One game that holds a big part of Australia’s heart and has become part of the culture of the country is rugby. Many matches have had supporters at the edge of their seats, but then some will go down in history and live in our minds rent-free.
Top 7 Grand Final Moments of the NRL
Stick with us as we count Australian history’s top 10 most memorable NRL Grand Final moments.
1989: Canberra Raiders Bring It Home
The year was 1989, and the Canberra Raiders went face to face against the minor premiers, the Balmain Tigers (West Tigers). There’s nothing quite like seeing the likes of legends like ‘Sticky Ricky’ in a nail-biting lead of just one point in extra time. Fresh off the bench, Steve Jackson steam-rolled five defenders to score the winning try that took the trophy home to Canberra and sealed his name in the Rugga history books.
1991: Royce Simmons’ Legendary Last Game
With a staggering 238 games played for the Panthers, Royce Simmons ended his career on a high note in the 1991 premiership final. By scoring the first try in the first half and his corner score in the latter part of the second half, Simmons made the Panthers proud as his efforts led them to a beautiful victory.
1992: Steve Renouf Goes The Distance
It’s the moment most Rugga fans could wait their whole life to see when a star player breaks free and runs across the entire field to make a legendary try. That’s precisely what Steve Renouf did in the 1992 Grand Final, where he made defenders look silly as he raced across the length of the field and led the Brisbane Broncos to one of the most memorable wins ever in the history of the NRL.
1997: Knight’s Darren Albert’s Try
Those last few seconds of a close Grand Final leave everyone in the stands on their feet in anticipation because anything could happen. As the Knights fought against the defence to get that final try, young Darren Albert took them all by surprise as he took the pass from Andrew Johns and broke away to score the match-winning try.
1999: The Final With A Bit of Everything
Held in the newly built Stadium Australia, the NRL Grand Final set fans up for a thrilling game right from the get-go as they saw the Storm and Dragons, each with their player named Craig Smith, go head-to-head for the win. This match saw a highly controversial decision made by the video referee, which went down in history as one of the most challenging calls as it ultimately decided the match’s outcome. The Storm’s Craig Smith was high-tackled as he scored the game-winning penalty try with just over 3 minutes of the clock.
2003: The Race Between Scott Saddler And Todd Byrne
One NRL Grand Final that saw a massive save was in 2003 when the spritely Todd Byrne ran seamlessly along the sideline with the try in sight and no one to block him. When, out of the blue, Scott Saddler burst onto the scene to drag Byrne out of lines and saved the try.
2005: The Iconic Flick Pass
There’s always that one move that every Rugga fan wishes they had done, and kids live to recreate. The flick pass from Benji Marshall to Pat Richards took the West Tigers to the Hall of Fame in rugby in the Grand Final in 2005.
These memorable moments in the ARL made history, and you best believe that lofty bets were made on each game. Many people walked away with more than knowing their team won, but they got the cash to prove it. To check live AFL odds, visit our website to make the most informed bets.