2011 NRL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 2011 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the NRL
's 2011 Telstra Premiership season. It was played between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
and the New Zealand Warriors
on the afternoon of Sunday, 2 October, and it was the first time the two sides have met in a grand final. Manly won the match, 24–10, for the club's eighth premiership.
The grand final breakfast, an annual function attended by both teams and hundreds of guests, was held the Thursday prior to Sunday's match at Sydney's Darling Harbour and was screened live on Australian television.
accumulating 40 competition points, winning 18 of 24 matches and being undefeated at their traditional home ground Brookvale Oval
. However, their run into the finals series threatened to be disrupted by suspensions arising from a wild brawl in a clash with Melbourne in the penultimate round of the season. Four Manly players received suspensions, including a three-match ban for key forward Glenn Stewart
. Despite the suspensions, Manly qualified for the Grand Final with ease, defeating Queensland teams the North Queensland Cowboys
42–8 in the qualifying final and the Brisbane Broncos
26–14 in the preliminary after earning a weeks break. Steve Matai
and Tony Williams
were reported to the NRL's match review committee for incidents during the win over the Broncos, raising the prospect that they may be suspended for the Grand Final. However, the committee refused to charge Matai, while Williams' clean record enabled him to avoid a suspension by pleading guilty to a charge of effecting an unlawful high tackle. However, Manly would play the Grand Final without their co-captain Jason King, who suffered a pectoral injury in Round 22 of the season, and winger David Williams
with a neck injury.
It would be Manly's 18th Grand Final appearance, a record seventh consecutive decade in which the club had achieved the feat, and a chance for the club to win its eighth premiership. Coach Des Hasler
made his third Grand Final in the position after appearing in three others as a Manly player.
in the semi finals after many gave them a slim chance of winning and they were down 18-6 at half time before mounting a comeback to be down just 20-18 with a few minutes remaining before Kristian Inu scored the match winner for the Warriors as they won 22-20.
The Warriors then went on to post a major upset over the 2011 minor premiers the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park in their Grand Final qualifier. The Warriors were down 6-0 after 5 minutes due to some poor defence that Gareth Widdop took advantage of to put Sika Manu through a gap to score; the try was converted by Cameron Smith. the Warriors would hit back in the following dozen minutes through Bill Tupou and James Maloney scoring in the 12th and 16th minutes for the Warriors to lead 12-6. The Storm would hit back through a Beau Champion try in 36th minute which Cameron Smith would convert to level the scores at 12-12. Before half time the Warriors were given a penalty which they opted to kick a penalty goal which James Maloney succussfully converted for the Warriors to lead 14-12 at half time. The second half was a heated battle with the Warriors starving the Storm of the ball and any good field position throughout the entire 40 minutes as the Warriors defence superbly defending anything the Melbourne Storm threw at them. The Warriors were believed to have scored in the 72nd minute through Lewis Brown only for the try to be disallowed due to an earlier knock on from Kevin Locke but the Lewis Brown would then go on to score in the 77th minute after some nifty footwork from Warriors young gun Shaun Johnson. James Maloney would beautifully convert a sideline conversion to put any hope of a Storm comeback impossible. This win would then qualify the Warriors for their second ever Grand Final.
The Grand Final was Ivan Cleary
's last match as coach of the club, having signed to take over the Penrith Panthers
the following season. Coincidentally, his last match as a player was when he was the fullback in the Warriors side that lost the 2002 Grand Final to the Sydney Roosters
, another club Cleary played for in the NRL. Cleary grew up on Sydney's northern beaches, and started his professional career with Manly playing alongside Des Hasler, now his opposing coach.
The Warriors also fielded teams in the NSW Cup and Toyota Cup Grand Finals, thus becoming the first team since the Sydney Roosters
in 2004 to field sides in three different-grade Grand Finals; at the time, the other two grades were the Jersey Flegg Cup and the Premier League Cup. The Warriors' Toyota Cup successfully defended its 2010 title defeating the North Queensland Cowboys
in golden point
extra time by the scoreline of 31–30.
and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with the Bulldogs winning 30–28. The Toyota Cup Grand Final, featuring the youth teams of New Zealand Warriors
and the North Queensland Cowboys
, was played at 2.00pm, with the Warriors winning in extra time after a Cowboys player had missed the opportunity to win the side's first premiership by missing a relatively simple conversion right on full-time.
and Australian band Eskimo Joe
, marking Clarkson's first appearance at the event since the 2003 NRL grand final
. Clarkson performed her song "Mr. Know It All
", accompanied by 300 dancers.
Note: Russell Packer
, Lance Hohaia
and Elijah Taylor
swapped places with Sam Rapira
, Aaron Heremaia
and Feleti Mateo
respectively from their interchange spots before the match.
and the second to Daly Cherry-Evans
, one play after an audacious kick from forward Glenn Stewart
in his own half allowed winger Michael Robertson
to break free. Manly stretched its lead to 16 points after half-time following a try to Glenn Stewart, setup by a blind flick pass from William Hopoate as he was pushed out of play. The Warriors scored two unconverted tries in the final fifteen minutes to narrow the deficit to eight points; however, Manly held onto its lead and celebrated victory with a try to captain Jamie Lyon
in the final minute of play. Glenn Stewart was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal
as the player of the match.
Half Time: 12–2
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...
's 2011 Telstra Premiership season. It was played between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
and 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...
on the afternoon of Sunday, 2 October, and it was the first time the two sides have met in a grand final. Manly won the match, 24–10, for the club's eighth premiership.
The grand final breakfast, an annual function attended by both teams and hundreds of guests, was held the Thursday prior to Sunday's match at Sydney's Darling Harbour and was screened live on Australian television.
Lead-up
| Sea Eagles | Warriors | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rd.1 | Storm | Eels | ||||||||
| Rd.2 | Roosters | Tigers | ||||||||
| Rd.3 | Knights | Dragons | ||||||||
| Rd.4 | Rabbitohs | Sharks | ||||||||
| Rd.5 | Sharks | Roosters | ||||||||
| Rd.6 | Warriors | Sea Eagles | ||||||||
| Rd.7 | Panthers | Storm | ||||||||
| Rd.8 | Cowboys | Panthers | ||||||||
| Rd.9 | Raiders | Titans | ||||||||
| Rd.10 | Titans | Knights | ||||||||
| Rd.11 | Bye | Rabbitohs | ||||||||
| Rd.12 | Broncos | Bye | ||||||||
| Rd.13 | Bulldogs | Roosters | ||||||||
| Rd.14 | Cowboys | Tigers | ||||||||
| Rd.15 | Eels | Cowboys | ||||||||
| Rd.16 | Dragons | Storm | ||||||||
| Rd.17 | Bye | Bye | ||||||||
| Rd.18 | Rabbitohs | Titans | ||||||||
| Rd.19 | Knights | Bulldogs | ||||||||
| Rd.20 | Panthers | Rabbitohs | ||||||||
| Rd.21 | Tigers | Raiders | ||||||||
| Rd.22 | Roosters | Broncos | ||||||||
| Rd.23 | Eels | Knights | ||||||||
| Rd.24 | Bulldogs | Panthers | ||||||||
| Rd.25 | Storm | Dragons | ||||||||
| Rd.26 | Broncos | Cowboys | ||||||||
| QF | Cowboys | Broncos | ||||||||
| SF | DNP | Tigers | ||||||||
| PF | Broncos | Storm | ||||||||
| Legend: | ||||||||||
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles finished second on the competition ladder behind the Melbourne StormMelbourne 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....
accumulating 40 competition points, winning 18 of 24 matches and being undefeated at their traditional home ground Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Warringah Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team...
. However, their run into the finals series threatened to be disrupted by suspensions arising from a wild brawl in a clash with Melbourne in the penultimate round of the season. Four Manly players received suspensions, including a three-match ban for key forward Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
. Despite the suspensions, Manly qualified for the Grand Final with ease, defeating Queensland teams the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
42–8 in the qualifying final and 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...
26–14 in the preliminary after earning a weeks break. Steve Matai
Steve Matai
Stephen "Steve" Matai is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage...
and Tony Williams
Tony Williams (rugby league)
Tony Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
were reported to the NRL's match review committee for incidents during the win over the Broncos, raising the prospect that they may be suspended for the Grand Final. However, the committee refused to charge Matai, while Williams' clean record enabled him to avoid a suspension by pleading guilty to a charge of effecting an unlawful high tackle. However, Manly would play the Grand Final without their co-captain Jason King, who suffered a pectoral injury in Round 22 of the season, and winger David Williams
David Williams (rugby league)
David Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays on the wing and can also play in the centres...
with a neck injury.
It would be Manly's 18th Grand Final appearance, a record seventh consecutive decade in which the club had achieved the feat, and a chance for the club to win its eighth premiership. Coach Des Hasler
Des Hasler
Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships...
made his third Grand Final in the position after appearing in three others as a Manly player.
New Zealand Warriors
For only the second time in the club's entire history the New Zealand Warriors will search for their first premiership title up against the second-placed Sea Eagles. Having finished sixth on the competition ladder with 32 points, they lost their first match of the finals series to the Brisbane Broncos in their heaviest defeat of the season losing 40–10 but however earned a second chance, only due the two lower ranking teams also losing. They then upset the Wests TigersWests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
in the semi finals after many gave them a slim chance of winning and they were down 18-6 at half time before mounting a comeback to be down just 20-18 with a few minutes remaining before Kristian Inu scored the match winner for the Warriors as they won 22-20.
The Warriors then went on to post a major upset over the 2011 minor premiers the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park in their Grand Final qualifier. The Warriors were down 6-0 after 5 minutes due to some poor defence that Gareth Widdop took advantage of to put Sika Manu through a gap to score; the try was converted by Cameron Smith. the Warriors would hit back in the following dozen minutes through Bill Tupou and James Maloney scoring in the 12th and 16th minutes for the Warriors to lead 12-6. The Storm would hit back through a Beau Champion try in 36th minute which Cameron Smith would convert to level the scores at 12-12. Before half time the Warriors were given a penalty which they opted to kick a penalty goal which James Maloney succussfully converted for the Warriors to lead 14-12 at half time. The second half was a heated battle with the Warriors starving the Storm of the ball and any good field position throughout the entire 40 minutes as the Warriors defence superbly defending anything the Melbourne Storm threw at them. The Warriors were believed to have scored in the 72nd minute through Lewis Brown only for the try to be disallowed due to an earlier knock on from Kevin Locke but the Lewis Brown would then go on to score in the 77th minute after some nifty footwork from Warriors young gun Shaun Johnson. James Maloney would beautifully convert a sideline conversion to put any hope of a Storm comeback impossible. This win would then qualify the Warriors for their second ever Grand Final.
The Grand Final was 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...
's last match as coach of the club, having signed to take over the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
the following season. Coincidentally, his last match as a player was when he was the fullback in the Warriors side that lost the 2002 Grand Final to 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...
, another club Cleary played for in the NRL. Cleary grew up on Sydney's northern beaches, and started his professional career with Manly playing alongside Des Hasler, now his opposing coach.
The Warriors also fielded teams in the NSW Cup and Toyota Cup Grand Finals, thus becoming the first team since 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...
in 2004 to field sides in three different-grade Grand Finals; at the time, the other two grades were the Jersey Flegg Cup and the Premier League Cup. The Warriors' Toyota Cup successfully defended its 2010 title defeating the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in golden point
Golden point
The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...
extra time by the scoreline of 31–30.
Grand Final day schedule
Two other matches were played before the NRL Grand Final. At 12.00pm, the New South Wales Cup Grand Final was held between the Auckland VulcansAuckland Vulcans
The Auckland Vulcans are an Auckland based rugby league club that participates in the New South Wales Cup. They are administered by the Rugby League Development Foundation. The team is selected from the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Competition and also uses Warriors squad members not...
and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with the Bulldogs winning 30–28. The Toyota Cup Grand Final, featuring the youth teams of 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...
and the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, was played at 2.00pm, with the Warriors winning in extra time after a Cowboys player had missed the opportunity to win the side's first premiership by missing a relatively simple conversion right on full-time.
Pre-match entertainment
Entertainment included performances by American singer Kelly ClarksonKelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
and Australian band Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997....
, marking Clarkson's first appearance at the event since the 2003 NRL grand final
2003 NRL grand final
The 2003 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the 2003 NRL season. In what was a contest of Sydney's east versus west, defending premiers and match favourites, the Sydney Roosters played against minor premiers and underdogs, the Penrith Panthers...
. Clarkson performed her song "Mr. Know It All
Mr. Know It All
"Mr. Know It All" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson. The break-up themed song was written by Brian Kennedy, Ester Dean, Brett James, and Dante Jones. It was described as the most different among the singles released by Clarkson...
", accompanied by 300 dancers.
Team lists
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
Position | New Zealand Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Brett Stewart Brett Stewart Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring... |
Fullback | Kevin Locke Kevin Locke (rugby league) Kevin Samuel Locke is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League. His usual position is at fullback.-Playing career:... |
| Michael Robertson Michael Robertson (rugby league) Michael Robertson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for London Broncos of Super League... |
Wing | Bill Tupou Bill Tupou Bill Tupou is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors.-Early years:... |
| Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... (c) |
Centre | Lewis Brown Lewis Brown (rugby league) Lewis Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. His position of preference is in the second row, where he plays for the Warriors whilst occasionally playing in the centres... |
| Steve Matai Steve Matai Stephen "Steve" Matai is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage... |
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... |
| Will Hopoate Will Hopoate William "Will" Hopoate also known as Viliami in Tonga is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin three-quarter back, he has also represented NSW City... |
Wing | Manu Vatuvei Manu Vatuvei Manu Vatuvei is a New Zealand rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. His position of choice is on the wing. He is the cousin of Japanese Rugby Union player Ruatangi Vatuvei. Vatuvei was a member of the New Zealand Kiwis squad that won the 2008... |
| Kieran Foran Kieran Foran Kieran Foran is a New Zealand rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays as a five-eighth or half-back though he can also play centre... |
Five-eighth | James Maloney James Maloney James Maloney is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.- Playing career :... |
| Daly Cherry-Evans Daly Cherry-Evans Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back... |
Halfback | Shaun Johnson Shaun Johnson Shaun Johnson is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors.NRL commentator Phil Gould has described him as the "New Benji Marshall".-Early years:... |
| 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... |
Prop | Russell Packer Russell Packer Russell Packer is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League competition... |
| Matt Ballin Matt Ballin Matthew Ballin is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He primarily plays at hooker.-Early years:... |
Hooker | 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:... |
| Brent Kite Brent Kite Brent Kite is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing in the NRL with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. A Tonga and Australia international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative front-row forward, he has played club football for the St. George Illawarra... |
Prop | Jacob Lillyman Jacob Lillyman Jacob Lillyman is an Australian professional rugby league footaller, currently playing for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League. Lillyman formerly played in the second row, where he had appeared for Queensland in State of Origin... |
| Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League... |
2nd Row | Elijah Taylor Elijah Taylor Elijah Taylor is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors.-Early years:... |
| Tony Williams Tony Williams (rugby league) Tony Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
2nd Row | Simon Mannering Simon Mannering Simon Alexander Mannering is a New Zealand professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition... (c) |
| Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,... |
Lock | Michael Luck |
| Shane Rodney Shane Rodney Shane Rodney is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Harlequins RL of Super League. He previously played for the Penrith Panthers, winning the 2003 NRL premiership with them. and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles whom he won the 2011 NRL Grand Final with... |
Interchange | Sam Rapira Sam Rapira Sam Rapira is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. His usual position of choice is at prop-forward... |
| Jamie Buhrer Jamie Buhrer Jamie Buhrer is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL competition. He was educated at Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown. He plays as a Second Row or Lock.-National Youth Competition:... |
Interchange | Aaron Heremaia Aaron Heremaia Aaron Aspin Heremaia is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League... |
| Vic Mauro Vic Mauro Vic Mauro is an Australian rugby league player of Italian heritage who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays in the second-row and can also play as a prop.... |
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... |
| George Rose | Interchange | Ben Matulino Ben Matulino Benedict Andrew Matulino is a rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League... |
| Des Hasler Des Hasler Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships... |
Coach | 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... |
Note: Russell Packer
Russell Packer
Russell Packer is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League competition...
, 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:...
and Elijah Taylor
Elijah Taylor
Elijah Taylor is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors.-Early years:...
swapped places with Sam Rapira
Sam Rapira
Sam Rapira is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. His usual position of choice is at prop-forward...
, Aaron Heremaia
Aaron Heremaia
Aaron Aspin Heremaia is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League...
and 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...
respectively from their interchange spots before the match.
Match
For the third year in a row, grand final day was a rainy one. After a tight opening 30 minutes, the Warriors led 2–0. However, Manly broke clear with two tries before half-time, the first to Brett StewartBrett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
and the second to Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back...
, one play after an audacious kick from forward Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
in his own half allowed winger Michael Robertson
Michael Robertson
Michael Robertson is the founder and former CEO of MP3.com, which quickly became one of the most popular Internet music sites. In the years following his departure from MP3.com, Robertson launched several small start-up companies, including Linspire, SIPphone, MP3tunes, and Ajax 13...
to break free. Manly stretched its lead to 16 points after half-time following a try to Glenn Stewart, setup by a blind flick pass from William Hopoate as he was pushed out of play. The Warriors scored two unconverted tries in the final fifteen minutes to narrow the deficit to eight points; however, Manly held onto its lead and celebrated victory with a try to captain Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
in the final minute of play. Glenn Stewart was 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...
as the player of the match.
24 |
Manly Sea Eagles |
|---|---|
| Tries | 1 B. Stewart Brett Stewart Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring... 1 Cherry-Evans Daly Cherry-Evans Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back... 1 G. Stewart Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,... 1 Lyon Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
| Goals | 3/3 Lyon Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... 1/1 Robertson Michael Robertson Michael Robertson is the founder and former CEO of MP3.com, which quickly became one of the most popular Internet music sites. In the years following his departure from MP3.com, Robertson launched several small start-up companies, including Linspire, SIPphone, MP3tunes, and Ajax 13... |
| Field Goals | |
10 |
New Zealand Warriors |
| Tries | 1 Vatuvei Manu Vatuvei Manu Vatuvei is a New Zealand rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. His position of choice is on the wing. He is the cousin of Japanese Rugby Union player Ruatangi Vatuvei. Vatuvei was a member of the New Zealand Kiwis squad that won the 2008... 1 Taylor Elijah Taylor Elijah Taylor is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors.-Early years:... |
| Goals | 1/3 Maloney James Maloney James Maloney is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.- Playing career :... |
| Field Goals | |
Half Time: 12–2