2004 NRL season

Last updated

2004 National Rugby League
Teams15
Premiers Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (8th title)
Minor premiers Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters (16th title)
Matches played189
Points scored9,086
Average attendance15,929
Attendance3,010,639
Top points scorer(s) Canterbury colours.svg Hazem El Masri (342)
Player of the year Newcastle colours.svg Danny Buderus (Dally M Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Panthers colours.svg Amos Roberts (23)
  2003
2005  

The 2004 NRL season (also known as the 2004 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra) was the 97th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the seventh run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen clubs competed during the regular season before the top eight finishing teams contested the finals series. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs defeated the Sydney Roosters in the 2004 NRL grand final and in doing so claimed their eighth premiership.

Contents

Pre-season

The beginning of the season was largely overshadowed with several Bulldogs players questioned by police in relation to an alleged rape of a 20-year-old Coffs Harbour woman. [1] An independent investigator, former New South Wales chief of detectives, would later fail to find any evidence of misconduct on behalf of the players, and no charges were pressed.

The 2004 World Club Challenge was held on Friday, 13 February 2004, at the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield, England. The game was contested by Bradford Bulls and Penrith Panthers and won by the home team.

The salary cap for the 2004 season was A$3.25 million per club for their 25 highest-paid players. [2]

Regular season

Due to a perceived emphasis in the game on defence, NRL referees were instructed to call out "surrender tackle" this season when ball carriers submit at the ruck, signalling the defence to slow down the tackle in order for defenders to reset. [3]

The first round of the season began on Friday, 12 March with 2003 champions, the Penrith Panthers losing 14–20 to the Newcastle Knights before a crowd of 19,936 at Penrith Stadium. [4]

During a match between the Broncos and the Tigers, the Broncos fielded 14 men at one stage of the Campbelltown Stadium match. In the 60th minute, Brisbane's Shane Webcke knocked out by Tiger Bryce Gibbs. Corey Parker was brought onto the ground while Webcke was still being assisted off. Parker immediately scored off a Darren Lockyer pass and started a Broncos revival (they trailed 24–8 at halftime) which later saw them win 24–32. But, after the fourteenth man was investigated, the Broncos were stripped of the two competition points, [5] which were reinstated weeks later.

A significant comeback was seen in a round 25 clash between the St George Dragons and Manly. Trailing 34–10 after 53 minutes, St. George Illawarra came back to win the match 36–34. This match stood in second-place in the rankings of the biggest comebacks in Australian premiership history.

Several players and coaches also made the headlines for the wrong reasons. Jamie Lyon walked out on the Parramatta club after the first round citing burnout and dissatisfaction with living in Sydney, and would later move to the UK for a successful Super League career. Coaches Daniel Anderson and Paul Langmack would have their contracts terminated at the New Zealand Warriors and South Sydney Rabbitohs respectively.

Andrew Johns was injured in Newcastle's third game of the season against Parramatta, and subsequently missed the remainder of the season. The Knights missed the finals of the NRL for the first time since 1996.

2004 was also notable for the emergence of teenage players Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs) and Karmichael Hunt (Brisbane Broncos), and their performances, mature beyond their years, would be critical to the fortunes of their clubs.

A quirk of the draw meant that the Sydney Roosters did not play a premiership match in Queensland during the season, while there was only one Queensland derby contested during the regular season, in round six in Townsville. [6]

The grand finals:

The winners in all grades were:

The test match

The State Of Origin Series

Teams

The line-up of fifteen teams for the 2004 premiership remained unchanged from the previous season.

Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Jersey 2002.png
17th season
Ground: Suncorp Stadium
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Gorden Tallis
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Bulldogs Jersey 2002.png
70th season
Ground: Sydney Showground & Telstra Stadium
Coach: Steve Folkes
Captain: Steve Price
Canberra Raiders
Canberra Jersey 2003.png
23rd season
Ground: Canberra Stadium
Coach: Matthew Elliott
Captain: Simon Woolford
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 2004.png
38th season
Ground: Toyota Stadium
Coach: Stuart Raper
Captain: Brett Kimmorley
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Jersey 2003.png
55th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Des Hasler
Captain: Steve Menzies
Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Jersey 2003.png
7th season
Ground Olympic Park
Coach: Craig Bellamy
Captain: Stephen Kearney
Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Jersey 2002.png
17th season
Ground: EnergyAustralia Stadium
Coach: Michael Hagan
Captain: Andrew Johns
New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Jersey 2003.png
10th season
Ground: Ericsson Stadium
Coach: Daniel AndersonTony Kemp
Captain: Stacey Jones
North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Jersey 2003.png
10th season
Ground: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Coach: Graham Murray
Captain: Travis Norton
Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Jersey 2004.png
58th season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium
Coach: Brian Smith
Captain: Nathan Cayless
Penrith Panthers
Penrith Jersey 2004.png
38th season
Ground: Penrith Football Stadium
Coach: John Lang
Captain: Craig Gower
South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Jersey 2002.png
95th season
Ground: Aussie Stadium
Coach: Paul LangmackArthur Kitinas
Captain: Bryan Fletcher
St. George Illawarra Dragons
St George-Illawarra Jersey 2004.png
6th season
Ground: OKI Jubilee Stadium & WIN Stadium
Coach: Nathan Brown
Captain: Trent Barrett
Sydney Roosters
Sydney Jersey 2002.png
97th season
Ground: Aussie Stadium
Coach: Ricky Stuart
Captain: Brad Fittler
Wests Tigers
Wests Jersey 2003.png
5th season
Ground: Campbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Scott Sattler & Darren Senter

Advertising

In 2004 the NRL and their advertising agency MJW Hakuhodo continued with their use of the Hoodoo Gurus' 1987 hit "What's My Scene" with reworked lyrics as "That's My Team".

In addition to the big 60-second season launch TV commercial, three shorter executions were produced: one targeting young men, another targeting women and one aimed at families. In a year where sexual assault allegations damaged perceptions and the reputation of the code, retaining female fans was seen as a massive challenge. [7]

Statistics and records

Ladder

PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters 2419052710368+34242
2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (P)2419052760491+26942
3 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 2416172602533+6937
4 Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers 2415092672567+10534
5 St. George colours.svg St George Illawarra Dragons 24140102624415+20932
6 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm 24130112684517+16730
7 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 24121112526514+1229
8 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 24110132554613−5926
9 Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers 24100142509534−2524
10 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights 24100142516617−10124
11 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24100142528645−11724
12 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 2490152517626−10922
13 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2490152615754−13922
14 New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors 2460182427693−26616
15 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 2452172455812−35716

Ladder Progression

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
1 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney 2466681012141618202022242628283032343436384042
2 Canterbury colours.svg Bulldogs 24468101214141616161820222426283032343638384042
3 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane 22468101212141416181820222224262830323434363737
4 Panthers colours.svg Penrith 024688810121416181818202222222426262828303234
5 St. George colours.svg St. George-Illawarra 022468810101012121214161820202022242628303234
6 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne 2244468881012141616182022222224242426283030
7 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland 02224446899111315171717171921232325252729
8 Canberra colours.svg Canberra 2246881010101010121214141618202022222222222426
9 Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests 2224468881012141416161616161818202224242424
10 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle 24446668101214141414141616181818202222222224
11 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 002224668810121414141618202020202222242424
12 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 02446888101010101214141414161616161820222222
13 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 2222222468881010101010121414161618202022
14 Auckland colours.svg New Zealand 0002224666881010101012121414161616161616
15 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 024666666777911131313151515151515151616

Finals series

To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre final eight system.

The North Queensland Cowboys qualified for the finals for the first time in their ten-year history, and shocked everybody by finishing just one game short of the grand final. During the finals, they won their first ever game against Queensland rivals Brisbane, thus ending the career of Brisbane stalwart Gorden Tallis. Also retiring after the 2004 finals series were Brad Fittler, Ryan Girdler and Kevin Campion.

St. George Illawarra Dragons almost capped a remarkable comeback when they trailed 24–0 only after half an hour of play to come back to only lose 31–30 against the Penrith Panthers in the first Qualifying Final. In doing so St. George Illawarra became the first team to finish fifth to bow out after the first week of the finals, giving Penrith a home preliminary final; despite leading 8–4 at halftime in their preliminary final against Canterbury, they lost 30–14, thus ending their premiership defence.

Another notable game was the seventh-placed North Queensland Cowboys reaching the finals for the first time and upsetting the second-placed and competition favourites the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30–22 in the 3rd qualifying final. North Queensland also defeated the Brisbane Broncos for the first time ever during the semi-finals but were unable to reach the grand final when they lost to the Sydney Roosters in the Preliminary Final.

The North Queensland vs Brisbane semi-final was originally fixtured to be played at Aussie Stadium, however, at the behest of both clubs, and in accordance with Aussie Stadium management, the NRL agreed to move the game to Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville. [9] North Queensland won the game 10–0, giving them their first ever win over Brisbane and eliminating from the finals in the process. The game was Broncos' captain and club legend Gorden Tallis' last, who coincidentally was born and raised in Townsville. [10]

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs claimed their 8th premiership title by beating the Sydney Roosters in the grand final.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd
Qualifying Finals
Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers 31 – 30 St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons 10 September 2004 Penrith Football Stadium Sean Hampstead 21,963
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 14 – 31 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm 11 September 2004 Suncorp Stadium Steve Clark 31,100
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22 – 30 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 11 September 2004 Telstra Stadium Tim Mander 18,371
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters 38 – 12 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 12 September 2004 Aussie Stadium Paul Simpkins 18,375
Semi-finals
North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 10 – 0 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 18 September 2004 Dairy Farmers Stadium¹ Tim Mander 24,989
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 43 – 18 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm 19 September 2004 Aussie Stadium Paul Simpkins 23,750
Preliminary Finals
Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers 14 – 30 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 25 September 2004 Aussie Stadium Tim Mander 37,868
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters 19 – 16 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 26 September 2004 Telstra Stadium Paul Simpkins 43,048

¹ Game relocated to Dairy Farmers Stadium, the Cowboys' home ground, from Aussie Stadium. Cowboys designated home team despite the Broncos finishing higher on the table.

Finals Chart

Qualifying finalsSemifinalsPreliminary finalsFinal
1 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney38
8 Canberra colours.svg Canberra121W Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney19
4W North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland10 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland16
2 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury222L Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane0
Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney13
7 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland30
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury16
3 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane142W Panthers colours.svg Penrith14
6 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne313W Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne18 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury30
1L Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury43
4 Panthers colours.svg Penrith31
5 St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra30

Grand Final

2004 NRL Grand Final
Sunday, 3 October
19:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Sydney Roosters Eastern Suburbs colours.svg 13 – 16 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Tries:2
Walker Ru ball.svg 14'
Minichiello Ru ball.svg 35'
Goals:2
Fitzgibbon Rugby penalty.svg 15', 36'(2/2)
Field goals:1
Finch Rugby penalty.svg 34'
1st: 13–6
2nd: 0–10
Report [11]
Tries:3
Utai Ru ball.svg 23', 44'
El Masri Ru ball.svg 53'
Goals:2
El Masri Rugby penalty.svg pen 29', 45'(2/4)
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 82,127
Referee: Tim Mander
Touch judges: Steve Chiddy, Matt Cecchin
Clive Churchill Medal: Willie Mason (Canterbury)

Player statistics

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

2004 Transfers

Players

Player2003 Club2004 Club
Andrew Gee Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Retirement
Scott Prince Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Richard Swain Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Hullcolours.svg Super League: Hull F.C.
Rod Jensen Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys
Jamahl Lolesi Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Michael Monaghan Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Sean Rutgerson Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Redscolours.svg Super League: Salford City Reds
Shane Marteene Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Travis Norton Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys
Steve Reardon Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement
Nigel Vagana Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Aaron Cannings Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Luke Dorn Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters
Tony Jensen Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons
Danny Lima Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Wolvescolours.svg Super League: Warrington Wolves
Nathan Long Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons
Ben MacDougall Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm
Kevin McGuinness Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Redscolours.svg Super League: Salford City Reds
Mark Shipway Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Redscolours.svg Super League: Salford City Reds
Marcus Bai Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Rhinoscolours.svg Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Junior Langi Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Aaron Moule Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Widnes colours.svg Super League: Widnes Vikings
Robbie Ross Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Retirement
Mitchell Sargent Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys
Adam MacDougall Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tim Maddison Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights Retirement
Sean Rudder Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights Castleford colours.svg Super League: Castleford Tigers
John Carlaw New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons
Ali Lauiti'iti New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors Rhinoscolours.svg Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Logan Swann New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors Bullscolours.svg Super League: Bradford Bulls
John Buttigieg North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Retirement
Paul Dezolt North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors
Paul McNicholas North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Hullcolours.svg Super League: Hull F.C.
Chris Muckert North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Shane Muspratt North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
David Thompson North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Alex Chan Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm
Shayne Dunley Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Paul Green Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Daniel Heckenberg Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Brett Hodgson Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Jason Moodie Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Pat Richards Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
David Solomona Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Wcatscolours.svg Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Darren Treacy Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Retirement
Geoff Bell Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers Retirement
Shane Elford Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Chris Hicks Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Ben Roarty Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers Giantscolours.svg Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Scott Sattler Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Colin Ward Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers Retirement
Jamie Fitzgerald South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
Andrew Hart South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Broncoscolours.png Super League: London Broncos
Duncan MacGillivray South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Wcatscolours.svg Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wade McKinnon South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Frank Puletua South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers
Russell Richardson South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights
John Cross St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement
Chris Leikvoll St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons Wolvescolours.svg Super League: Warrington Wolves
Amos Roberts St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers
Hassan Saleh St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Craig Stapleton St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Eric Grothe Jr. Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Andrew Lomu Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Todd Payten Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Robbie Beckett Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Retirement
Nick Bradley-Qalilawa Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Terry Hill Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers N/A
Willie Manu Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Luke O'Donnell Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys
Corey Pearson Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Steve Trindall Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Broncoscolours.png Super League: London Broncos
Lincoln Withers Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons
Mark Lennon Castleford colours.svg Super League: Castleford Tigers Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Andrew Frew Faxcolours.svg Super League: Halifax St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons
Scott Logan Hullcolours.svg Super League: Hull F.C. South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tony Martin Broncoscolours.png Super League: London Broncos New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors
Chris Thorman Broncoscolours.png Super League: London Broncos Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels
Darren Smith Saintscolours.svg Super League: St. Helens Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos
Nick Graham Wigancolours.svg Super League: Wigan Warriors Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Andrew Walker ACT Brumbies (Super 12) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Sources and Footnotes

  1. abc.net.au (24 February 2004). "Bulldogs' accuser gives statement to police". ABC News. Australia: ABC. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  2. "NRL salary cap guide || ONE SPORT". tvnz.co.nz. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  3. Masters, Roy (20 January 2005). "Attacking ploy beaten into submission". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  4. Masters, Roy (13 March 2004). "Knights clean up as Penrith discovers success is a wet cake of soap". The Sydney Morning Herald . Australia: Fairfax Media . Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  5. Gould, Phil (4 April 2004). "Winning the war on error". The Sun-Herald. Australia: Fairfax. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  6. "NRL 2004 - Results". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  7. "B&T magazine article 2004". Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
  8. Proszenko, Adrian (6 May 2012). "Gallen set to smash record". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  9. "NRL confirms Townsville final". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 13 September 2004. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  10. Franklin, Katie (18 September 2004). "Cowboys one win away from grand final". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  11. Middleton, David. 2004 Official Rugby League Annual. Sydney: News Magazines. pp. 110–111.

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