2002 NRL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 2002 NRL season's Grand Final took place on Sunday, 6 October 2002, at Telstra Stadium. 80,130 people saw the Sydney Roosters
beat the New Zealand Warriors
30-8. The Clive Churchill Medal
ist was Craig Fitzgibbon of the Sydney Roosters
.
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.
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
.
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 the an 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
outift 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
.
victory in the Grand Final meant that they gained the right to play in the World Club Challenge
against the Super League
champions for 2002. That turned out to be St Helens who beat Bradford
19-18 in their Grand Final.
The Roosters
went into the Challenge making only one change in their starting lineup (Todd Byrne
went on to the wing for Brett Mullins
). In the end, though, it made no difference as the Sydney Roosters
ran out comprehensive 0-38 champions over the Saints outfit. Tries to Craig Fitzgibbon
, Adrian Morley
, new input Todd Byrne
, captain Brad Fittler
and Todd Payten
plus the 9 goals from Fitzgibbon
completed a wonderful season for the Sydney Roosters
.
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
beat the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
30-8. The Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
ist was Craig Fitzgibbon of the Sydney Roosters
Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and...
.
The teams
| Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
Position | New Zealand Warriors New Zealand Warriors The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia... |
|---|---|---|
| Luke Phillips Luke Phillips Luke Phillips is an Australian professional rugby league football referee and former player. A goal-kicking fullback, he played for National Rugby League clubs the Sydney Roosters , Canberra Raiders, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys... |
Fullback | Ivan Cleary Ivan Cleary Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success... |
| Brett Mullins Brett Mullins Brett Mullins is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and early 2000s. He played for the Canberra Raiders between the years 1990 and 2000. He also represented New South Wales and Australia national rugby league team during his career. He is the son of former... |
Wing | Justin Murphy Justin Murphy (rugby league) -Playing career:Murphy joined the Catalans Dragons club at the end of 2004 when the club was in the national French competition. He quickly established himself as one of the better players, topping the try scoring charts and helping the club become the first French team to go through a season... |
| Shannon Hegarty Shannon Hegarty Shannon Hegarty is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Jacksonville Axemen of the USA Rugby League... |
Centre | John Carlaw John Carlaw John Carlaw is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s... |
| Justin Hodges Justin Hodges Justin Hodges is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League... |
Centre | Clinton Toopi Clinton Toopi Clinton Toopi is a professional rugby footballer who is currently playing for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. His usual position is centre.-Playing career:... |
| Anthony Minichiello Anthony Minichiello Anthony Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who, to date, has played his entire career for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. He plays at fullback and on the Wing. Minichiello has represented New South Wales and Australia... |
Wing | Francis Meli Francis Meli Francis Meli is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented both New Zealand and Samoa in internationals. His usual position is on the wing.... |
| Brad Fittler Brad Fittler Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales... |
Five-Eighth | Motu Tony Motu Tony Iosefo Motu Tony is a Samoan-New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and previously played for Hull and Whitehaven... |
| Craig Wing Craig Wing Craig Wing is an Australian rugby union player. He currently plays rugby union in Japan. A former rugby league player for New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international utility player, Wing played for South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters.-South Sydney Rabbitohs:Craig Wing was a... |
Halfback | Stacey Jones Stacey Jones Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield... |
| Jason Cayless Jason Cayless Jason Paul Cayless is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative prop forward, he is the younger brother of Parramatta Eels great, Nathan Cayless. He played his club football for the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2002... |
Prop | Jerry Seu seu |
| Simon Bonetti Simon Bonetti Simon Bonetti is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Sydney Roosters... |
Hooker | PJ Marsh PJ Marsh Peter-John "PJ" Marsh is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for a number of clubs in the National Rugby League. He has also played representative rugby league for Queensland in State of Origin. He is named after his uncle, Peter John Marsh, who was killed in a car... |
| Peter Cusack Peter Cusack (rugby league) Peter Cusack is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with Hull in the European Super League. His position of choice is at prop... |
Prop | Mark Tookey Mark Tookey Mark Tookey is a rugby league coach and former professional player. He primarily played at prop... |
| Adrian Morley Adrian Morley Adrian Morley is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League... |
Second-Row | Ali Lauiti'iti Ali Lauitiiti Ali Lauitiiti is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for English club Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League. Both a Samoa and New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played in the National Rugby League for the Warriors... |
| Craig Fitzgibbon Craig Fitzgibbon Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and... |
Second-Row | Awen Guttenbeil Awen Guttenbeil Awen Guttenbeil is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. Since retiring after a playing career spanning fifteen years, he now works as a broadcaster for Sky Network Television and as a presenter on Maori TV sports show, Hyundai Code... |
| Luke Ricketson Luke Ricketson Luke Ricketson is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and Ireland international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative back-rower, he played his entire club football career for the Sydney Roosters of the NRL... |
Lock | Kevin Campion Kevin Campion Kevin Campion is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. His positions of choice were in the second row and at lock. Kevin is the younger brother of Australian radio personality Paul Campion... |
| Chris Flannery | Interchange | Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia is a New Zealand rugby league player, he currently plays for St Helens RLFC. In 2008 Hohaia was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team.-Early years:... |
| Bryan Fletcher Bryan Fletcher Bryan Fletcher is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative second-row-forward, he played his club football in Australia with the Sydney Roosters then the South Sydney Rabbitohs... |
Interchange | Logan Swann Logan Swann Logan Swann is a former professional rugby league footballer who represented his country. Swann is related to several other rugby league players, notably cousins Willie and Anthony.-Early years:... |
| Michael Crocker Michael Crocker Michael Crocker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the NRL... |
Interchange | Wairangi Koopu Wairangi Koopu Wairangi Koopu is a professional rugby league player for the Pt Chev Pirates in New Zealand. Koopu primarily plays in the second row, although he also can play in the centres.-Early years:... |
| Andrew Lomu Andrew Lomu Andrew Lomu is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Canberra Raiders and for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League competition... |
Interchange | Richard Villasanti Richard Villasanti Richard Villasanti is an Australian former professional rugby league player. Villasanti previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Wests Tigers, the Balmain Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition and also for Australia... |
| Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series... |
Coach | Daniel Anderson Daniel Anderson (rugby league) Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:... |
The game
Both teams entered the cauldron of Telstra Stadium with great form heading into the contest. The WarriorsNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
had won their 2 Finals matches they had had. In Week 1 they beat the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
36-20 in Auckland
Mt Smart Stadium
Mt Smart Stadium, formerly Ericsson Stadium, is a stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the home ground of National Rugby League team, the New Zealand Warriors...
, before beating the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
16-10 at Telstra Stadium. The Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
had beaten the Sharks 32-20 at the Sydney Football Stadium, then beating the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in Sydney. Finally they beat the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
(whom the Roosters were beaten by in the 2000 decider) in Sydney again.
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
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
scoring through Shannon Hegarty
Shannon Hegarty
Shannon Hegarty is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Jacksonville Axemen of the USA Rugby League...
. Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and...
converted the try and the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
led 6-0. Soon, the Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
found their rhythm and Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success...
got a penalty goal to make the score 6-2 to the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. It remained that way to half time, the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
holding the upper hand over the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
.
The second half started rather differently. Within 6 minutes the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
took the lead. Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
darted over and the Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
had the lead when Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success...
converted from in front for the an 6-8 score to the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
. As the game approached its final quarter, a brilliant 40/20 from Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
five-eighth and captain Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
saw the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
outift on the front foot again. Craig Wing
Craig Wing
Craig Wing is an Australian rugby union player. He currently plays rugby union in Japan. A former rugby league player for New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international utility player, Wing played for South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters.-South Sydney Rabbitohs:Craig Wing was a...
crashed over, Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and...
converted and the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
had a 12-8 lead. It looked as though it was going to be a tense finish but tries to Fitzgibbon
Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and...
, Chris Flannery and Bryan Fletcher
Bryan Fletcher
Bryan Fletcher is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative second-row-forward, he played his club football in Australia with the Sydney Roosters then the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
as well as 3 conversions from Fitzgibbon
Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and...
meant the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
ran out 30-8 victors over the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
.
World Club Challenge
The Roosters'Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
victory in the Grand Final meant that they gained the right to play in the World Club Challenge
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
against the Super League
Super League VII
Tetley's Super League VII was the official name for the year 2002's Super League championship season, the 108th season of top-level professional rugby league held in Britain, and the seventh championship run by Super League...
champions for 2002. That turned out to be St Helens who beat Bradford
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
19-18 in their Grand Final.
The Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
went into the Challenge making only one change in their starting lineup (Todd Byrne
Todd Byrne
Todd Byrne is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for Hull in the Super League competition...
went on to the wing for Brett Mullins
Brett Mullins
Brett Mullins is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and early 2000s. He played for the Canberra Raiders between the years 1990 and 2000. He also represented New South Wales and Australia national rugby league team during his career. He is the son of former...
). In the end, though, it made no difference as the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
ran out comprehensive 0-38 champions over the Saints outfit. Tries to Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and...
, Adrian Morley
Adrian Morley
Adrian Morley is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League...
, new input Todd Byrne
Todd Byrne
Todd Byrne is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for Hull in the Super League competition...
, captain Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
and Todd Payten
Todd Payten
Todd Payten is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League competition. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the Canberra Raiders, and played junior football with the Temora Dragons...
plus the 9 goals from Fitzgibbon
Craig Fitzgibbon
Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and...
completed a wonderful season for the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
.