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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:30:02 GMT 10
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:31:40 GMT 10
The 1983 NSWRFL season was the 76th season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Fourteen teams competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a replay of the previous year's grand final between the Parramatta and Manly-Warringah clubs. During the season, NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1983 KB Cup.
1983 was the final season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership for Sydney-based foundation club Newtown Jets, and the first reduction in the number of teams in the competition since Sydney University’s departure at the end of the 1937 NSWRFL season. It was also the first season that was played with four-point tries.
Grand Final
Parramatta powered over Manly for the second year straight to claim their third successive title. The 18-6 win saw Brett Kenny claim a unique achievement in scoring two tries in three successive grand finals. Kenny opened the scoring and the Eels raced to a 10-0 lead after 13 minutes when Eric Grothe steamrolled burly Manly fullback Graham Eadie.
Parramatta 18 (Tries: Brett Kenny 2, Eric Grothe; Goals: Cronin 3)
defeated
Manly-Warringah 6 (Tries: Phil Sigsworth; Goals: Graham Eadie)
Wikipedia
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:32:42 GMT 10
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:33:26 GMT 10
1983 Grand Final: Parramatta 18 d Manly 6 at SCG
Suggestions that the week's rest after winning the major semi-final could work against a side surfaced again when Parramatta dismissed Manly in the 1983 grand final. The underdone Sea Eagles trailed 12-0 after twenty-nine minutes and back-pedalled for most of the first half. Kenny took a brilliant low catch to score the first try of the match after eight minutes, before Cronin, Edge, Kenny and Ella combined for Grothe to brush aside Blake and Eadie in the thirteenth minute.
Manly mounted an attack just before halftime but Price pulled off a magnificent try-saving tackle on the rampaging Noel Cleal. Cleal was Manly's best-his ferocious charge on Parramatta's Steve Edge broke the skipper's hand and damaged his eye, forcing him out of the game midway through the second half.
Two minutes after the break Kenny crossed and at 18-0 the grand final was over. Sigsworth's lone try for the lack lustre Sea Eagles came in the forty-fifth minute and was followed by a towering conversion from the touchline by Eadie. Any hope of Manly getting back into the match was quickly dashed as Parramatta's defence and kicking game prevailed to deny Manly time to mount attacks. At 18-6 the classy Eels played it out in a canter.
After three successive premierships the Eels were at the top of the football tree. The triumph was a salute to some of the best players to play the game: Price, Cronin, Sterling, Kenny, Grothe, and to their coach, the inimitable Jack Gibson.
Parramatta 18 (B.Kenny 2, E.Grothe tries, M.Cronin 3 goals) defeated Manly 6 (P.Sigsworth try, G.Eadie goal). Referee: K.Roberts. Crowd: 40,285.
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:33:48 GMT 10
1983 Grand Final: Parramatta 18 d Manly 6 at SCG
By Ian Heads September 29, 1983
Jack Gibson masterminded and inspired premiership number three for Parramatta last Sunday afternoon-then reserved his smoothest tactical ploy until after the game. While champagne showered like a tropical rainstorm in the Parramatta dressing room Gibson quietly parried press questions in the much drier adjacent ante-room. Tactics befitting a master coach. Prime Minister Bob Hawke, very saville row in an immaculate grey suit, wasn't quite so circumspect. PM and staff headed into the fray-and received a drenching for their trouble. But Mr Hawke, an Eels backer on the day, was still smiling when he left. The history-making third straight grand final win by Parramatta was a joyous occasion. "I'm very proud," said Jack's right-hand man Ron Massey when presented with the game ball. Nearby, Captain Courageous Steve Edge, who winced every time anyone shook his hand, was singing the praises of coach Gibson. "Some people see him as a ogre," said Edge. "That's ridiculous. "He's the most concerned, caring bloke you could meet. If you were in trouble he'd do anything to help. And I've never met a coach who asks less from his players. He's a genius." In a corner a couple of heavyweights, Arthur Beetson and Bob O'Reilly wrestled an old mate, Mick Cronin, against the lockers and gave him a mock 'belting'. "There's 100 years of experience there," shouted Eels secretary Denis Fitzgerald. It was a dressing room panorama befitting the grand and glorious winners of the biggest game of the year. At the other end of the Members' Stand, Manly didn't seem quite hurt ENOUGH by the fact that they had lost. The sporting gesture of the Manly players to wait and then applaud off their Parramatta rivals after the lap of honor had spilled over to the dressing room. "They were too good," was the automatic response to commiserations offered. The afternoon however had cut deep into coach Bob Fulton-who had groomed his team to win all the way this year, only to fall at the last hurdle. "It's just so disappointing after a year like we've had," said 'Bozo'. On the wall hung two pairs of boots-those of Graham Eadie and Bruce Walker. 'Changa' Langlands came in to shake Wombat's hand, and wish him well. The spark of mutual admiration has always been evident between the pair. "I just hope I look as good as he does when I get to his age.....in another 10 years or so," said Eadie with a grin.
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:34:08 GMT 10
1983 Grand Final: Parramatta 18 d Manly 6 at SCG
Trivia: Man of the match: Brett Kenny (Parramatta). * MOM 1954-1985 was determined retrospectively by a panel of experts in 2008.
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:34:41 GMT 10
Ray Price
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:35:16 GMT 10
Steve Sharp
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:35:47 GMT 10
Eric Grothe
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:36:16 GMT 10
Grand Final Celebrations
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:36:52 GMT 10
Jack Gibson and Denis Fitzgerald
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:37:09 GMT 10
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:37:40 GMT 10
Grothe, Gibson and Jurd
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:37:56 GMT 10
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Post by Rugby League Historian on Sept 20, 2021 20:38:25 GMT 10
Big League Magazine
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