1988 NSWRL season

Rugby league competition

1988 New South Wales Rugby League premiership

Teams| 16
Premiers|  Canterbury-Bankstown (6th title)
Minor premiers|  Cronulla-Sutherland (1st title)
Matches played| 183
Points scored| 6559
Attendance| 1966658
Top points scorer(s)|  Gary Belcher (218)
Player of the year|  Barry Russell (Rothmans Medal)
Top try-scorer(s)|  John Ferguson (20)

← 1987

1989 →

The 1988 NSWRL season was the 81st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and saw the first expansion of the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership outside the borders of New South Wales, and another expansion outside of Sydney, with the addition of three new teams: the Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast-Tweed Giants. The largest NSWRL premiership yet, sixteen clubs competed during the 1988 season, with the J J Giltinan Shield for minor premiers going to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The finals culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Balmain Tigers. This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1988 Panasonic Cup.

## Season summary[edit]

1988 was the year of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, and on 4 March, the season opened with the first game of rugby league played at the newly built Sydney Football Stadium.[1] The St. George Dragons defeated the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 24–14. Easts and South Sydney would use the SFS as their home venue from 1988. This saw the end of both the Sydney Sports Ground (which closed due to the building of the SFS) and Redfern Oval as regular venues.

The brand new Brisbane Broncos club, featuring Australian Kangaroos captain Wally Lewis and starting their first ever season of football, played their first match against the previous season's premiers the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and won 44–10.

Eventual grand finalists the Balmain Tigers had a dreadful start to the season with six wins and five losses by the end of the first full round. But their plight was rescued by a masterstroke from their chief executive Keith Barnes. The Great Britain side was touring Australia that season and in strict secrecy Barnes negotiated to have the English captain and centre Ellery Hanley – judged the best player in the English competition the previous season and an undoubted world-class player – to join the Tigers. Barnes got to the NSWRL to register Hanley at 4:55 pm on 30 June, just five minutes inside the deadline for signing players for that season.

The 1988 season's Rothmans Medallist was Cronulla-Sutherland's Barry Russell.[2] The Dally M Award went to Russell's teammate Gavin Miller, and Rugby League Week gave its player of the year award to Balmian's hooker, Ben Elias.

Twenty-two regular season rounds were played in total from March till August, with Cronulla-Sutherland winning their first ever minor premiership since joining the competition in 1967. Penrith and Balmain finished on equal points in fifth place and played each other for the place in the top five, alongside Cronulla, Canterbury, Canberra and Manly.

The grand finals;

* Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs  Balmain Tigers (Senior Grade)
* Eastern Suburbs vs  Manly Sea Eagles (Reserve Grade)
* Under 21s team vs  Under 21s (Under 21s Grade)

The Tests;

* Australia vs  Great Britain
* Australia vs  Rest of the World

The State of Origin;

* Queensland vs  New South Wales

### Teams[edit]

This season saw the premiership's first expansion since 1982 with the addition of three newly created teams: the Brisbane Broncos, the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants and the Newcastle Knights.[3] This brought the League another step closer to becoming a national competition as a total of sixteen teams, the largest number in the tournament's history, contested the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one from the Australian Capital Territory.

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Balmain
Tigers

81st season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Warren Ryan
Captain: Wayne Pearce

| Brisbane
Broncos

1st season
Ground: Lang Park
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Wally Lewis

| Canberra
Raiders

7th season
Ground: Seiffert Oval
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Dean Lance

| Canterbury-Bankstown
Bulldogs

54th season
Ground: Belmore Oval
Coach: Phil Gould
Captain: Peter Tunks

Cronulla-Sutherland
Sharks

22nd season
Ground: Caltex Field
Coach: Allan Fitzgibbon
Captain: David Hatch

| Eastern Suburbs
Roosters

81st season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: Arthur Beetson
Captain: Hugh McGahan

| Gold Coast-Tweed
Giants

1st season
Ground: Seagulls Stadium
Coach: Bob McCarthy
Captain: Billy Johnstone

| Illawarra
Steelers

7th season
Ground: Wollongong Stadium
Coach: Terry Fearnley
Captain: Perry Haddock → Paul Upfield

Manly-Warringah
Sea Eagles

42nd season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Bob Fulton
Captain: Paul Vautin

| Newcastle
Knights

1st season
Ground: Newcastle ISC
Coach: Allan McMahon
Captain: Sam Stewart

| North Sydney
Bears

81st season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Coach: Frank Stanton
Captain: Mark Graham

| Parramatta
Eels

42nd season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium
Coach: John Monie
Captain: Peter Sterling

Penrith
Panthers

22nd season
Ground: Penrith Stadium
Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Royce Simmons

| South Sydney
Rabbitohs

81st season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: George Piggins
Captain: Mario Fenech

| St. George
Dragons

68th season
Ground: Belmore Sports Ground
Coach: Ted Glossop
Captain: Craig Young

| Western Suburbs
Magpies

81st season
Ground: Orana Park
Coach: Laurie Freier → John Bailey
Captain: Ian Schubert

### Advertising[edit]

1988 saw the NSWRL move their advertising account from John Singleton Advertising to Hertz Walpole Advertising. There was initially however no shift in the prior campaign direction. For the second year running a visual and vocal performance by Australian rock journeyman John "Swanee" Swan was used. Swanee recorded a purpose-written jingle entitled "The Greatest Game of All" and a rock-clip style ad was shot on a stage setting with smoke, lights and fireworks. The performance footage was interspersed with game action.

Five years later Swan's younger brother Jimmy Barnes would also feature in an NSWRL season advertisement performing alongside Tina Turner.

## Regular season[edit]

Team  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | F1  | F2  | F3  | F4  | GF

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Balmain Tigers | NOR
+20 | PAR
−20  | NEW
−4  | WES
+3 | MAN
+2 | PEN
−10  | BRI
+8  | STG
+8 | SOU
−9  | CBY
+11 | CRO
−2  | EAS
+10 | GCG
+14  | CAN
−24 | ILA
+12  | NOR
+10  | PAR
+16 | NEW
+2 | WES
+6  | MAN
−4  | PEN
+2 | BRI
+10 | PEN
+20  | MAN
+13  | CAN
+8 | CRO
+7  | CBY
−12
Brisbane Broncos | MAN
+34 | PEN
+2 | WES
+34  | NOR
+12  | PAR
+6 | NEW
+14  | BAL
−8 | CRO
−30  | EAS
+4 | GCG
−3  | CAN
−20 | ILA
+22  | STG
+4 | SOU
−12  | CBY
−15 | MAN
+18  | PEN
+2  | WES
+26 | NOR
+18 | PAR
−8  | NEW
+16 | BAL
−10  |  |  |  |  |
Canberra Raiders | ILA
+20 | STG
+24  | SOU
+28 | CBY
−5  | CRO
+18 | EAS
+36  | GCG
+44 | PAR
−28  | WES
+14  | NOR
−8 | BRI
+20  | PEN
−6 | MAN
−6 | BAL
+24  | NEW
+18 | ILA
+9  | STG
+16 | SOU
+33  | CBY
−7 | CRO
−22  | EAS
+8 | GCG
+20  | X  | CBY
−1  | BAL
−8  |  |
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | GCG
+11  | CRO
+4 | EAS
+4  | CAN
+5 | ILA
−6  | STG
+14 | SOU
+4  | PEN
+6 | MAN
−18 | BAL
−11  | NEW
+18 | PAR
+28  | WES
+25  | NOR
−12 | BRI
+15  | GCG
+15 | CRO
−8  | EAS
+15 | CAN
+7  | ILA
+6 | STG
+26 | SOU
−4 | X  | CAN
+1 | CRO
+18  | X  | BAL
+12
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | SOU
−1 | CBY
−4  | GCG
+1  | EAS
0 | CAN
−18  | ILA
+18 | STG
+16  | BRI
+30 | PEN
+22  | MAN
−14  | BAL
+2 | NEW
0  | PAR
+5 | WES
+36 | NOR
+4  | SOU
+2  | CBY
+8 | GCG
+20 | EAS
+18  | CAN
+22 | ILA
+8  | STG
+2 | X  | X  | CBY
−18 | BAL
−7 |
Eastern Suburbs Roosters | STG
−10 | SOU
−2 | CBY
−4 | CRO
0  | GCG
+18 | CAN
−36 | ILA
−4  | NOR
0 | BRI
−4  | PEN
+22 | MAN
+4 | BAL
−10  | NEW
+16 | PAR
−4  | WES
0  | STG
+21  | SOU
−25 | CBY
−15  | CRO
−18 | GCG
+24  | CAN
−8  | ILA
−21 |  |  |  |  |
Gold Coast-Tweed Giants | CBY
−11 | ILA
0  | CRO
−1 | STG
−8 | EAS
−18  | SOU
−12 | CAN
−44  | WES
−20 | NOR
−4  | BRI
+3 | PEN
−35  | MAN
−28  | BAL
−14 | NEW
+9  | PAR
+3 | CBY
−15  | ILA
+15 | CRO
−20  | STG
−2  | EAS
−24 | SOU
0  | CAN
−20 |  |  |  |  |
Illawarra Steelers | CAN
−20  | GCG
0 | STG
+16 | SOU
−13  | CBY
+6 | CRO
−18  | EAS
+4 | NEW
+8  | PAR
−22 | WES
+16 | NOR
−29  | BRI
−22 | PEN
−34  | MAN
−16  | BAL
−12 | CAN
−9 | GCG
−15  | STG
−2  | SOU
−2 | CBY
−6  | CRO
−8 | EAS
+21  |  |  |  |  |
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | BRI
−34  | NOR
+26 | PAR
+52  | NEW
+32 | BAL
−2  | WES
+20 | PEN
−22 | SOU
−14 | CBY
+18  | CRO
+14 | EAS
−4  | GCG
+28 | CAN
+6  | ILA
+16 | STG
+16  | BRI
−18 | NOR
+4  | PAR
+30 | NEW
+8  | BAL
+4 | WES
−3  | PEN
+14  | X  | BAL
−13 |  |  |
Newcastle Knights | PAR
−24 | WES
+4  | BAL
+4 | MAN
−32  | PEN
−6  | BRI
−14 | NOR
−34  | ILA
−8 | STG
−12  | SOU
+7 | CBY
−18  | CRO
0 | EAS
−16  | GCG
−9 | CAN
−18  | PAR
+1  | WES
−10 | BAL
−2  | MAN
−8 | PEN
−11 | BRI
−16  | NOR
+32 |  |  |  |  |
North Sydney Bears | BAL
−20  | MAN
−26  | PEN
−27 | BRI
−12 | WES
+7  | PAR
+4  | NEW
+34 | EAS
0  | GCG
+4 | CAN
+8  | ILA
+29 | STG
−8  | SOU
0 | CBY
+12  | CRO
−4 | BAL
−10 | MAN
−4 | PEN
−5  | BRI
−18  | WES
+4 | PAR
+6 | NEW
−32  |  |  |  |  |
Parramatta Eels | NEW
+24  | BAL
+20 | MAN
−52 | PEN
−2  | BRI
−6  | NOR
−4 | WES
−2  | CAN
+28 | ILA
+22  | STG
−12 | SOU
+8  | CBY
−28 | CRO
−5  | EAS
+4 | GCG
−3  | NEW
−1 | BAL
−16  | MAN
−30  | PEN
−4 | BRI
+8 | NOR
−6  | WES
+4 |  |  |  |  |
Penrith Panthers | WES
+20 | BRI
−2  | NOR
+27  | PAR
+2 | NEW
+6 | BAL
+10 | MAN
+22  | CBY
−6  | CRO
−22 | EAS
−22  | GCG
+35 | CAN
+6  | ILA
+34 | STG
+4  | SOU
+8 | WES
+12  | BRI
−2 | NOR
+5 | PAR
+4  | NEW
+11  | BAL
−2  | MAN
−14 | BAL
−20 |  |  |  |
South Sydney Rabbitohs | CRO
+1  | EAS
+2  | CAN
−28  | ILA
+13 | STG
+32  | GCG
+12  | CBY
−4 | MAN
+14  | BAL
+9 | NEW
−7  | PAR
−8 | WES
+8 | NOR
0  | BRI
+12 | PEN
−8  | CRO
−2 | EAS
+25  | CAN
−33 | ILA
+2  | STG
−2 | GCG
0 | CBY
+4  |  |  |  |  |
St. George Dragons | EAS
+10  | CAN
−24 | ILA
−16  | GCG
+8  | SOU
−32 | CBY
−14  | CRO
−16 | BAL
−8  | NEW
+12 | PAR
+12  | WES
+2  | NOR
+8 | BRI
−4  | PEN
−4 | MAN
−16 | EAS
−21 | CAN
−16  | ILA
+2 | GCG
+2 | SOU
+2  | CBY
−26  | CRO
−2  |  |  |  |  |
Western Suburbs Magpies | PEN
−20  | NEW
−4 | BRI
−34 | BAL
−3  | NOR
−7 | MAN
−20  | PAR
+2 | GCG
+20  | CAN
−14 | ILA
−16  | STG
−2 | SOU
−8  | CBY
−25 | CRO
−36  | EAS
0 | PEN
−12 | NEW
+10  | BRI
−26  | BAL
−6 | NOR
−4  | MAN
+3 | PAR
−4  |  |  |  |  |
Team  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22  | F1  | F2  | F3  | F4  | GF

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin

### Ladder[edit]

| Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | PF  | PA  | PD  | Pts

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1 |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 507 | 330 | +177 | 34
2 |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (P) | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 412 | 268 | +144 | 32
3 |  Canberra Raiders | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 596 | 346 | +250 | 30
4 |  Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 538 | 347 | +191 | 30
5 |  Penrith Panthers | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 394 | 258 | +136 | 30
6 |  Balmain Tigers | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 402 | 341 | +61 | 30
7 |  Brisbane Broncos | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 474 | 368 | +106 | 28
8 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 425 | 383 | +42 | 24
9 |  North Sydney Bears | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 366 | 424 | −58 | 20
10 |  St. George Dragons | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 352 | 493 | −141 | 18
11 |  Parramatta Eels | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 359 | 412 | −53 | 16
12 |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 387 | 443 | −56 | 15
13 |  Illawarra Steelers | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 353 | 510 | −157 | 13
14 |  Newcastle Knights | 22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 270 | 460 | −190 | 11
15 |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants | 22 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 238 | 484 | −246 | 10
16 |  Western Suburbs Magpies | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 287 | 493 | −206 | 9

* South Sydney were stripped of 2 competition points due to an illegal replacement in one game.

### Ladder progression[edit]

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.

| Team  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18  | 19  | 20  | 21  | 22

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1 |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34
2 |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32
3 |  Canberra Raiders | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30
4 |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30
5 |  Penrith Panthers | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30
6 |  Balmain Tigers | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30
7 |  Brisbane Broncos | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28
8 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24
9 |  North Sydney Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20
10 |  St. George Dragons | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18
11 |  Parramatta Eels | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16
12 |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15
13 |  Illawarra Steelers | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13
14 |  Newcastle Knights | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11
15 |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10
16 |  Western Suburbs Magpies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9

## Finals[edit]

Balmain had staged a gripping charge for the final five, winning nine of their last eleven games including five in a row to leave them in equal fifth spot with the Penrith Panthers at the regular season's end. They then won four sudden death finals to make it to the Grand final.

Home  | Score  | Away  | Match Information

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Date and Time  | Venue  | Referee  | Crowd
Playoff
Penrith Panthers | 8–28  |  Balmain Tigers | 16 August 1988  | Parramatta Stadium | Mick Stone | 14,206
Qualifying Finals
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 6–19  |  Balmain Tigers | 20 August 1988  | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone  | 25,327
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 19–18  |  Canberra Raiders | 21 August 1988  | Sydney Football Stadium | Graham Annesley | 19,259
Semi-finals
Canberra Raiders | 6–14  |  Balmain Tigers | 27 August 1988  | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone  | 28,879
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 8–26  |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 28 August 1988  | Sydney Football Stadium | Graham Annesley  | 31,684
Preliminary final
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2–9  |  Balmain Tigers | 4 September 1988  | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone  | 34,848
Grand final
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24–12  |  Balmain Tigers | 11 September 1988  | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone  | 40,000

## Chart[edit]

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| Qualifying final| | | Major semi-final| | | Preliminary final| | | Grand final
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| 1|  Cronulla-Sutherland| 8| | 2|  Canterbury| 24
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| | | 2|  Canterbury| 26| | | | | | 5|  Balmain| 12
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| 2|  Canterbury| 19| | 1|  Cronulla-Sutherland| 2|
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| 3|  Canberra| 18| | | Minor semi-final| | | 5|  Balmain| 9| |
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| | 3|  Canberra| 6
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| 4|  Manly| 6| | | 5|  Balmain| 14| |
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| 5|  Balmain| 19| | |
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### Grand final[edit]

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs  | Position  | Balmain Tigers

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1. Jason Alchin

| FB |

1. Garry Jack

2\. Glen Nissen | WG | 2\. Russell Gartner
3\. Tony Currie | CE | 3\. Ellery Hanley
4\. Andrew Farrar | CE | 4\. Michael Pobjie
5\. Robin Thorne | WG | 5\. Ross Conlon
6\. Terry Lamb | FE | 6\. Mick Neil
7\. Michael Hagan | HB | 7\. Gary Freeman
13\. Paul Dunn | PR | 13\. Bruce McGuire
12\. Joe Thomas | HK | 12\. Benny Elias
11\. Peter Tunks (c) | PR | 11\. Kerry Hemsley
10\. David Gillespie | SR | 10\. Paul Sironen
9\. Steve Folkes | SR | 9\. David Brooks
8\. Paul Langmack | LK | 8\. Wayne Pearce (c)
14\. Mark Bugden | Bench | 14\. Scott Gale
15\. Brandon Lee | Bench | 18\. Kevin Hardwick
18\. Steve Mortimer | Bench | 19\. Steve Edmed
23\. Darren McCarthy | Bench |
Phil Gould | Coach | Warren Ryan

This was the first grand final not to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Following Balmain's extraordinary late season run in winning thirteen of fifteen games, the stage was set for a grand final of great appeal. 1980s master coach Warren Ryan of Balmain was up against the club he had coached for four years to three grand finals and two premierships, as well as being matched against the man who had replaced him at Canterbury – Phil Gould. It was master against pupil. At just 30 years of age, Gould was vying not only to become the youngest coach to win a grand final but the first since Balmain's Leo Nosworthy in 1969 to steer a team to premiership victory in his first season coaching the top-grade.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs faced the Balmain Tigers on 11 September 1988 in the first grand final played at the Sydney Football Stadium and the last game for Steve Mortimer. The match was played early so that Channel Ten could broadcast the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The Australian national anthem was performed by Glenn Shorrock.

After five minutes Peter Tunks was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for treading on Ben Elias. The first points of the match were scored shortly after from Terry Lamb's successful penalty kick. Another penalty kick from Lamb put the Bulldogs in front 4 nil. However Balmain grabbed the first try an Elias put up a bomb and was first to the ball ahead of Bulldog Jason Alchin. Conlon's conversion from in front gave the Tigers the lead for first time at 6–4.[4]

A highly controversial tackle by Terry Lamb put Balmain's in form British import Ellery Hanley out of the game before the 30-minute mark had been reached.[5] Hanley staggered off, heavily concussed, with the score at 6–4. Under the rules of the time, Hanley was allowed 10 minutes to recover in the head bin. If he could not return he would need to be replaced. He returned just before half-time and stood, out-of-sorts, on the wing. The Bulldogs then ran in a 70-metre try from broken play and went to the break with a lead of 10–8.

Hanley did not return after half-time and the Bulldogs started to dominate. A great Canterbury team try to Michael Hagan sealed the match. Bruce McGuire scored Balmain's second try late in the match although the outcome was already clear. The match ended on a sentimental note when Gould called the Bulldogs' representative star, former captain and 271-game veteran, Steve Mortimer to the sideline. He was less than fully fit and had his arm heavily padded to protect the wrist he had broken early in the season. However Mortimer had been named as a fresh reserve as tribute to his previous club contributions and the match ended with him moving to dummy half and taking the ball up for the last time.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24
Tries: Nissen, Hagan, Gillespie, Lamb
Goals: Lamb 4

Balmain Tigers 12
Tries: Elias, McGuire
Goals: Conlon 2

Clive Churchill Medal: Paul Dunn (Canterbury)[6]

## Player statistics[edit]

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.

Top 5 point scorers

| Points  | Player  | Tries  | Goals  | Field goals

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|
|

210  |  Gary Belcher | 10  | 85  | 0
196  |  Michael O'Connor | 17  | 64  | 0
164  |  Ricky Walford | 15  | 52  | 0
161  |  Alan Wilson | 7  | 66  | 1
155  |  David Smith | 7  | 63  | 1

Top 5 try scorers

Tries  | Player

|

19  |  John Ferguson
17  |  Andrew Ettingshausen
17  |  Michael O'Connor
15  |  Wally Lewis
15  |  Ricky Walford

Top 5 goal scorers

| Goals  | Player

|

85  |  Gary Belcher
66  |  Alan Wilson
66  |  Mark Ellison
64  |  Michael O'Connor
64  |  Ross Conlon

## 1988 Transfers[edit]

### Players[edit]

Player  | 1987 Club  | 1988 Club

|
|

Gavin Hanrahan |  Balmain Tigers |  Newcastle Knights
Phil Sigsworth |  Balmain Tigers | Retirement
Terry Fahey |  Canberra Raiders | Retirement
Jay Hoffman |  Canberra Raiders | Retirement
Terry Regan |  Canberra Raiders |  Hull F.C.
David Boyd |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |  Newcastle Knights
Glen Frendo |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |  Newcastle Knights
Pat Jarvis |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Peter Kelly |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |  Penrith Panthers
Chris Mortimer |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |  Penrith Panthers
Peter Mortimer |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |  Hull Kingston Rovers
Phil Hurst  |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |  Canberra Raiders
Jim Leis |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Retirement
Brian Battese |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters |  Canberra Raiders
Kevin Hastings |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Retirement
Glen Leggett  |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters |  Illawarra Steelers
Terry Matterson |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters |  Brisbane Broncos
Gary Prohm |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Retirement
Tony Rampling |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Robert Simpkins |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Brad Tessmann |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters |  Brisbane Broncos
John Tobin |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Retirement
Graeme Bradley |  Illawarra Steelers |  Penrith Panthers
Chris Close |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Mitchell Cox |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Retirement
Ron Gibbs |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Marty Gurr |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |  Leeds
Martin Meredith |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |  Halifax
Simon Brockwell |  North Sydney Bears | Retirement
Olsen Filipaina |  North Sydney Bears | Retirement
Paul McCaffery |  North Sydney Bears |  Hull F.C.
Don McKinnon |  North Sydney Bears |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Graeme Atkins |  Parramatta Eels | Retirement
Michael Eden |  Parramatta Eels |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Ernie Garland  |  Parramatta Eels |  Western Suburbs Magpies
Neil Hunt |  Parramatta Eels |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Stan Jurd |  Parramatta Eels | Retirement
Ken Wolffe |  Parramatta Eels | Retirement
Darryl Brohman |  Penrith Panthers | Retirement
Tony Butterfield |  Penrith Panthers |  Newcastle Knights
Warren Fenton |  Penrith Panthers | Retirement
Ben Gonzales |  Penrith Panthers |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Chris Houghton |  Penrith Panthers |  Canberra Raiders
Craig Izzard |  Penrith Panthers |  Parramatta Eels
Brandon Lee |  Penrith Panthers |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
David Liddiard |  Penrith Panthers |  Parramatta Eels
Glenn Miller |  Penrith Panthers |  Newcastle Knights
Mark Robinson |  Penrith Panthers |  Parramatta Eels
Joe Vitanza |  Penrith Panthers |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Neil Baker |  South Sydney Rabbitohs |  Penrith Panthers
Michael Pobjie |  South Sydney Rabbitohs |  Balmain Tigers
Mark Ross |  South Sydney Rabbitohs |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Glenn Burgess |  St. George Dragons |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Bronko Djura |  St. George Dragons |  South Sydney Rabbitohs
Marc Glanville |  St. George Dragons |  Newcastle Knights
Chris Johns |  St. George Dragons |  Brisbane Broncos
Billy Johnstone |  St. George Dragons |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Billy Noke |  St. George Dragons |  Brisbane Broncos
Brian Quinton |  St. George Dragons |  Newcastle Knights
Tony Townsend |  St. George Dragons |  Newcastle Knights
John Bilbija |  Western Suburbs Magpies |  South Sydney Rabbitohs
Brett Clark |  Western Suburbs Magpies |  St. George Dragons
John Elias |  Western Suburbs Magpies |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Craig Ellis |  Western Suburbs Magpies | Retirement
Paul Sheahan |  Western Suburbs Magpies |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Gary Webster |  Western Suburbs Magpies | Retirement
Les White  |  Western Suburbs Magpies |  South Sydney Rabbitohs
Grant Rix |  Fortitude Valley Diehards (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Allan Langer |  Ipswich Jets (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Kerrod Walters |  Ipswich Jets (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Geoff Bagnall |  Norths Devils (BRL)  |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Greg Dowling |  Norths Devils (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Trevor Bailey |  Past Brothers (BRL)  |  St. George Dragons
Peter Gill |  Past Brothers (BRL)  |  St. George Dragons
Joe Kilroy |  Past Brothers (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Clinton Mohr |  Past Brothers (BRL)  |  St. George Dragons
Gary Smith |  Past Brothers (BRL)  |  North Sydney Bears
Greg Conescu |  Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Jeff Doyle |  Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL)  |  Newcastle Knights
Bryan Niebling |  Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Wally Lewis |  Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Gene Miles |  Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Colin Scott |  Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL)  |  Brisbane Broncos
Brett Atkins |  Castleford |  Parramatta Eels
Neil James |  Halifax |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Kerry Boustead |  Hull Kingston Rovers |  North Sydney Bears
Mark Hohn |  Hunslet |  Brisbane Broncos
Peter Smith |  Leeds |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Gary Bridge |  Oldham |  Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Steve Halliwell |  Wakefield Trinity |  Gold Coast-Tweed Giants
Paul Bishop |  Warrington |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Joe Ropati |  Warrington |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Ellery Hanley |  Wigan |  Balmain Tigers
Adrian Shelford |  Wigan |  Newcastle Knights
Tony Kemp | Doncaster |  Newcastle Knights

### Coaches[edit]

Coach  | 1987 Club  | 1988 Club

|
|

Wayne Bennett |  Canberra Raiders |  Brisbane Broncos
Warren Ryan |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |  Balmain Tigers
Tim Sheens |  Penrith Panthers |  Canberra Raiders

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Sydney Football Stadium Magic Moments". sydneycricketground.com.au. Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
2. ^ Paul Tait & Heather Smith (1 September 1988). "Cool Russell is ready to shoulder the burden for Sharks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax. p. 50. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
3. ^ "History of the Premiership". centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au. Australian Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
4. ^ Weidler, Danny (11 September 1988). "Minutes that mattered". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 3. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
5. ^ Coady, Ben (28 September 2009). "Grand final dramas". WA Today. Australia: Fairfax Digital. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
6. ^ D'Souza, Miguel. "Grand Final History". wwos.ninemsn.com.au. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.

## External links[edit]

* Rugby League Tables – Season 1988 The World of Rugby League.
* 1988 J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup at rleague.com[dead link]
* Results:1981–90 at rabbitohs.com.au
* NSWRL season 1988 at rugbyleagueproject.com

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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Est. 1935 in Sydney, New South Wales

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