The 2002 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2002 NRL season. It took place on Sunday, 6 October 2002, at Sydney's Telstra Stadium. 80,130 people saw the Sydney Roosters beat the New Zealand Warriors 30–8. The Clive Churchill Medalist was Craig Fitzgibbon of the Sydney Roosters. The match was also broadcast live in the United States by Fox Sports World.[1]

2002 (2002) NRL Grand Final  ()
Telstra Stadium, where the match was played
12 Total
NZL 26 8
SYD 624 30
Date6 October 2002
StadiumTelstra Stadium
LocationSydney, NSW, Australia
Clive Churchill MedalCraig Fitzgibbon (SYD)
Australian National anthem
NZ National anthem
David Campbell
Jenny Morris
RefereeBill Harrigan
Attendance80,130
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
← 2001
2003 →

Background edit

The 2002 NRL season was the 95th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fifth to be run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen teams competed for the Minor premiership which, after the Bulldogs were relegated to the bottom of the ladder for salary cap breaches, was claimed by the New Zealand Warriors. The top eight finishing teams were then reduced to two over the finals series.

Sydney Roosters edit

The 2002 Sydney Roosters season was the 95th in the club's history. Coached by Ricky Stuart and captained by Brad Fittler, they finished the NRL's 2002 Premiership regular season in 4th place.

New Zealand Warriors edit

The 2002 New Zealand Warriors season was the 8th in the club's history. Coached by Daniel Anderson and captained by Stacey Jones and Kevin Campion, they finished the NRL's 2002 Premiership regular season in 1st place.

Teams edit

It was the final game for Warriors fullback Ivan Cleary and Roosters winger Brett Mullins before their playing retirements.[2]

Team details
New Zealand Warriors Position Sydney Roosters
Name Number Number Name
Ivan Cleary 1 Fullback 1 Luke Phillips
Justin Murphy 2 Wing 2 Brett Mullins
John Carlaw 3 Centre 3 Shannon Hegarty
Clinton Toopi 4 Centre 4 Justin Hodges
Francis Meli 5 Wing 5 Anthony Minichiello
Motu Tony 6 Five eighth 6 Brad Fittler (c)
Stacey Jones (c) 7 Half back 7 Craig Wing
Jerry Seu Seu 8 Prop forward 8 Jason Cayless
PJ Marsh 9 Hooker 9 Simon Bonetti
Mark Tookey 10 Prop forward 10 Peter Cusack
Ali Lauiti'iti 11 Second row 14 Adrian Morley
Awen Guttenbeil 12 Second row 12 Craig Fitzgibbon
Kevin Campion 13 Lock forward 13 Luke Ricketson
Lance Hohaia 14 Interchange 11 Bryan Fletcher
Richard Villasanti 15 Interchange 15 Andrew Lomu
Wairangi Koopu 16 Interchange 16 Chris Flannery
Logan Swann 17 Interchange 17 Michael Crocker
Daniel Anderson Coach Ricky Stuart
RLP[3]

Match details edit

Both teams entered the cauldron of Telstra Stadium with great form heading into the contest. The Warriors had won their 2 Finals matches they had had. In Week 1 they beat the Canberra Raiders 36–20 in Auckland, before beating the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16–10 at Telstra Stadium. The Roosters had beaten the Sharks 32–20 at the Sydney Football Stadium, then beating the Newcastle Knights in Sydney. Finally they beat the Brisbane Broncos (whom the Roosters were beaten by in the 2000 decider) in Sydney again.

A pre-match performance by Billy Idol was attempted but due to a power outage had to be aborted.[4]

1st half edit

The opening minutes were spent with both teams trading blows, the Roosters mainly with the upper hand. However it took till the 23rd minute for the deadlock to be broken, the Roosters scoring through Shannon Hegarty. Craig Fitzgibbon converted the try and the Sydney Roosters led 6–0. Soon, the Warriors found their rhythm and Ivan Cleary got a penalty goal to make the score 6–2 to the Roosters. It remained that way to half time, the Sydney Roosters holding the upper hand over the New Zealand Warriors.

2nd half edit

The second half started rather differently. Within 6 minutes the New Zealand Warriors took the lead. Stacey Jones darted over and the Warriors had the lead when Ivan Cleary converted from in front for a 6–8 score to the New Zealand Warriors. As the game approached its final quarter, a brilliant 40–20 from Roosters five-eighth and captain Brad Fittler saw the Roosters outfit on the front foot again. Craig Wing crashed over, Craig Fitzgibbon converted and the Roosters had a 12–8 lead. It looked as though it was going to be a tense finish but tries to Fitzgibbon, Chris Flannery and Bryan Fletcher as well as 3 conversions from Fitzgibbon meant the Sydney Roosters ran out 30–8 victors over the New Zealand Warriors. The grand final victory ended a 27-year premiership drought at the club.[5]

Match summary edit

2002 NRL Grand Final
Sunday, 6 October
19:00 AEST (UTC+10)
New Zealand Warriors   8 – 30   Sydney Roosters
Tries: 1
Jones   46'
Goals: 2
Cleary   pen 29', 47' (2/2)
1st: 2–6
2nd: 6–24
Report[3]
Tries: 5
Hegarty   23'
Wing   57'
Fitzgibbon   65'
Flannery   71'
Fletcher   74'
Goals: 5
Fitzgibbon   25', 59', 66', 71', 76' (5/5)
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 80,130[6]
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Touch judges: Steve Richards, Shayne Hayne
Clive Churchill Medal: Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney)


World Club Challenge edit

The Sydney Roosters' victory in the Grand Final meant that they gained the right to travel to England and play in the World Club Challenge against the winners of the 2002 Super League grand final winners, St. Helens.

References edit

  1. ^ "National Rugby League Grand Final, Live on Fox Sports World This Sunday". Business Wire. Los Angeles: Gale Group. 3 October 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2009.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Ivan Cleary bids early farewell to Warriors". Stuff.co.nz. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b Middleton, David. Rugby League 2003. Sydney: Harper Sports. pp. 182–183. ISBN 0732277531.
  4. ^ AAP (7 October 2002). "Idol cancelled due to NRL power shortage". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Roosters end title drought". The Sydney Morning herald. 6 October 2002.
  6. ^ "2002 NRL Grand Final". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 March 2023.

External links edit