
Preliminary final | ||||||||
North Sydney Bears | 14–30 | Canberra Raiders | 15 September 1991 | Sydney Football Stadium | Bill Harrigan | 39,665 | ||
Grand final | ||||||||
Penrith Panthers | 19-12 | Canberra Raiders | 22 September 1991 | Sydney Football Stadium | Bill Harrigan | 41,815 |
Qualifying final | Major semi-final | Preliminary final | Grand final | |||||||||||||||
1 | Penrith | 16 | Penrith | 19 | ||||||||||||||
North Sydney | 14 | Canberra | 12 | |||||||||||||||
2 | Manly | 16 | North Sydney | 14 | ||||||||||||||
3 | North Sydney | 28 | Minor semi-final | Canberra | 30 | |||||||||||||
Manly | 26 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Canberra | 22 | Canberra | 34 | ||||||||||||||
5 | Western Suburbs | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
On the sunny afternoon of Sunday, 22 September the Sydney Football Stadium was packed to capacity with a crowd of 41,815 for the rematch of the previous season's grand final, and Canberra's third in a row. [5] [6] [7] The day also featured a tribute to the original 'Gladiators', Norm Provan and Arthur Summons on the Winfield Cup trophy's 10th anniversary (in the 50th grand final played) as well as a rendition of the national anthem by Anthony Warlow. The game was broadcast live on television throughout Australia by Channel Ten with match commentary by Graeme Hughes, Bill Anderson and Wayne Pearce. This would be Ten's final rugby league broadcast, as the Nine Network took over the rights the following season.
Penrith Panthers | Position | Canberra Raiders |
---|---|---|
1 Greg Barwick | FB | 1 Gary Belcher |
2 Graham Mackay | WG | 2 Paul Martin |
3 Brad Fittler | CE | 3 Mal Meninga (c) |
4 Col Bentley | CE | 4 Mark Bell |
5 Paul Smith | WG | 5 Matthew Wood |
6 Steve Carter | 5/8th | 6 Laurie Daley |
7 Greg Alexander (c) | HB | 7 Ricky Stuart |
8 Paul Clarke | PR | 8 Brent Todd |
9 Royce Simmons | HK | 9 Steve Walters |
10 Paul Dunn | PR | 10 Glenn Lazarus |
11 Mark Geyer | SR | 11 David Barnhill |
12 Barry Walker | SR | 12 Gary Coyne |
13 Col van der Voort | LF | 13 Bradley Clyde |
15 Brad Izzard | Int. | 16 Scott Gale |
16 John Cartwright | Int. | 40 Darren Fritz |
Int. | 19 Michael Twigg | |
Phil Gould | Coach | Tim Sheens |
1st half
Referee Bill Harrigan blew time on and the Penrith side kicked off. Around seven minutes later when Penrith had made their way into good field position, their hooker Royce Simmons received the ball about ten metres from the try-line and ran it, stepping and spinning his way past several defenders to score a great individual try, [8] his first of the season. [9] Penrith captain Greg Alexander kicked the conversion for his side to lead 6–0. Shortly after that Canberra's half-back Ricky Stuart got the ball a few metres into Penrith's half and kicked over to the open left corner of the field where his winger, Matthew Wood was racing through to grab the bouncing ball and dive over in the corner to score. Meninga's conversion attempt missed so the Penrith side held their lead at 6–4. The scores were levelled a few minutes later though when Alexander appeared to be trying to put his knees into Meninga as he tackled him, drawing a penalty, which Canberra captain successfully kicked to make it 6-6. Meninga later opted to take the kick when awarded another penalty inside Penrith's half, but missed. Soon after that Canberra had the ball on the right wing around half way and swung it through the hands out to the left where their lock forward Bradley Clyde made a break and passed it on to Wood to again cross in the corner for his second try. [10] Meninga's kick was wide again so the Raiders were leading 6-10.
The contest continued to be played from end to end of the field. In the final minutes of the first half, during one of Canberra's attacking raids they got another penalty and Matthew Wood took the kick, getting another two points for his side to lead 6-12 going into the break. The Raiders lead could have easily been 18-6 had Penrith winger Graham Mackay not pulled off a great try-saving tackle only metres from the line on his opposite number Paul Martin close to half-time. The half-time score replicated the position of the two teams at the same point in the previous year's decider. [11]
2nd half
Early in the second half Canberra were penalised for stripping in their own half of the field and Alexander took the kick at goal but missed. Then as the Canberra side were trying to work the ball away from their goal-line, they knocked on, with Penrith winger Paul Smith getting the ball and diving over in the corner. However referee Bill Harrigan called the play back after touch judge Martin Weekes reported that Canberra's Mark Bell had been taken out with a swinging arm. Penrith forward Mark Geyer's reaction to the ruling prompted Harrigan to send him to the sin bin for ten minutes. [12] Later the Penrith club appeared certain to score from close range through Brad Izzard but Canberra's lone defender Laurie Daley stripped the ball in a one-on-one tackle. [13]
Penrith's unsuccessful scoring opportunities continued until finally, after working the ball up to the opposition's half, they kept it alive on the third tackle till Brad Izzard broke free from over twenty metres out and ran to the try-line to touch down behind the uprights. The scores were brought level at 12 all when Alexander kicked the extra two points. With just under seven minutes of the match remaining, and again having worked the ball into Canberra's half of the field, Penrith on the fifth tackle passed it to Greg Alexander just past the forty-metre line to kick a field goal, getting his side a one-point lead at 13–12. [14] Penrith continued to enjoy the majority of possession and field position, [15] and when the Raiders attempted a short line drop-out Geyer got the bouncing ball in open space, passing it to 33-year-old Royce Simmons who scored in the corner, getting Penrith their first premiership in the last match of his career. [16] Alexander kicked the conversion from the sideline so the final score was 19–12. [17]
Penrith Panthers 19
Tries: Simmons 2, Izzard
Goals: Alexander 3/3
Field Goal: Alexander
Canberra Raiders 12
Tries: Wood 2
Goals: Meninga 1/2, Wood 1/1
Clive Churchill Medal winner: Bradley Clyde (Canberra) [18]
Post match
Although MMI's unofficial man-of-the-match award went to Royce Simmons, the Governor of New South Wales Peter Sinclair awarded the Clive Churchill Medal to the losing side's Bradley Clyde, [19] the second time that he won the prestigious award, having previously won the Clive Churchill medal in 1989. [20] The Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke then presented Penrith captain Greg Alexander with the Winfield Cup trophy as well as the J. J. Giltinan Shield. It was the Penrith Panthers' first premiership [21] and their young coach, Phil Gould has rated his team's second half in this game as an example of a perfect half of football. [22] After failing to follow their first half game plan and squandering an early lead, in the second half the Panthers played to a formula of taking the ball up for full sets of six tackles, with Alexander then expertly kicking for the corners and the whole side pinning Canberra down at their own end with committed defence.
Having won the premiership, the Panthers travelled to England to face the British Champions, Wigan in the 1991 World Club Challenge on 9 October at Anfield, Liverpool. Penrith were defeated 4 to 21 in front of 20,152 spectators.
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
| Top 5 goal scorers
|
The regular season attendances for the 1991 season aggregated to a total of 2,413,218 at an average of 13,188 per game.
The highest ten regular season match attendances: [23]
Crowd | Venue | Home Team | Opponent | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|
28,884 | Adelaide Oval | St. George Dragons | Balmain Tigers | Round 14 |
27,904 | Marathon Stadium | Newcastle Knights | Balmain Tigers | Round 3 |
26,165 | Lang Park | Brisbane Broncos | Penrith Panthers | Round 13 |
25,126 | Lang Park | Brisbane Broncos | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Round 1 |
24,460 | Bruce Stadium | Canberra Raiders | St. George Dragons | Round 22 |
23,849 | Lang Park | Brisbane Broncos | Gold Coast Seagulls | Round 6 |
23,801 | Lang Park | Brisbane Broncos | Canberra Raiders | Round 3 |
23,518 | Marathon Stadium | Newcastle Knights | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Round 5 |
22,682 | Marathon Stadium | Newcastle Knights | Brisbane Broncos | Round 15 |
22,032 | North Sydney Oval | North Sydney Bears | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Round 19 |
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL). The team is based 55 km (34 mi) west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrith are the current reigning NRL Premiers, having won the title five times, including the last three times consecutively.
Malcolm Norman Meninga is an Australian professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Australian national team and a former professional rugby league footballer. Meninga is widely regarded as one of the finest players in the game's history. He enjoyed a long career in both Australia and England, playing mainly as a goal-kicking centre. After retiring, Meninga has enjoyed success as a coach, and is currently the head coach of Australia.
Gregory Peter Stephen Alexander, also known by the nickname of "Brandy", is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, who has since become a radio, television commentator and rugby league journalist. Originally a goal-kicking half-back, in his career he played for and captained the Penrith Panthers and the Auckland Warriors clubs and also represented his country and state on several occasions. Alexander's position for the majority of his career was at half-back, however early in his career – particularly in representative sides – he was moved to fullback. It was this ability to play different positions with great success that saw Alexander make both the 1986 and the 1990 Kangaroo Tours.
Laurie William Daley AM, also known by the nicknames of "Lozza" and "Loz", is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and a former player who played as a centre and five-eighth in the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.
Mark Bradley Geyer is an Australian radio host and former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-rower, he is a rugby league media identity. Geyer's club career was played primarily with Penrith, with whom he won a premiership in 1991, as well as the Balmain Tigers and the Western Reds. He is the brother of fellow former professional rugby league footballer Matt Geyer.
Ricky John Stuart is an Australian professional rugby league football coach who is the head coach of the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL) and a former rugby league footballer who played as a halfback in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
Royce Michael Simmons is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. A one-club man, he played as a hooker for the Penrith Panthers in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) from 1980 to 1991, winning a premiership in his final season. He later coached the Panthers from 1994 to 2001, in between coaching English sides Hull F.C. (1992–94) and St Helens (2011–12).
The S. G. Ball Cup is a junior rugby league football competition played predominantly in New South Wales, between teams made up of players aged under 19. Teams from Canberra and Melbourne also participate. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales teams from Perth and Auckland also participated. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League. The competition includes both junior representative teams of NRL and NSW Cup clubs that do not field a team in the NRL competition.
The 1994 NSWRL season was the eighty-seventh season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen clubs, including 14 from within the borders of New South Wales plus two from Queensland, competed for the J J Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match for the Winfield Cup trophy between the Canberra Raiders and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
The 1993 NSWRL season was the eighty-sixth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. The New South Wales Rugby League's sixteen teams competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a replay of the previous year's grand final for the Winfield Cup trophy between the Brisbane Broncos and St. George Dragons. As Sydney celebrated winning the 2000 Olympic Games, Brisbane spoiled the party by retaining the NSWRL premiership.
The 1992 New South Wales Rugby League Premiership season was the eighty-fifth season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen teams competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield during the season which culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Brisbane Broncos, making their grand final debut, and the St. George Dragons.
The 1990 New South Wales Rugby League season was the eighty-third season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen clubs competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the premiership season, which culminated in a grand final between the previous season's premiers, the Canberra Raiders and the Penrith Panthers, who were making their grand final debut.
The 1989 NSWRL season was the 82nd season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen clubs competed for the New South Wales Rugby League's J.J. Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup Premiership during the season, which culminated in a grand final between Balmain and Canberra. This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1989 Panasonic Cup. This would be the last time a mid-season competition was played concurrent with the regular season. From 1990 it would become a pre-season competition.
The 1987 NSWRL season was the 80th season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Thirteen clubs competed for the New South Wales Rugby League premiership's J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in the grand final between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Canberra Raiders who were the first club ever from outside Sydney to appear in a premiership decider. This season, NSWRL teams also competed for the 1987 National Panasonic Cup.
Shaun Fensom is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a lock and second-row forward in the 2000s and 2010s.
The 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team, nicknamed the 'Lions', of Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and July 1992. The tour was the last of such length undertaken by the Great Britain team, and included a test match against Papua New Guinea, a three-test series against Australia for The Ashes, and a two-test series against New Zealand for the Baskerville Shield, all interspersed with matches against local club and representative teams.
The 2003 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the 2003 NRL season. In what was a contest of Sydney's east versus west, defending premiers the Sydney Roosters played against minor premiers the Penrith Panthers. The first grand final since 1996 to feature two Sydney-based teams was played on the night of Sunday, 5 October at Telstra Stadium in the inner western suburb of Sydney Olympic Park. Domestically, live free-to-air television coverage was provided by Nine's Wide World of Sports. The match was also broadcast live in the United States by Fox Soccer.
Scott Sorensen is a New Zealand international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward and lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
The 1987 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 41st in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947.
The 2020 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2020 National Rugby League season held at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on October 25. The match was contested between minor premiers Penrith Panthers and second-placed Melbourne Storm. Melbourne led the game 22-0 at half-time before holding off a late Penrith comeback to win 26-20, claiming their fourth premiership title. Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as the official man of the match. The match was attended by 37,303 spectators due to an enforced limit to stadium capacity by the NSW government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. The game would be the last for Melbourne hooker and captain Cameron Smith after announcing his retirement in the following year, making him the most-capped player in the NRL with 430 games, and the most for a single club.