2000 NRL Grand Final
The 2000 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2000 NRL season. It was contested by the Brisbane Broncos, who had finished the season in 1st place, and the Sydney Roosters, who had finished the season in 2nd place. The Brisbane Broncos were favourites heading into the grand final with the Sydney Roosters as underdogs. Brisbane were premiership favourites for most of the season after leading the competition every round since Round 4. It was their fifth Grand Final appearance in nine years, while it was the first for the Roosters in twenty years. The attendance of 94,277 was the second highest ever seen at a rugby league match in Australia. It was the first time that the Clive Churchill Medal was presented separately with a ribbon being worn around the neck as previously, it was presented in a case.
| 2000 NRL Grand Final | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 27 August 2000 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Stadium Australia | ||||||||||||
| Location | Sydney, NSW, Australia | ||||||||||||
| Clive Churchill Medal | Darren Lockyer (BRI) | ||||||||||||
| Referees | Bill Harrigan | ||||||||||||
| Attendance | 94,277 | ||||||||||||
| Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
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| Commentators | |||||||||||||
Background
The 2000 NRL season was the 93rd season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the third to be run by the National Rugby League. Fourteen teams competed from February until August for the minor premiership before the top eight teams played in the finals series, which culminated in the grand final.
Brisbane Broncos
The 2000 Brisbane Broncos season was the thirteenth in the club's history. Coached by Wayne Bennett and captained by Kevin Walters, they finished the regular season 1st (out of 14 teams) to claim their 4th minor premiership. The Broncos played two finals matches (against the 8th-placed Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks then the 7th-placed Parramatta Eels), winning both to qualify for their 5th grand final.
Sydney Roosters
The 2000 Sydney Roosters season was the 93rd in the club's history. Coached by Graham Murray and captained by Brad Fittler, they finished the regular season 2nd (out of 14 teams). After losing their first finals match, the Roosters won their next two to reach their 18th grand final.
Match details
Shane Webcke went into the match with a broken arm.[1]
First half
Sydney were unlucky not to have an early lead only 3 minutes in when Shannon Hegarty got over the line but good cover defence by Brisbane fullback Darren Lockyer stopped them from scoring. The Broncos opened the scoring with a penalty goal to Michael De Vere to make it 2-0 at the 12th minute. Four minutes later, Lote Tuqiri scored the first try of the Grand Final which was converted by Michael De Vere to make it 8-0 in Brisbane's favour. Michael De Vere extended his side's lead out to 10-0 in the 27th minute. The Roosters opened their scoring in the 35th minute with a penalty goal to Luke Phillips to make it 10-2 and it remained that scoreline until halftime.
Second half
In the first minute of play after the break, Broncos five-eighth Ben Ikin got hit late with a high shot and went to the bench missing twenty minutes of the second half. Brisbane had a chance to go ten in front with a penalty goal but missed marginally. However the Broncos extended their lead to 14-2 when Wendell Sailor scored in the 55th but the conversion was unsuccessful by Michael De Vere. Craig Fitzgibbon got Sydney's first try of the match in the 70th minute to give the Roosters a glimmer of hope but his conversion was unsuccessful as it dropped onto the cross bar and bounced out, leaving the score 14-6.
| 14 |
Brisbane Broncos |
|---|---|
| Tries | Tuqiri, Sailor |
| Goals | De Vere 3/5 |
| Field Goals | |
| 6 |
Sydney Roosters |
| Tries | Fitzgibbon |
| Goals | Phillips 1/1, Fitzgibbon 0/1 |
| Field Goals | |
Clive Churchill Medal: Darren Lockyer (Brisbane)
Timeline
12th Minute: Brisbane 2-0 (De Vere goal)
16th Minute: Brisbane 8-0 (Tuqiri try; De Vere goal)
27th Minute: Brisbane 10-0 (De Vere goal)
35th Minute: Brisbane 10-2 (Phillips goal)
53rd Minute: Brisbane 14-2 (Sailor try)
71st Minute: Brisbane 14-6 (Fitzgibbon try)
References
- Stevens, Jason (27 September 2009). "Tales of bravery sure to have you gritting your teeth". LeagueHQ. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 6 October 2009.