2009 NRL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 2009 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football
game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney
. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League
staged to decide the premiers
of the 2009 NRL season.
The match was contested between the Parramatta Eels
and the Melbourne Storm
, the latter competing in their 4th grand final
in a row. It was also the first Grand Final to feature the two referee system, with Shayne Hayne
and Tony Archer
being the first referees to jointly officiate in an NRL Grand Final.
The Melbourne Storm led 10 - 0 at halftime and fought off a Parramatta comeback to eventually win 23 - 16 and claim their 3rd premiership since entering the competition. This has since been stripped due to salary cap breaches. Melbourne went on to defeat the Leeds Rhinos
, winners of the 2009 Super League Grand Final
, in the 2010 World Club Challenge
. The latter title was also stripped from the Storm.
, the Manly Sea Eagles, with a 40 – 12 victory. They then defeated the 2006 premiers, the Brisbane Broncos
, 40 – 10 to qualify for the grand final. The Melbourne Storm are the first side to make four consecutive grand finals since the Eels did so in 1981-84.
Melbourne five-eighth Brett Finch
had a chance to break his premiership drought by defeating the side that terminated his contract in April 2009 when coach Daniel Anderson
said he was not wanted at the Parramatta club.
. In the first three weeks of the finals series they defeated the top three teams of the home and away season - minor premiers the St George Illawarra Dragons
, the Gold Coast Titans
, and arch-rivals the Canterbury Bulldogs
. The last time the Eels made the grand final was 2001 where they were defeated by the Newcastle Knights
and the last time they won the premiership was in 1986. They were the first team to come from 8th position to make the NRL Grand Final and if they had of won they would have been the first team ever ranked below 6th to win the premiership. Canterbury's appearance in the 1998 grand final came from 9th position, but under a different finals system.
Parramatta Eels fullback and Dally M medalist
Jarryd Hayne
was in danger of missing the match after being placed on report for sliding in with his knees out to stop a try
and connecting with the head of Bulldog's winger Bryson Goodwin
. The incident was reviewed by the NRL Match Review Panel on 27 September and Hayne received a grade one sentence, allowing him to play. This set up one of the great grand final match-ups as Hayne played opposite current Melbourne and Australian fullback and 2008 Golden Boot Winner
Billy Slater
.
Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless
was under an injury cloud after he strained his hamstring in the preliminary final. He passed an intense fitness test on the day before the game to take his place in the grand final. It was a great boost to the Eels to have three 2001 NRL Grand Final
Veterans playing.
The two sides faced each other once in the regular season in round 19. The Eels won 24-22 at Parramatta Stadium
on 20 July.
while Irish band The Script performed at halftime. 2008 Australian Idol winner Wes Carr
performed a tribute to the elite club of players who have played 300 Premiership games, while the game's retiring players were farewelled. Prior to kick-off the Child Flight
helicopter and members of the game’s ‘300 Club’ delivered the Telstra Premiership Trophy to ANZ Stadium.
, Bob Fulton
, Les Geeves and Des Morris
to be awarded the Clive Churchill Medal
for man of the match. Slater became the first fullback since Bronco Darren Lockyer
in the 2000 NRL Grand Final to win the prestigious award. Slater became the third Storm player to win the Churchill Medal, after Brett Kimmorley
(1999) and Greg Inglis (2007
).
Some commentators felt that Slater did not deserve the award, suggesting other Melbourne teammates such as halfback
Cooper Cronk
, citing Cronk's stats which included two try assists to Slater's one, 24 tackles and 16 kicks for 529 metres, dwarfing the combined 387 metres booted by the Eels' Jarryd Hayne (226) and Jeff Robson (161). Upon receiving his award, Slater even mentioned "I feel like I don't deserve to wear it… Cooper Cronk deserved it." Despite the criticism, selectors stood by their decision.
Half Time: 10 – 0
Clive Churchill Medallist:
Billy Slater
24th: Stom 10 – 0 (Try: Blair)
45th: Storm 10 – 6 (Try: Grothe, Goal: Burt)
49th: Storm 16 – 6 (Try: Ingis, Goal: C Smith)
55th: Storm 22 – 6 (Try: Slater, Goal: C Smith)
70th: Storm 22 – 12 (Try: Reddy, Goal: Burt)
72nd: Storm 22 – 16 (Try: Moimoi)
77th: Storm 23 – 16 (Field Goal: Inglis)
which had $6.8 million. Spokesperson Glenn Munsie said TAB Sportsbet was "looking at a $10.3 million payout on the premiership" with all bets included.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
staged to decide the premiers
Australian rugby league premiers
The Australian rugby league premiers are the winners of the First Grade competition in Australian rugby league, which is currently the National Rugby League.-History:...
of the 2009 NRL season.
The match was contested between the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
, the latter competing in their 4th grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
in a row. It was also the first Grand Final to feature the two referee system, with Shayne Hayne
Shayne Hayne
Shane Hayne, born Kevin John Hayne in Wellington, NSW in 1967, is an Australian rugby league referee in the National Rugby League . He has officiated in State of Origin since game II in 2007, the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and the 2009 NRL Grand Final....
and Tony Archer
Tony Archer (referee)
Tony Archer is a rugby league referee who currently controls matches in the National Rugby League and a Police Prosecutor.-Rugby league career:...
being the first referees to jointly officiate in an NRL Grand Final.
The Melbourne Storm led 10 - 0 at halftime and fought off a Parramatta comeback to eventually win 23 - 16 and claim their 3rd premiership since entering the competition. This has since been stripped due to salary cap breaches. Melbourne went on to defeat the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
, winners of the 2009 Super League Grand Final
2009 Super League Grand Final
The 2009 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 10 October 2009, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The match was contested by defending champions and 2009 League Leaders Leeds Rhinos, and the team they had faced in the grand final for the past two years, St Helens.The 2009 decider, contested...
, in the 2010 World Club Challenge
2010 World Club Challenge
-Teams:-Match details:-First half:Leeds almost scored early in the first half when Brent Webb ran over but he was held up by Luke MacDougall on the last tackle. Soon after they posted the first points with a penalty goal to captain Kevin Sinfield. Soon after Melbourne drew level with a penalty goal...
. The latter title was also stripped from the Storm.
The Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm finished the regular season in 4th position with 14 wins, nine losses and one draw. As the minor premiers of the last three seasons and premiers in 2007, some commentators believed that the Storm were below their best in 2009 and doubted they would make a 4th straight grand final. But in the first week of the finals series they easily accounted for the defending premiers2008 NRL Grand Final
The 2008 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football match played between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm, held on Sunday, 5 October at ANZ Stadium in Sydney to determine the 2008 Telstra Premiership....
, the Manly Sea Eagles, with a 40 – 12 victory. They then defeated the 2006 premiers, 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...
, 40 – 10 to qualify for the grand final. The Melbourne Storm are the first side to make four consecutive grand finals since the Eels did so in 1981-84.
Melbourne five-eighth Brett Finch
Brett Finch
Brett Finch is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League...
had a chance to break his premiership drought by defeating the side that terminated his contract in April 2009 when coach Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson may refer to:* Daniel Anderson , American basketball player* Daniel Anderson , member of the band Idiot Pilot* Daniel Anderson , Australian rugby league coach...
said he was not wanted at the Parramatta club.
The Parramatta Eels
After a dreadful first half of the season and languishing in 14th position, the Parramatta Eels won 9 of their last 12 games to finish 8th and just make the finalsMcIntyre Final Eight System
The McIntyre Final Eight System was devised by Ken McIntyre in addition to the McIntyre Four, Five and Six systems. It is a playoff system of the top 8 finishers in a competition to determine which two teams will play in the Grand Final. The teams play each other over three weeks, with two teams...
. In the first three weeks of the finals series they defeated the top three teams of the home and away season - minor premiers the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
, the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
, and arch-rivals the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
. The last time the Eels made the grand final was 2001 where they were defeated by 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...
and the last time they won the premiership was in 1986. They were the first team to come from 8th position to make the NRL Grand Final and if they had of won they would have been the first team ever ranked below 6th to win the premiership. Canterbury's appearance in the 1998 grand final came from 9th position, but under a different finals system.
Parramatta Eels fullback and Dally M medalist
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
Jarryd Hayne
Jarryd Hayne
Jarryd Lee Hayne is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian, Fiji international representative winger and fullback, he has played his entire NRL career to date with Parramatta, with whom he got to the...
was in danger of missing the match after being placed on report for sliding in with his knees out to stop a try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
and connecting with the head of Bulldog's winger Bryson Goodwin
Bryson Goodwin
Bryson Goodwin is a New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks...
. The incident was reviewed by the NRL Match Review Panel on 27 September and Hayne received a grade one sentence, allowing him to play. This set up one of the great grand final match-ups as Hayne played opposite current Melbourne and Australian fullback and 2008 Golden Boot Winner
Rugby League World Golden Boot Award
The Rugby League World Golden Boot Award is a rugby league award handed out annually for achievements in rugby league by Rugby League World magazine...
Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
.
Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless
Nathan Cayless
Nathan Frederick Cayless is a retired New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer, who was a long-time captain the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. His position of choice was prop forward. He is also a former captain of the New Zealand national team, whom he led to...
was under an injury cloud after he strained his hamstring in the preliminary final. He passed an intense fitness test on the day before the game to take his place in the grand final. It was a great boost to the Eels to have three 2001 NRL Grand Final
National Rugby League season 2001
The 2001 NRL season was the 94th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fourth run by the National Rugby League. The Newcastle Knights claimed their second premiership in five seasons, defeating minor premiers Parramatta Eels in the first ever night-time grand...
Veterans playing.
The two sides faced each other once in the regular season in round 19. The Eels won 24-22 at Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium
Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.The stadium is used primarily as the home ground of Australian National Rugby League club the Parramatta Eels...
on 20 July.
Teams
| Melbourne Storm Melbourne Storm The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria.... |
Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
|
|---|---|---|
| Billy Slater Billy Slater Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne... |
Fullback | Jarryd Hayne Jarryd Hayne Jarryd Lee Hayne is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian, Fiji international representative winger and fullback, he has played his entire NRL career to date with Parramatta, with whom he got to the... |
| Steve Turner | Wing | Luke Burt Luke Burt Luke Kevin Burt is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League competition... |
| Will Chambers Will Chambers Will Chambers is an Australian rugby union footballer. He played in the Super 15 for the Queensland Reds and is currently playing for Irish province Munster in the RaboDirect Pro12, as of September 2011.... |
Centre | Krisnan Inu Krisnan Inu Krisnan Nevada Inu is a New Zealand professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the Australasian National Rugby League competition... |
| Greg Inglis Greg Inglis Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several... |
Centre |align="center" colspan="1" | Joel Reddy Joel Reddy Joel Reddy is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the NRL and as of 2012 will play for the Wests Tigers.-Career:... |
|
| Dane Nielsen Dane Nielsen Dane Nielsen is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL. His usual position is at centre and he can also play in the wing, as he did in his side's 2009 NRL Grand Final win... |
Wing | Eric Grothe |
| Brett Finch Brett Finch Brett Finch is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League... |
Five-Eighth | Daniel Mortimer Daniel Mortimer Daniel Mortimer is an Australian professional rugby league player. He currently plays for Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League and previously played for the Parramatta Eels. He is the son of former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Australian Rugby League player Peter Mortimer... |
| Cooper Cronk Cooper Cronk Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL... |
Halfback | Jeff Robson Jeff Robson Jeff Robson is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League competition. He primarily plays at half-back but has also had successful stints playing at five-eighth and hooker... |
| Aiden Tolman Aiden Tolman Aiden Tolman is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL. He previously played for the Melbourne Storm... |
Prop | Nathan Cayless Nathan Cayless Nathan Frederick Cayless is a retired New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer, who was a long-time captain the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. His position of choice was prop forward. He is also a former captain of the New Zealand national team, whom he led to... (c) |
| Cameron Smith Cameron Smith Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League... (c) |
Hooker | Matthew Keating Matt Keating Matt Keating born 6 September 1986 in Sydney, Australia is a rugby league player for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL. He is the older brother Kris Keating who left Parramatta and joined the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2011... |
| Brett White Brett White Brett White is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canberra Raiders, and formally of the Melbourne Storm of the NRL... |
Prop | Fuifui Moimoi Fuifui Moimoi Fuifui Moana Moimoi is a New Zealand-Tongan professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League competition.-Playing career:... |
| Adam Blair Adam Blair Adam Blair is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League until 1 November 2011, when he will join the Wests Tigers. A New Zealand international representative forward, Blair spent six seasons with the Storm, winning... |
Second Row | Nathan Hindmarsh Nathan Hindmarsh Nathan William Hindmarsh is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League and the Australian Prime Minister's XIII... |
| Ryan Hoffman Ryan Hoffman Ryan Hoffman is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League... |
Second Row | Ben Smith Ben Smith Benjamin Francis Smith is an English cricketer: a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler.-Leicestershire:... |
| Dallas Johnson Dallas Johnson Dallas Johnson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League and formerly the Melbourne Storm and Catalans Dragons. He plays primarily as a lock forward.Between 2007 and 2009, Johnson played in four consecutive NRL grand finals... |
Lock | Todd Lowrie Todd Lowrie Todd Lowrie is an Australian rugby league player who formerly played for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League... |
| Ryan Hinchcliffe Ryan Hinchcliffe Ryan Hinchcliffe is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL. Hinchliffe began his NRL career at Parramatta. He previously played for the Canberra Raiders before moving to the Storm, with whom he won the 2009 NRL Premiership.Ryan Hinchcliffe is a hooker... |
Interchange | Kevin Kingston Kevin Kingston Kevin Kingston is an Australian professional rugby league player for Pia XIII and the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League competition. He has previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Parramatta Eels. Kingston primarily plays at hooker.He played in the Eels 2009 NRL... |
| Jeff Lima Jeff Lima Jeff Lima is a professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of Europe's Super League... |
Interchange | Feleti Mateo Feleti Mateo Feleti Sosefo Mateo is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. Mateo plays a variety of positions from centre to five-eighth to second row and is renowned for his versatility and extravagant style of play... |
| Ryan Tandy Ryan Tandy Ryan Tandy is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He played as both a prop and second-row .-Playing career:... |
Interchange | Joe Galuvao Joe Galuvao Joe Galuvao is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
| Scott Anderson Scott Anderson (rugby league) Scott Anderson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL. A prop forward, he previously played for the Melbourne Storm with whom he won the 2009 NRL Premiership.-Melbourne Storm:... |
Interchange | Tim Mannah Tim Mannah Tim Mannah is a professional rugby league footballer of Lebanese-Australian heritage currently playing for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League .-Early life:... |
| Craig Bellamy | 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:... |
Schedule
The 2009 NRL Grand Final featured pre-match entertainment by the Grammy award-winning Australian rock band WolfmotherWolfmother
Wolfmother is an Australian rock band from Erskineville, Sydney. Formed in 2000, the group was originally a trio composed of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett. Wolfmother released their self-titled debut album in October 2005,...
while Irish band The Script performed at halftime. 2008 Australian Idol winner Wes Carr
Wes Carr
Wes Carr is an Australian singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album Simple Sum independently in 2008 shortly before entering Australian Idol. In November 2008 he was announced as the winner of the sixth season of Australian Idol...
performed a tribute to the elite club of players who have played 300 Premiership games, while the game's retiring players were farewelled. Prior to kick-off the Child Flight
Child Flight
Child Flight is an Australian helicopter service dedicated to the emergency transport of sick children. It operates two twin-engined instrument-flight rated helicopters...
helicopter and members of the game’s ‘300 Club’ delivered the Telstra Premiership Trophy to ANZ Stadium.
- 11:45am Gates Open
- 12:10pm NSWRL Cup Grand Final Kick Off
- 2:10pm Toyota Cup Grand Final Kick Off
- 4:10pm World boxing champions Danny GreenDanny GreenDaniel "Danny" Green is an Australian professional boxer and the former IBO cruiserweight champion.- Amateur boxing career and the Olympics :...
and Roy Jones Jr presented to crowd - 4:40pm Telstra Child Flight chopper arrives with Telstra Premiership Trophy
- 4:45pm 300 Club and Retiring Players tribute with Wes CarrWes CarrWes Carr is an Australian singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album Simple Sum independently in 2008 shortly before entering Australian Idol. In November 2008 he was announced as the winner of the sixth season of Australian Idol...
Performance - 4:50pm WolfmotherWolfmotherWolfmother is an Australian rock band from Erskineville, Sydney. Formed in 2000, the group was originally a trio composed of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett. Wolfmother released their self-titled debut album in October 2005,...
performance - 5:10pm Australian National Anthem performed by Mark VincentMark VincentMark Vincent is an Australian pop opera singer. Vincent won Australia's Got Talent on 22 April 2009. His main inspiration is his late grandfather, Bruno, who raised him and taught him how to sing. Vincent has said that he would like to follow in the footsteps of his idol Anthony Warlow...
- 5:15pm Kick-off
- 6:05pm The Script halftime performance
- 6:55pm Trophy presentation to Melbourne Storm
1st Half
Melbourne's Ryan Hoffman broke the Eels' line to score the first try of the game in the fifth minute to make the score 6-0. Parramatta was looking shaky in the first half, and Melbourne capitalised with a try to Adam Blair in the 24th minute, set up by a Cooper Cronk line-break, to make the score 10-0, which would be the half-time score.2nd Half
Parramatta scored early in the second half, with Eric Grothe, Jr., scoring in the 45th minute to bring the scoreline to 10-6. Melbourne responded quickly, with tries to Greg Inglis off a bomb kick in the 49th minute and Billy Slater from a line break in the 56th minute, to open a handy 22-6 lead heading into the final quarter of the game. Parramatta attacked through the final quarter of the game, then broke through for two tries: one to Joel Reddy off a bomb kick in the 70th minute, then a barnstorming run from Fuifui Moimoi off an off-load in the 72nd minute; only the former of these tries was converted, bringing the score to 22-16. In the 76th minute, with Melbourne attacking from their own half, Billy Slater dropped the ball as he tried to play it. Referee Tony Archer signaled a penalty for Melbourne. It was initially thought that Archer had penalised Fuifui Moimoi for stripping the ball from Slater in the tackle, even though both of Moimoi's arms were still wrapped around Slater's legs, but it was later revealed he had penalised Moimoi for holding on to Slater, not for a strip. Greg Inglis scored a field goal in the ensuing set-of-six, extending the margin to 23-16 in the 79th minute. Melbourne would hold on to win by that score.Clive Churchill Medal
Melbourne fullback Billy Slater was judged by Australian selectors Bob McCarthyBob McCarthy
Bob McCarthy MBE is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and for the Australian national side...
, Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton
Robert "Bob" Fulton AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century.As a player Fulton won...
, Les Geeves and Des Morris
Des Morris
Des Morris is an Australian former rugby league footballer, coach and administrator.He played club football in Queensland for the Booval Swifts and Eastern Suburbs club of the Brisbane Rugby League, and represented his state on fifteen occasions...
to be awarded 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...
for man of the match. Slater became the first fullback since Bronco Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
in the 2000 NRL Grand Final to win the prestigious award. Slater became the third Storm player to win the Churchill Medal, after Brett Kimmorley
Brett Kimmorley
Brett "Noddy" Kimmorley was an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the NRL. He has previously played for five other clubs and has also represented his country and state on several occasions...
(1999) and Greg Inglis (2007
2007 NRL grand final
The 2007 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive, premiership-deciding match of the 2007 NRL season. Played between the first-placed Melbourne Storm and second-placed Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Telstra Stadium on September 30, in front of 81,392 spectators. It was the fourth NRL Grand Final played...
).
Some commentators felt that Slater did not deserve the award, suggesting other Melbourne teammates such as halfback
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
Cooper Cronk
Cooper Cronk
Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
, citing Cronk's stats which included two try assists to Slater's one, 24 tackles and 16 kicks for 529 metres, dwarfing the combined 387 metres booted by the Eels' Jarryd Hayne (226) and Jeff Robson (161). Upon receiving his award, Slater even mentioned "I feel like I don't deserve to wear it… Cooper Cronk deserved it." Despite the criticism, selectors stood by their decision.
Scorecard
4 October 2009, 5:15pm23 |
Melbourne Storm |
|---|---|
| Tries | 1 Hoffman (5') 1 Blair (24') 1 Inglis (49') 1 Slater (55') |
| Goals | 3/4 C Smith (7', 50', 57') |
| Field Goals | 1 Inglis (77') |
16 |
|
| Tries | 1 Grothe (45') 1 Reddy (70') 1 Moimoi (72') |
| Goals | 2/3 Burt (46', 70') |
| Field Goals | |
Half Time: 10 – 0
Clive Churchill Medallist:
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...
Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
Timeline
5th: Storm 6 – 0 (Try: Hoffman, Goal: C Smith)24th: Stom 10 – 0 (Try: Blair)
45th: Storm 10 – 6 (Try: Grothe, Goal: Burt)
49th: Storm 16 – 6 (Try: Ingis, Goal: C Smith)
55th: Storm 22 – 6 (Try: Slater, Goal: C Smith)
70th: Storm 22 – 12 (Try: Reddy, Goal: Burt)
72nd: Storm 22 – 16 (Try: Moimoi)
77th: Storm 23 – 16 (Field Goal: Inglis)
Betting
The 2009 NRL Grand Final was the biggest individual event in Australian sports betting history. TAB Sportsbet held a total of $9,527,000 on the game, 40% higher than the 2008 decider2008 NRL Grand Final
The 2008 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football match played between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm, held on Sunday, 5 October at ANZ Stadium in Sydney to determine the 2008 Telstra Premiership....
which had $6.8 million. Spokesperson Glenn Munsie said TAB Sportsbet was "looking at a $10.3 million payout on the premiership" with all bets included.
Audience
The NRL Grand Final is one of the most popular sporting events of Australasia, and the 2009 NRL grand final was played before a sold-out crowd of 82,538 - the largest rugby league crowd at ANZ Stadium in its current configuration - with millions more watching around Australia and the rest of the world.Telecast Details
- AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- Nine NetworkNine NetworkThe Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
(live from 5pm AEST with coverage beginning at 12pm). A replay of the game will be played on Fox SportsFox Sports (Australia)Fox Sports is an Australia group of sports channels. They are owned by the Premier Media Group, which is in turn owned by News Corporation, and Consolidated Media Holdings. Its main competitors are ESPN, which has little local content and the free-to-air digital channel One HD...
at 8pm AEST on the same night. - New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
- Sky SportsSky SportsSky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
(live from 6:30pm NZ time) - Asia-PacificAsia-PacificAsia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
- Australia NetworkAustralia NetworkAustralia Network, originally Australia Television International and later ABC Asia Pacific, is a free-to-air international satellite television service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since 2006. The television and online service broadcasts 24 hours a day on 7 days a week, to...
(includes China, Hong Kong/Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Palau, Malaysia, Cambodia, Burma/Myanmar, Laos, Brunei, Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, East Timor, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Micronesia, Kiribati) - Indian subcontinentIndian subcontinentThe Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
- Australia NetworkAustralia NetworkAustralia Network, originally Australia Television International and later ABC Asia Pacific, is a free-to-air international satellite television service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since 2006. The television and online service broadcasts 24 hours a day on 7 days a week, to...
(includes India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan) - Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
- Australia NetworkAustralia NetworkAustralia Network, originally Australia Television International and later ABC Asia Pacific, is a free-to-air international satellite television service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since 2006. The television and online service broadcasts 24 hours a day on 7 days a week, to...
and ShowSportsShowSportsShowSports is part of the Orbit Showtime Network. ShowSport 1 HD, 2, 3, 4 and Extreme Sports Channel are available on many Orbit Showtime Network packages. They began showing from the first of April 2007.-ShowSports 1 HD:... - United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- Spike TVSpike TVSpike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
(from 11am ET/PT)(also shown throughout all the countries in The Americas region.) - United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
- ESPN UK (live from 7am)