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1977 NSWRFL season#Grand Final

{{Short description|Rugby league competition}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby league season

| year = 1977

| competition = New South Wales Rugby Football League

| image =

| imagesize = 125px

| caption =

| duration = March 19 – September 24, 1977

| teams = 12

| premiers = 16x16px St. George

| count = 14th

| minor premiers = 16x16px Parramatta

| mpcount = 1st

| matches = 139

| points = 4346

| attendance = 1,440,765

| top point scorer = 16x16px Mick Cronin (225)

| top try scorer = 16x16px Russel Gartner (17)

| MVP = {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Mick Cronin

| MVP_link = Rothmans Medal

| wooden_spoon = Newtown Jets

| wooden_spoon_count = 7th

| prevseason_link = 1976 NSWRFL season

| prevseason_year = 1976

| nextseason_link = 1978 NSWRFL season

| nextseason_year = 1978

}}

The 1977 NSWRFL season was the 70th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the St. George and Parramatta clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1977 Amco Cup.

Season summary

During the pre-season Parramatta forward Graham Olling made headlines when he became the first rugby league player to admit to taking anabolic steroids, which at the time were not illegal in the sport.{{cite news|last=Curtin|first=Jennie|title=Simply the Best|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&docID=news980713_0529_7766|access-date=2 January 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 July 1998}}

Another stir was created at the start of the season by Newtown's recruitment of professional American football player, Manfred Moore. The club's first match of the season at Henson Park attracted the likes of Paul Hogan, Jeannie Little and John Laws who witnessed the American score Newtown's first try.

Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, with Parramatta top of the table for much of the season before finishing the home and away fixtures on top of the table. The final five were rounded out by St. George, Eastern Suburbs, Balmain and Manly. Cronulla-Sutherland had been in contention for a finals spot before fading late in the season.

The 1977 season's Rothmans Medal, as well as Rugby League Week's player of the year award, was awarded to Parramatta centre Mick Cronin.

=Teams=

align="center" class="toccolours" style="text-valign: center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=2
width=195|

!width=195|

!width=195|

!width=195|

align="center"|Balmain
TigersImage:Balmain Jersey 1976.png

70th season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval

Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Trevor Ryan

|align="center"|Canterbury-BankstownImage:Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1977.png

43rd season
Ground: Belmore Sports Ground

Coach: Mal Clift
Captain: Bob McCarthy, George Peponis, Tim Pickup

|align="center"|Cronulla-Sutherland
SharksImage:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1977.png

11th season
Ground: Endeavour Field

Coach: Ted Glossop
Captain: Greg Pierce

|align="center"|Eastern Suburbs
RoostersImage:Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1977.png

70th season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground

Captain-coach: Arthur Beetson

align="center"|Manly-Warringah
Sea EaglesImage:Manly-Warringah Jersey 1976.png

31st season
Ground: Brookvale Oval

Coach: Frank Stanton
Captain: Ray Branighan

|align="center"|Newtown
JetsImage:Newtown Jersey 1977.png

70th season
Ground: Henson Park

Coach: Paul Broughton
Captain: John Floyd

|align="center"|North Sydney
BearsImage:North Sydney Jersey 1977.png

70th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval

Captain-coach: Bill Hamilton

|align="center"|Parramatta
EelsImage:Parramatta Jersey 1976.png

31st season
Ground: Cumberland Oval

Coach: Terry Fearnley
Captain: Ray Higgs

align="center"|Penrith
PanthersImage:Penrith Jersey 1977.png

11th season
Ground: Penrith Park

Coach: Don Parish
Captain: Mike Stephenson

|align="center"|South Sydney
RabbitohsImage:South Sydney Jersey 1977.png

70th season
Ground: Redfern Oval

Coach: John O'Neill
Captain: George Piggins

|align="center"|St. George
DragonsImage:St George Jersey 1977.png

57th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval

Coach: Harry Bath
Captain: Steve Edge

|align="center"|Western Suburbs
MagpiesImage:Western Suburbs Jersey 1975.png

70th season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval

Coach: Keith Holman
Captain: Tom Raudonikis

Regular season

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center; width:90%"
valign="top"

!valign="middle"| 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

! GF

! GFR

align="left"| Balmain Tigers

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−2

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+10

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+11

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+19

|style="background:#E6E7CE |PEN
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−2

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+7

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+16

|style="background:#E6E7CE |EAS
0

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+26

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−20

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+31

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−24

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Canterbury-Bankstown

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−2

|style="background:#E6E7CE |NOR
0

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+10

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+18

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−3

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+21

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−2

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−10

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+12

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+27

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+6

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+8

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−5

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+33

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+14

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+37

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+31

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+5

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Eastern Suburbs Roosters

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+11

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+36

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+39

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+20

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+7

|style="background:#E6E7CE |BAL
0

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+18

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+15

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−13

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+13

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+12

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+13

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+11

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−5

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−8

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+18

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+7

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−6

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+14

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−16

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+11

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+18

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−12

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−17

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+48

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−8

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Newtown Jets

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−39

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−27

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−15

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−21

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−33

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−31

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−48

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+13

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| North Sydney Bears

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−3

|style="background:#E6E7CE |CBY
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−36

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−17

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−14

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−2

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−18

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+19

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−15

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−2

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+16

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+40

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+8

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Parramatta Eels

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−13

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+11

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+18

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+8

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+19

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+2

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+7

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+7

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+2

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−2

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+1

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+31

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+19

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+20

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−5

|style="background:#99ccff;"|X

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−5

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+8

|style="background:#E6E7CE |STG
0

|style="background:#D3D3D3;"|STG
−22

align="left"| Penrith Panthers

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

|style="background:#E6E7CE |BAL
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−11

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−4

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−15

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+41

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−31

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−8

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| South Sydney Rabbitohs

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−18

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−29

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−5

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−41

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−13

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| St. George Dragons

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−10

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−12

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+15

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−1

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−18

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+13

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+15

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+4

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+14

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+17

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+9

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+45

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+5

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+5

|style="background:#99ccff;"|X

|style="background:#E6E7CE |PAR
0

|style="background:#FFD700;"|PAR
+22

align="left"| Western Suburbs Magpies

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−7

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+29

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−11

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+3

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−11

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−31

|style="background:#cfc;" |CBY
+7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−37

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−40

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−45

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

valign="top"

!valign="middle"| 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

! GF

! GFR

Bold – Home game

X – Bye

Opponent for round listed above margin

=Ladder=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
width=20 abbr="Position×" |

!width=175 |Team

!width=20 abbr="Played" |Pld

!width=20 abbr="Won" |W

!width=20 abbr="Drawn" |D

!width=20 abbr="Lost" |L

!width=20 abbr="Points for" |PF

!width=20 abbr="Points against" |PA

!width=20 abbr="Points difference" |PD

!width=20 abbr="Points" |Pts

style="background: #ccffcc;"

|1

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Parramatta

|22

1903448280+16838
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|2

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px St. George

|22

1705402260+14234
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|3

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Eastern Suburbs

|22

1516392207+18531
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|4

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Balmain

|22

1327417288+12928
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|5

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Manly

|22

1408352269+8328
6style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Cronulla

|22

1309433312+12126
7style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Canterbury

|22

10111283239+4421
8style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px North Sydney

|22

10111377390|
1321
9style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Western Suburbs

|22

7015247438|
19114
10style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Old Penrith|size=16}} Penrith

|22

6115319408|
8913
11style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px South Sydney

|22

3019250479|
2296
12style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Newtown

|22

2020254604|
3504

=Ladder progression=

  • 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.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height: 90%; font-size:90%;" width=100%
width=20 abbr="Position" |

!width=250 |Team

!width=20 abbr="Round 1" |1

!width=20 abbr="Round 2" |2

!width=20 abbr="Round 3" |3

!width=20 abbr="Round 4" |4

!width=20 abbr="Round 5" |5

!width=20 abbr="Round 6" |6

!width=20 abbr="Round 7" |7

!width=20 abbr="Round 8" |8

!width=20 abbr="Round 9" |9

!width=20 abbr="Round 10" |10

!width=20 abbr="Round 11" |11

!width=20 abbr="Round 12" |12

!width=20 abbr="Round 13" |13

!width=20 abbr="Round 14" |14

!width=20 abbr="Round 15" |15

!width=20 abbr="Round 16" |16

!width=20 abbr="Round 17" |17

!width=20 abbr="Round 18" |18

!width=20 abbr="Round 19" |19

!width=20 abbr="Round 20" |20

!width=20 abbr="Round 21" |21

!width=20 abbr="Round 22" |22

1style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Parramatta|size=16}} Parramatta Eelsstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #99ccff;"|10style="background: #99ccff;"|12style="background: #99ccff;"|14style="background: #99ccff;"|16style="background: #99ccff;"|18style="background: #99ccff;"|20style="background: #99ccff;"|22style="background: #99ccff;"|24style="background: #99ccff;"|26style="background: #99ccff;"|26style="background: #99ccff;"|28style="background: #99ccff;"|30style="background: #99ccff;"|32style="background: #99ccff;"|34style="background: #99ccff;"|36style="background: #99ccff;"|38style="background: #99ccff;"|38
2style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|St. George|size=16}} St. George Dragonsstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|668style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|28style="background: #ccffcc;"|30style="background: #ccffcc;"|32style="background: #ccffcc;"|34
3style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs|size=16}} Eastern Suburbs Roosters0style="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|44style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|1010style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|13style="background: #ccffcc;"|15style="background: #ccffcc;"|17style="background: #ccffcc;"|19style="background: #ccffcc;"|19style="background: #ccffcc;"|21style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|25style="background: #ccffcc;"|27style="background: #ccffcc;"|29style="background: #ccffcc;"|29style="background: #ccffcc;"|31
4style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Balmain|size=16}} Balmain Tigersstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #99ccff;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|9style="background: #ccffcc;"|99style="background: #ccffcc;"|11style="background: #ccffcc;"|13style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|28style="background: #ccffcc;"|28
5style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Manly|size=16}} Manly Warringah Sea Eaglesstyle="background: #99ccff;"|2style="background: #99ccff;"|4style="background: #99ccff;"|6style="background: #99ccff;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|6668101012style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|28
6style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks22246style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|12121214161616181820222426
7style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Canterbury|size=16}} Canterbury-Bankstown013style="background: #ccffcc;"|5style="background: #ccffcc;"|7style="background: #ccffcc;"|99style="background: #ccffcc;"|11style="background: #ccffcc;"|1111style="background: #ccffcc;"|131313131517191921212121
8style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|North Sydney|size=16}} North Sydney Bears01style="background: #ffcccc;"|1style="background: #ffcccc;"|1style="background: #ffcccc;"|1style="background: #ffcccc;"|13357799111313131515171921
9style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|size=16}} Western Suburbs Magpies0style="background: #ffcccc;"|022446888101012121212121414141414
10style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Old Penrith|size=16}} Penrith Panthers0style="background: #ccffcc;"|22223335579991113131313131313
11style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|South Sydney|size=16}} South Sydney Rabbitohsstyle="background: #ffcccc;"|0224444446666666666666
12style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Newtown|size=16}} Newtown Jetsstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|222222style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|4

Finals

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%
bgcolor=#C1D8FF

!rowspan=2 width=21%|Home

!rowspan=2 width=6%|Score

!rowspan=2 width=21%|Away

!colspan=6|Match Information

bgcolor=#EFEFEF

!width=17%|Date and Time

!width=17%|Venue

!width=11%|Referee

!width=7%|Crowd

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Qualifying Finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|19–14

|align=left | 23x23px Eastern Suburbs

|27 August 1977

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Jack Danzey

|28,288

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Balmain

|23–15

|align=left | 23x23px Manly-Warringah

|28 August 1977

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Gary Cook

|20,716

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Semi-finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Parramatta

|5–10

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|3 September 1977

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Jack Danzey

|29,794

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Eastern Suburbs

|26–2

|align=left | 23x23px Balmain

|4 September 1977

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Gary Cook

|23,785

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Preliminary final

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Parramatta

|13–5

|align=left | 23x23px Eastern Suburbs

|10 September 1977

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Gary Cook

|39,095

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Grand finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|9–9

|align=left | 23x23px Parramatta

|17 September 1977

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Gary Cook

|65,959

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|22–0

|align=left | 23x23px Parramatta

|24 September 1977

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Gary Cook

|47,828

=Chart=

{{5McIntyre

| team-width=150

| RD1= Qualifying final

| RD2= Major semi-final

| RD4= Grand final

| RD1b=Elimination final

| RD2b=Minor semi-final

| RD3b=Preliminary final

| RD1-seed1=2

| RD1-team1={{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George

| RD1-score1=19

| RD1-seed2=3

| RD1-team2={{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs|16}} Eastern Suburbs

| RD1-score2=14

| RD1-seed3=4

| RD1-team3={{leagueicon|Balmain|16}} Balmain

| RD1-score3=23

| RD1-seed4=5

| RD1-team4={{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly

| RD1-score4=15

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1={{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta

| RD2-score1=5

| RD2-seed2=

| RD2-team2={{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George

| RD2-score2=10

| RD2-seed3=

| RD2-team3={{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs|16}} Eastern Suburbs

| RD2-score3=26

| RD2-seed4=

| RD2-team4={{leagueicon|Balmain|16}} Balmain

| RD2-score4=2

| RD3-seed1=

| RD3-team1={{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta

| RD3-score1=13

| RD3-seed2=

| RD3-team2={{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs|16}} Eastern Suburbs

| RD3-score2=5

| RD4-seed1=

| RD4-team1={{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George

| RD4-score1=22*

| RD4-seed2=

| RD4-team2={{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta

| RD4-score2=0*

}}

* - Indicates only the replay match, and not the match ending in a draw.

=Grand final=

align="right" class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; margin-left:1em"
bgcolor="#FF0033"

! style="width:140px; border:3px solid red; background: white; color: red"|St. George

! style="width:40px; text-align:center; background:#eee; color:black;"|Position

! style="width:140px; border:3px solid gold; background: blue; color: gold"|Parramatta

align=center

|

  1. Ted Goodwin

| FB

18. Phil Mann
align=center

| 2. Stephen Butler

WG2. Jim Porter
align=center

| 3. Graham Quinn

CE3. Mick Cronin
align=center

| 4. Robert Finch

CE4. Ed Sulkowicz
align=center

| 5. John Chapman

WG5. Graeme Atkins
align=center

| 6. Rod McGregor

FE# Mark Levy
align=center

| 7. Mark Shulman

HB7. John Kolc
align=center

| 13. Bruce Starkey

PR13. Graham Olling
align=center

| 12. Steve Edge (c)

HK12. Ron Hilditch
align=center

| 11. Craig Young

PR14. John Baker
align=center

| 10. Robert Stone

SR10. Geoff Gerard
align=center

| 9. John Jansen

SR9. Ray Higgs (c)
align=center

| 8. Rod Reddy

LK8. Ray Price
align=center

| 14. Tony Quirk

Res.6. John Peard
align=center

| 17. John Bailey

Res.11. Denis Fitzgerald
align=center

| Harry Bath

CoachTerry Fearnley

Parramatta boasted an experienced team, making their second consecutive Grand final appearance. The young St. George side dubbed "Bath's Babes", were able to draw on the experience and wiles of their coach Harry Bath, and as the day of the decider approached the betting market narrowed.

A crowd of 66,000 flocked to the Sydney Cricket Ground to see an enthusiastic St. George side come out with all guns blazing. Dragons lock forward “Rocket” Rod Reddy, initially dominated proceedings with his brutal defensive play.

In attack, diminutive Dragons halfback Mark Shulman made inroads and they went ahead 4–0 with two penalty goals to Ted Goodwin. Just before half time, "Lord Ted" scored a miraculous try when he burst through and chipped ahead from halfway. Confronting his opposite fullback Phil Mann, Goodwin kicked again. A foot race followed with cover defenders Graeme Atkins and Ed Sulkowicz joining. The ball trickled towards the dead-ball line but Goodwin got there first, hitting the ground hard and knocking himself out in the process. He had run {{convert|50|yard|m|0}} and beat every defender to score a breathtaking individual try. John Chapman converted and Goodwin unsteady on his feet for the rest of the half had given his side a handy 9–0 lead going into the break.

The second half began like the first, with uncompromising defence. Reddy was targeting Parramatta's champion lock, Ray Price but in the process gave away a number of penalties. Goodwin was felled in an off the ball incident early after the break and took no further part. Mick Cronin slotted three pressure goals to make it 9–6 and the older Eels were well positioned for a comeback against a tiring Dragons defence.

With 10 minutes to run, Parramatta pounced when Cronin drew three defenders and found Price in support who stepped through and gave a final pass to Sulkowicz who scored the equaliser out wide. Now Parramatta had the chance to snatch victory through Mick Cronin’s conversion attempt. A prolific goalkicker throughout his career, Cronin had an opportunity which young players dream of – to kick his team to premiership glory. However, the ball sailed to the right of the uprights and moments later the full-time scoreboard read 9–9.{{cite news

| last = Rothfield

| first = Phil

| title = Buzz names his top 10 NRL chokers

| work = The Daily Telegraph

| place = Australia

| publisher = News Limited

| date = 2010-08-23

| url = http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/buzzwords/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/buzz_names_his_top_10_nrl_chokers/

| access-date = 2010-08-24}} For the first time in history, a New South Wales Rugby Football League Grand final was forced into 20 minutes extra time.

Parramatta took command of the restart and looked strong. The Eels almost scored when prop Graham Olling found space near the line, but he failed to pass to his unmarked front rower partner Ron Hilditch. St. George then lifted a notch, grafted out some territory towards the Eels' end and began to think of field goals. Shulman and Chapman both made unsuccessful attempts before reserve Tony Quirk had a third attempt from close range. Quirk's kick initially looked on target but the ball bounced off the post and into the arms of St. George's hooker, Steve Edge. He grounded the ball over the line but was ruled offside by referee Gary Cook.

With one minute left Cook awarded a penalty to the Dragons within kicking range. In a final twist, Chapman's attempt went the same way as Cronin's earlier kick and after 100 minutes of Grand final play, the scores were still locked at 9–9. The players initially appeared confused, then began shaking hands. The ground announcer advised that a replay would be required.

Greenwood's reference described the match as “the game of the century”. This is a bold claim but it was undoubtedly a brave effort by both sides and a ground-breaking match in Australian rugby league history.

St. George 9 (Tries: Goodwin. Goals: Goodwin 2, Chapman.)

Parramatta 9 (Tries: Sulkowicz. Goals: Cronin

=Grand final replay=

align="right" class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; margin-left:1em"
bgcolor="#FF0033"

! style="width:140px; border:3px solid red; background: white; color: red"|St. George

! style="width:40px; text-align:center; background:#eee; color:black;"|Position

! style="width:140px; border:3px solid gold; background: blue; color: gold"|Parramatta

align=center

|

  1. Ted Goodwin

| FB

# Mark Levy
align=center

| 2. Stephen Butler

WG2. Jim Porter
align=center

| 3. Graham Quinn

CE3. Mick Cronin
align=center

| 4. Robert Finch

CE4. Ed Sulkowicz
align=center

| 5. John Chapman

WG5. Graeme Atkins
align=center

| 6. Rod McGregor

FE6. John Peard
align=center

| 17. John Bailey

HB7. John Kolc
align=center

| 13. Bruce Starkey

PR13. Graham Olling
align=center

| 12. Steve Edge (c)

HK12. Ron Hilditch
align=center

| 11. Craig Young

PR14. John Baker
align=center

| 10. Robert Stone

SR10. Geoff Gerard
align=center

| 9. John Jansen

SR9. Ray Higgs(c)
align=center

| 8.Rod Reddy

LK8. Ray Price
align=center

| 20. Barry Beath

Reserve11. Denis Fitzgerald
align=center

| Harry Bath

CoachTerry Fearnley
From the first match, the Dragons had lost halfback Mark Shulman, who suffered a kneeing in the back by Parramatta skipper Ray Higgs, although otherwise their team had come through unscathed. The Parramatta camp had players showing multiple cuts, bruises and bite marks with Ray Price in particular looking like he had been used as a punching bag.

Although a grand final replay had not occurred in the Australian game, the young Dragons were able to draw on the experience of "the Old Fox", Harry Bath who had played in the drawn 1953–54 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in England, and whose Warrington side won the replay in front of a then record crowd of over 102,000. The 1977 VFL grand final played the same day, also finished as a draw and would need to be replayed.

With a strong breeze at their backs, St George began the match in a determined fashion and were soon in front 7–0 when John Jansen scored following a great forward charge by tireless front rower Bruce Starkey; the final pass, though was at least a metre forward.

Twelve minutes into the second half, St George furthered their lead with a penalty goal to Ted Goodwin. Led by Steve Edge, Craig Young and Robert Stone, with the ruthlessness of Rod Reddy and the experience of veteran Barry Beath, the strong Dragons forward pack laid a good foundation and as the match wore on their backline took advantage. Robert Finch and Graham Quinn began to find room in the centres, and the halves John Bailey and Rod McGregor started to outpace their older opposition. A field goal from Goodwin took the score to 10–0 and then after Parramatta were found offside, Goodwin kicked another penalty goal.

An incident occurred when touch judge Brian Barry was hit by a projectile from the crowd and collapsed. He had to be replaced by a referees' official, Ray O'Donnell, who was wearing normal street attire. For the remainder of the match top referee Jack Danzey acted as touch judge on the eastern side.

Late in the match, Robert Stone found the ball and ran 30 metres to score a rare forward's try right in front of the St. George faithful who, as per the club's tradition, had massed in the Sheridan Stand. With a scoreline of 17–0 the Dragons had the game but then, following a wonderful display of backing up, Saints were awarded a penalty try by referee Gary Cook when John Bailey was taken out by the tired defence. After Goodwin's final conversion and 180 minutes of bone-crushing football, St George were declared the 1977 champions, winning their club's 14th premiership 22–0.{{cite news|title=Form over five years|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XftjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=feYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=630,6357490|access-date=19 June 2011|newspaper=The Sun-Herald|date=19 March 1978}}

It was a fitting farewell for the stalwart Dragons second rower Barry Beath, the last Dragon to retire who had been involved as a player in their unbeaten eleven-year run of the mid 50s to 60s. Beath is credited with the unusual statistic of winning a premiership in his first season (1966) and his last (1977), but none in ten seasons between.

St. George 22 (Tries: Jansen, Stone, Bailey. Goals: Goodwin 6. Field Goal: Goodwin)

Parramatta 0

Player statistics

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

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Top 5 point scorers

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
width=50 |Points

!width=200 |Player

!width=30 |Tries

!width=30 |Goals

!width=30 |Field Goals

213

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Mick Cronin

|align=center|7

|align=center|95

|align=center|2

175

|{{leagueicon|Balmain}} Greg Cox

|align=center|3

|align=center|83

|align=center|0

146

|{{leagueicon|Cronulla}} Steve Rogers

|align=center|11

|align=center|56

|align=center|1

141

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} John Gray

|align=center|3

|align=center|66

|align=center|0

137

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Graham Eadie

|align=center|3

|align=center|64

|align=center|0

Top 5 try scorers

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
width=50 |Tries

!width=200 |Player

17

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Russel Gartner

14

|{{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs}} Bob Fulton

14

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} Barry Wood

12

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Jim Porter

12

|{{leagueicon|Balmain}} Mike Fish

12

|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs}} Ron Giteau

12

|{{leagueicon|South Sydney}} Terry Fahey

{{col-2}}

Top 5 goal scorers

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
width=50 |Goals

!width=200 |Player

95

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Mick Cronin

83

|{{leagueicon|Balmain}} Greg Cox

66

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} John Gray

64

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Graham Eadie

56

|{{leagueicon|Cronulla}} Steve Rogers

{{col-end}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20061113211957/http://www.eraofthebiff.com/mm08.html 1977 Tied Rugby League Grand final at eraofthebiff.com]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080807125637/http://www.eraofthebiff.com/mm10.html 1977 Grand final Replay at eraofthebiff.com]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828042010/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Results---1971-1980.html Results:1971-80 at rabbitohs.com.au]
  • [http://www.rleague.com//db/year/1953/j_j_giltinan_shield/index.php/db/year/1977/j_j_giltinan_shield_and_wd_ho_wills_cup/index.php 1977 J J Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup at rleague.com]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
  • [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1977/summary.html NSWRFL season 1977 at rugbyleagueproject.org]
  • [http://www.showroom.com.au/dragons/dragonshistory/history_stgeorge5c.htm#1977 St. George 1977 season at showroom.com.au]
  • Greenwood, Geoff. Australian Rugby League's Greatest Games.
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323001637/http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1977.html Rugby League Tables – Season 1977] The World of Rugby League
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070905033854/http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/when-an-american-bled-for-newtown/2007/08/23/1187462439007.html When an American bled for Newtown – article at leaguehq.com.au]

{{St. George Dragons squad 1977 NSWRFL premiership}}

{{National Rugby League seasons}}

Category:New South Wales Rugby League premiership

NSWRFL season