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1979 NSWRFL season

{{Short description|Rugby league competition}}

{{Infobox rugby league season

| year = 1979

| competition = New South Wales Rugby Football League

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| teams = 12

| premiers = 16x16px St. George

| count = 15th

| minor premiers = 16x16px St. George

| mpcount = 14th

| matches = 138

| points = 4466

| attendance = 1,500,369

| top point scorer = 16x16px Mick Cronin (253)

| top try scorer = 16x16px Mitch Brennan (16)
16x16px Tom Mooney (16)

| MVP = {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Ray Price

| MVP_link = Rothmans Medal

| wooden_spoon = North Sydney

| wooden_spoon_count = 9th

| prevseason_link = 1978 NSWRFL season

| prevseason_year = 1978

| nextseason_link = 1980 NSWRFL season

| nextseason_year = 1980

}}

The 1979 NSWRFL season was the 72nd season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve New South Wales Rugby Football League clubs 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 Canterbury-Bankstown clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed in the 1979 Amco Cup.

Season summary

Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, resulting in a top five of St. George, Parramatta, Cronulla-Sutherland, Western Suburbs and Canterbury-Bankstown who battled it out in the finals.

Parramatta's Ray Price was the 1979 season's Rothmans Medallist, and also won Rugby League Week’s player of the year award.

The 1979 season also saw the retirement from the League of future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Fulton.

=Teams=

Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the NSWRFL premiership.

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

!width=195|

!width=195|

!width=195|

align="center"|BalmainFile:Balmain Jersey 1978.png

72nd season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval

Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Allan McMahon

|align="center"|Canterbury-BankstownFile:Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1979.png

45th season
Ground: Belmore Oval

Coach: Ted Glossop
Captain: George Peponis

|align="center"|Cronulla-SutherlandFile:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1978.png

13th season
Ground: Endeavour Field

Coach: Norm Provan
Captain: Greg Pierce

|align="center"|Eastern SuburbsFile:Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1978.png

72nd season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground

Captain/Coach: Bob Fulton

align="center"|Manly-WarringahFile:Manly-Warringah Jersey 1978.png

33rd season
Ground: Brookvale Oval

Coach: Frank Stanton
Captain: Max Krilich

|align="center"|NewtownFile:Newtown Jersey 1979.png

72nd season
Ground: Henson Park

Coach: Warren Ryan
Captain: Trevor Ryan→ Ken Wilson

|align="center"|North SydneyFile:North Sydney Jersey 1979.png

72nd season
Ground: North Sydney Oval

Coach: Tommy Bishop
Captain: Keith Harris

|align="center"|ParramattaFile:Parramatta Jersey 1978.png

33rd season
Ground: Cumberland Oval

Coach: Terry Fearnley
Captain: Ray Price

align="center"|PenrithFile:Penrith Jersey 1979.png

13th season
Ground: Penrith Park

Coach: Len Stacker
Captain: Gary Pethybridge

|align="center"|South SydneyFile:South Sydney Jersey 1978.png

72nd season
Ground: Redfern Oval

Coach: Jack Gibson
Captain: Bob McMillan, Darrell Bampton, Terry Fahey

|align="center"|St. George DragonsFile:St George Jersey 1979.png

59th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval

Coach: Harry Bath
Captain: Steve Edge→Craig Young

|align="center"|Western SuburbsFile:Western Suburbs Jersey 1978.png

72nd season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval

Coach: Roy Masters
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

! 23

! F1

! F2

! F3

! GF

align="left"| Balmain Tigers

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−10

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−13

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

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

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

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|PEN
0

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−35

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+28

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−2

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−16

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−1

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−1

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−13

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+28

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−5

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−8

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−8

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+32

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−12

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

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

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

|style="background:#D3D3D3;"|STG
−4

align="left"| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+27

|style="background:#cfc;" |PAR
+25

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−11

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−6

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−15

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+22

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−15

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−14

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

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

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|PEN
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−15

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Eastern Suburbs Roosters

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−9

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−13

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

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|MAN
0

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+32

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−28

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−22

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−25

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−22

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−9

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−25

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−15

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−5

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|EAS
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−7

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−7

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−17

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−18

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

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Newtown Jets

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−9

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−28

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−5

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−6

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−17

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−32

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−12

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| North Sydney Bears

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−27

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−1

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−31

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−15

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−9

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−19

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−38

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−12

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Parramatta Eels

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−25

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−6

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+31

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+35

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−18

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−1

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+38

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−6

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Penrith Panthers

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−11

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−15

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−30

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−9

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|BAL
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−32

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−1

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−17

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

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

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|CRO
0

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| South Sydney Rabbitohs

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−1

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−14

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−9

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−21

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−5

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−8

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

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

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| St. George Dragons

|style="background:#cfc;" |MAN
+25

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−3

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−7

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−7

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
+22

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−13

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+25

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFD700;"|CBY
+4

align="left"| Western Suburbs Magpies

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−15

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+11

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−1

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−14

|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

! 23

! F1

! F2

! F3

! GF

Bold – Home game

X – Bye

Opponent for round listed above margin

=Ladder=

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

!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 St. George

|22

1705476309+16734
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|2

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

|22

1606490317+17332
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|3

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

|22

1417367270+9729
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|4

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

|22

1408396312+8428
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|5

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

|22

1309379310+6926
6style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Balmain

|22

1219358313+4525
7style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Manly

|22

11110341353|
1223
8style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Eastern Suburbs

|22

9112250321|
7119
9style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px South Sydney

|22

9013286329|
4318
10style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Old Penrith|size=16}} Penrith

|22

6214311473|
16214
11style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Newtown

|22

6016321423|
10212
12style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px North Sydney

|22

2020302547|
2454

=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.
  • Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during 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

!width=20 abbr="Round 23" |23

1style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|St. George|size=16}} St. George Dragonsstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #99ccff;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #99ccff;"|14style="background: #99ccff;"|16style="background: #99ccff;"|18style="background: #99ccff;"|20style="background: #99ccff;"|20style="background: #99ccff;"|22style="background: #99ccff;"|22style="background: #99ccff;"|24style="background: #99ccff;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|28style="background: #ccffcc;"|30style="background: #99ccff;"|32style="background: #99ccff;"|34
2style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Parramatta|size=16}} Parramatta Eels0style="background: #ffcccc;"|022468style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #99ccff;"|26style="background: #99ccff;"|28style="background: #99ccff;"|30style="background: #ccffcc;"|30style="background: #ccffcc;"|32
3style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharksstyle="background: #99ccff;"|2style="background: #99ccff;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #99ccff;"|12style="background: #99ccff;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|1616style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|28style="background: #ccffcc;"|29
4style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|size=16}} Western Suburbs Magpiesstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #99ccff;"|6style="background: #99ccff;"|8style="background: #99ccff;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|81012style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|16style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20202022style="background: #ccffcc;"|24style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|28
5style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Canterbury|size=16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogsstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #99ccff;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|14141416style="background: #ccffcc;"|18style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|20style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|22style="background: #ccffcc;"|2424style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|26style="background: #ccffcc;"|26
6style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Balmain|size=16}} Balmain Tigersstyle="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|2style="background: #ccffcc;"|44style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|11style="background: #ccffcc;"|1313style="background: #ccffcc;"|15style="background: #ccffcc;"|17style="background: #ccffcc;"|17style="background: #ccffcc;"|171719style="background: #ccffcc;"|21style="background: #ccffcc;"|21style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|25252525
7style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Manly|size=16}} Manly Warringah Sea Eagles024style="background: #ccffcc;"|666677911111313151717192121212123
8style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs|size=16}} Eastern Suburbs Roosters000222457777911111313151517191919
9style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|South Sydney|size=16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs0222446666666681012141414141618
10style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Old Penrith|size=16}} Penrith Panthers02444667779111111111113131313131314
11style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Newtown|size=16}} Newtown Jets22244444444668101010101012121212
12style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|North Sydney|size=16}} North Sydney Bearsstyle="background: #ffcccc;"|00style="background: #ffcccc;"|0style="background: #ffcccc;"|0style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|2style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="background: #ffcccc;"|4style="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 | Minor semi-finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Parramatta

|24–4

|align=left | 23x23px Cronulla-Sutherland

|1 September 1979

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Gary Cook

|28,335

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Western Suburbs

|6–20

|align=left | 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown

|2 September 1979

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Greg Hartley

|22,104

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Major semi-finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|15–11

|align=left | 23x23px Parramatta

|8 September 1979

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Gary Cook

|38,531

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Cronulla-Sutherland

|15–30

|align=left | 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown

|9 September 1979

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Greg Hartley

|24,132

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Preliminary final

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Parramatta

|14–20

|align=left | 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown

|15 September 1979

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Greg Hartley

|33,291

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Grand final

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px St. George

|17–13

|align=left | 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown

|22 September 1979

|Sydney Cricket Ground

|Greg Hartley

|50,911

=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|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta

| RD1-score1=24

| RD1-seed2=3

| RD1-team2={{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland

| RD1-score2=4

| RD1-seed3=4

| RD1-team3={{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|16}} Western Suburbs

| RD1-score3=6

| RD1-seed4=5

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

| RD1-score4=20

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1={{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George

| RD2-score1=15

| RD2-seed2=

| RD2-team2={{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta

| RD2-score2=11

| RD2-seed3=

| RD2-team3={{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland

| RD2-score3=15

| RD2-seed4=

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

| RD2-score4=30

| RD3-seed1=

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

| RD3-score1=14

| RD3-seed2=

| RD3-team2={{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} Canterbury

| RD3-score2=20

| RD4-seed1=

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

| RD4-score1=17

| RD4-seed2=

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

| RD4-score2=13

}}

=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 blue; background: white; color: blue"|Canterbury-Bankstown

align=center

|

  1. Brian Johnson

| FB

# Stan Cutler
align=center

| 2. Mitch Brennan

WG2. Chris Anderson
align=center

| 3. Graeme Quinn

CE3. Chris Mortimer
align=center

| 4. Robert Finch

CE4. Peter Mortimer
align=center

| 5. Michael Sorridimi

WG5. Steve Gearin
align=center

| 6. Tony Trudgett

FE6. Garry Hughes
align=center

| 7. Steve Morris

HB7 Steve Mortimer
align=center

| 13. Bruce Starkey

PR13. Greg Cook
align=center

| 12. Steve Edge

HK12. George Peponis (c)
align=center

| 11. Craig Young (c)

PR11. Peter Smith
align=center

| 10. George Grant

SR10. Graeme Hughes
align=center

| 9. Graeme Wynn

SR9. Peter Cassilles
align=center

| 8. Rod Reddy

LK8. Steve Folkes
align=center

| 16. Stephen Butler

Res.14. Mark Hughes
align=center

| 18. Robert Stone

Res.
align=center

| Harry Bath

CoachTed Glossop
align=center
St. George finished 22 rounds as minor premiers with 17 wins and were straight into the grand final after defeating Parramatta in the major semi. Their Grand final opponents Canterbury, qualified after defeating Wests, Cronulla and Parramatta.

== Television Coverage Dispute ==

Under agreements in place at the time, the broadcast rights to the season saw one to two games on ABC TV on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons, and a Sunday Night primetime replay and highlights of other matches on ATN-7 (part of the Seven's Big League programming). Under this agreement, the networks had rights to each broadcast and/or simulcast all six of the finals series games, under which they could either accept or decline the matches.

The scene was set by an industrial relations dispute between camera and production crews and commercial broadcasting networks towards the end of 1979. This forced ATN-7 and the ABC into a shared feed arrangement using ABC production crew, but separate network commentary teams calling the game.

ATN-7, wore the financial costs as the designated broadcaster of the preliminary final, and provided the ABC with a clean feed of the match as agreed. However, the ABC refused to offer a clean feed to ATN-7 for the grand final, which caused massive controversy. ATN-7 then exercised their right as the primary broadcaster of the competition to broadcast the match between St George and Canterbury exclusively, deciding to source their own freelance crew and cover the match. The ABC then sued ATN-7, and the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal became involved, but ultimately the match remained exclusive to Seven's Big League.{{Citation |title=MTN 9 1979 News, Adds and general presentation. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpww6XT96Jo |language=en |access-date=2022-11-18}}

== Match ==

The pre-game talk had been about the match-up of opposing half-backs Steve Morris and Steve Mortimer and the game didn't disappoint, beginning with a 40-metre flying break on a last tackle by Morris from deep in Dragons territory before he was cut down in a classic covering tackle by Mortimer.

The first half belonged to St. George with new fullback Brian Johnson scoring an easy opening try after taking a pass 10 metres out from the Canterbury line. Soon after, Rod Reddy, who was subduing his opponents with his experience and ruthlessness, put Morris into a gap. “Slippery” kicked ahead and the race was on. Mortimer had a head start and got there first but Morris tackled him into touch.

Soon afterwards Canterbury put a bomb up and toward the St. George in-goal. Brian Johnson was on hand to field the ball and returned it with a 60-metre run ended by a copybook tackle from his opposing fullback Stan Cutler. However the defence was opening up and it wasn't long before the Dragons scored their second try, with winger Mitch Brennan venturing infield and finding a gap courtesy of centre Robert Finch who slipped a short ball to Brennan 30 metres out. The strapping winger made a powerful run to score.

By now, Saints were carving Canterbury up with Morris, on his 20-metre line, putting Graeme Wynn into a gap. The lanky back rower ran 40 metres, leaving defenders in his wake. Next it was “Rocket” Reddy's turn when Morris, Wynn and Reddy combined down the right flank and exposed the Bulldogs defence. 'Rocket' handled twice in scoring a try under the posts. At half time the score was St George 17 – Canterbury 2.

Canterbury fought back gamely after the break. Steve Gearin and then Peter Mortimer crossed, with two further tries being disallowed. The St. George defence rallied and held from that point until Stan Cutler scored a third try out wide late in the match. St. George's goal-kicking second rower George Grant was the difference on the day, kicking four to ensure a 17–13 victory. Grant had kicked brilliantly all season, scoring 211 points in 1979.

The Dave Brown Medal for the best player on field, went to Steve Morris.

St. George 17 (Tries: Johnson, Brennan, Reddy. Goals: Grant 4.)

Canterbury-Bankstown 13 (Tries: Gearin, Mortimer, Cutler. Goals: Gearin 2.)

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

229

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Mick Cronin

|align=center|13

|align=center|95

|align=center|0

206

|{{leagueicon|Canterbury}} Steve Gearin

|align=center|10

|align=center|88

|align=center|0

203

|{{leagueicon|St. George}} George Grant

|align=center|1

|align=center|100

|align=center|0

155

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Graham Eadie

|align=center|6

|align=center|68

|align=center|1

145

|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs}} John Dorahy

|align=center|6

|align=center|63

|align=center|1

Top 5 try scorers

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

!width=200 |Player

16

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Tom Mooney

14

|{{leagueicon|St. George}} Mitch Brennan

14

|{{leagueicon|Balmain}} Larry Corowa

13

|{{leagueicon|St. George}} Steve Morris

13

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Mick Cronin

13

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Garry Dowling

13

|{{leagueicon|Cronulla}} Steve Edmonds

13

|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs}} Wayne Smith

13

|{{leagueicon|Balmain}} Wayne Wigham

13

|{{leagueicon|Old Penrith}} Stephen Martin

{{col-2}}

Top 5 goal scorers

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

!width=200 |Player

100

|{{leagueicon|St. George}} George Grant

95

|{{leagueicon|Parramatta}} Mick Cronin

88

|{{leagueicon|Canterbury}} Steve Gearin

68

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Graham Eadie

65

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} Rod Henniker

{{col-end}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323001650/http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1979.html Rugby League Tables – Season 1979] The World of Rugby League
  • [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/1979/j_j_giltinan_shield_and_wd_ho_wills_cup/index.php 1979 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-1979/summary.html NSWRFL season 1979 at rugbyleagueproject.org]
  • [http://www.showroom.com.au/dragons/dragonshistory/history_stgeorge5c.htm#1979 1979 Grand final at Dragons History site]

{{St. George Dragons squad 1979 NSWRFL premiership}}

{{National Rugby League seasons}}

Category:New South Wales Rugby League premiership

NSWRFL season