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1994 NSWRL season#Grand Final

{{Short description|Rugby league competition}}

{{Infobox rugby league season

| year = 1994

| competition = New South Wales Rugby League

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| teams = 16

| premiers = 16x16px Canberra

| count = 3rd

| minor premiers = 16x16px Canterbury-Bankstown

| mpcount = 6th

| matches = 182

| points = 7416

| attendance = 2,732,389

| avg_attendance = 15,013

| top point scorer = 16x16px Daryl Halligan (270)

| top try scorer = 16x16px Steve Renouf (23)

| MVP = {{leagueicon|North Sydney|16}} David Fairleigh

| MVP_link = Rothmans Medal

| wooden_spoon = Balmain Tigers

| wooden_spoon_count = 4th

| prevseason_link = 1993 NSWRL season

| prevseason_year = 1993

| nextseason_link = 1995 ARL season

| nextseason_year = 1995 (ARL)

}}

The 1994 NSWRL season (known as the 1994 Winfield Cup Premiership due to sponsorship from Winfield) was the eighty-seventh season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen clubs, including 14 from within the borders of New South Wales plus two from Queensland, competed for the J J Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match for the Winfield Cup trophy between the Canberra Raiders and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[http://www.rleague.com//db/year/1994/j_j_giltinan_shield_and_winfield_cup/index.php 1994 J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525030443/http://www.rleague.com/ |date=May 25, 2012 }} at rleague.com

Season summary

On the first of June, the previous season's premiers, the Broncos played in the 1994 World Club Challenge match in Brisbane against British champions Wigan. Wigan defeated the Broncos 20 to 14 at ANZ Stadium in front of 54,220 spectators. On 14 July the North Sydney Bears were fined $87,000 for breaching the salary cap.{{cite news

| last =AAP

| title = Melbourne Storm salary cap quotes

| work = The Roar

| place =Australia

| publisher = The Roar Sports Opinion

| date = 22 April 2010

| url = http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/04/22/melbourne-storm-salary-cap-quotes/

| access-date = 22 April 2010}} In total, twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, resulting in a top five of Canterbury-Bankstown, North Sydney, Canberra, Manly-Warringah and Brisbane who went on to battle it out in the finals. The 1994 season's Rothmans Medallist was North Sydney forward David Fairleigh. The Dally M Award went to Manly-Warringah's five-eighth, Cliff Lyons who was also named as Rugby League Week's player of the year. 1994 was the last premiership season to be administered by the New South Wales Rugby League. At the end of the season control of the Winfield Cup would be passed on to the Australian Rugby League and re-branded as such, as part of the move to become a more national competition. This season was also the last in the Premiership for future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee and coach, Mal Meninga. At the end of the 1994 season a squad of players from the NSWRL Premiership went on the 1994 Kangaroo tour.

The grand finals:

  • {{leagueicon|Canberra|16}} Canberra Raiders vs {{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Seniors Grade)
  • {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} Newcastle Knights (Reserve Grade)
  • {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs {{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs|16}} Eastern Suburbs Roosters (Under-21s Grade)

The winners in all grades were:

  • {{leagueicon|Canberra|16}} Canberra Raiders (Seniors Grade)
  • {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (Reserve Grade)
  • {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (Under-21s Grade)

The test match

  • {{leagueicon|Australia|16}} Australia vs {{leagueicon|France|16}} France

The State of Origin Series

  • {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}} Queensland vs {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}} New South Wales

=Teams=

The lineup of teams remained unchanged from the previous season, with sixteen clubs contesting the premiership, including five inner Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from greater Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one from the Australian Capital Territory.

align="center" class="toccolours" style="text-valign: center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=2
width=175|

!width=175|

!width=175|

!width=175|

align="center"|Balmain
TigersFile:Balmain Jersey 1993.png

87th season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval

Coach: Wayne Pearce
Captain: Ben Elias

|align="center"|Brisbane
BroncosFile:Brisbane Jersey 1993.png

7th season
Ground: ANZ Stadium

Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Allan Langer

|align="center"|Canberra
RaidersFile:Canberra Jersey 1994.png

13th season
Ground: Bruce Stadium

Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Mal Meninga

|align="center"|Canterbury-Bankstown
BulldogsFile:Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1990.png

60th season
Ground: Belmore Oval

Coach: Chris Anderson
Captain: Terry Lamb

align="center"|Cronulla-Sutherland
SharksFile:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1985.png

28th season
Ground: Endeavour Park

Coach: John Lang
Captain: Dan Stains

|align="center"|Eastern Suburbs
RoostersFile:Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1992.png

87th season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium

Coach: Mark Murray → Arthur Beetson
Captain: Craig Salvatori

|align="center"|Gold Coast
SeagullsFile:Gold Coast Jersey 1994.png

7th season
Ground: Seagulls Stadium

Coach: John Harvey
Captain: Craig Coleman

|align="center"|Illawarra
SteelersFile:Illawarra Jersey 1992.png

13th season
Ground: Wollongong Stadium

Coach: Graham Murray
Captain: John Cross

align="center"|Manly-Warringah
Sea EaglesFile:Manly-Warringah Jersey 1993.png

48th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval

Coach: Bob Fulton
Captain: Geoff Toovey

|align="center"|Newcastle
KnightsFile:Newcastle Jersey 1992.png

7th season
Ground: Marathon Stadium

Coach: David Waite
Captain: Mark Sargent

|align="center"|North Sydney
BearsFile:North Sydney Jersey 1994.png

87th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval

Coach: Peter Louis
Captain: Jason Taylor

|align="center"|Parramatta
EelsFile:Parramatta Jersey 1994.png

48th season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium

Coach: Ron Hilditch
Captain: Paul Dunn

align="center"|Penrith
PanthersFile:Penrith Jersey 1991.png

28th season
Ground: Penrith Stadium

Coach: Phil Gould → Royce Simmons
Captain: John Cartwright

|align="center"|South Sydney
RabbitohsFile:South Sydney Jersey 1994.png

87th season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium

Coach: Ken Shine
Captain: Dean Schifilliti

|align="center"|St. George
DragonsFile:St George Jersey 1994.png

74th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval

Coach: Brian Smith
Captain: Mark Coyne

|align="center"|Western Suburbs
MagpiesFile:Western Suburbs Jersey 1992.png

87th season
Ground: Campbelltown Stadium

Coach: Wayne Ellis
Captain: Paul Langmack → Jim Serdaris

=Advertising=

{{unreferencedsect|date=June 2025}}

In 1994, the League and its advertising agency Hertz Walpole returned to the original 1989 recording of "The Best" by Tina Turner to underscore the season launch ad. Footage had been shot of Turner's performance at the 1993 grand final and a studio bluescreen shoot also took place during that visit ensuring a store of images that could be used in flexible adaptations for the final two years of Turner's association with the competition and the Winfield Cup.

The 1994 advertisement used the performance and superimposed studio footage of Turner into crowd and stadium scenes that replicated the Sydney Football Stadium. The closing scenes of the commercial made it appear that Turner was singing the song high up in the Sydney Football Stadium's stands in front of its identifiable stretched-sail roofing.

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

align="left"| Balmain Tigers

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−11

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−40

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−42

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−36

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−36

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCS
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−35

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Brisbane Broncos

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCS
−13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−4

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−1

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−10

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−22

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−19

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−14

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |GCS
+36

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−16

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−1

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Canberra Raiders

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−5

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCS
−4

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+34

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−14

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−15

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+36

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
+44

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NEW
+36

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−1*

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+13

|style="background:#FFD700;"|CBY
+24

align="left"| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−11

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−30

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |CAN
+1*

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

|style="background:#D3D3D3;"|CAN
−24

align="left"| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−14

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−17

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−32

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−12

|style="background:#cfc;" |GCS
+46

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−14

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−44

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−24

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−28

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+42

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Eastern Suburbs Roosters

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−32

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−34

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−34

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−20

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−28

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

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Gold Coast Seagulls

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−28

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−24

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−18

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−46

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−34

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−36

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−2

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Illawarra Steelers

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−6

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−23

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−8

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−15

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−11

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−10

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

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−6

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |WES
+58

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−12

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−24

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+42

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |STG
+61

|style="background:#cfc;" |EAS
+34

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−16

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−12

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Newcastle Knights

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−24

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−4

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCS
−2

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−36

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−6

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| North Sydney Bears

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−3

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |BAL
+36

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−17

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−14

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−13

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Parramatta Eels

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BAL
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−30

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−14

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−30

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCS
−12

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

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

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

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Penrith Panthers

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−31

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−10

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−20

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−32

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−10

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−7

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| South Sydney Rabbitohs

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−29

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−7

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−22

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−40

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−28

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−42

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| St. George Dragons

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−2

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−7

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−10

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−61

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|EAS
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−12

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−15

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−26

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Western Suburbs Magpies

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−58

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−6

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−30

|style="background:#E6E7CE;"|NOR
0

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−6

|style="background:#cfc;" |GCS
+34

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−22

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−4

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−28

|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

Bold – Home game

X – Bye

* – Extra time game

Opponent for round listed above margin

=Ladder=

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

!width=230 |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 Canterbury

|22

1804537340+19736
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|2

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

|22

1714517291+22635
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|3

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Canberra (P)

|22

1705677298+37934
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|4

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

|22

1615605311+29433
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|5

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

|22

1318544316+22827
6style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Illawarra

|22

1138484387+9725
7style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Cronulla

|22

12010432401+3124
8style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Penrith|size=16}} Penrith

|22

10210404448|
4422
9style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px South Sydney

|22

9112401569|
16819
10style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Newcastle

|22

9013427458|
3118
11style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px St.George

|22

9013386497|
11118
12style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Parramatta

|22

7114350474|
12415
13style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Western Suburbs

|22

6214439650|
21114
14style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Eastern Suburbs

|22

6115344513|
16913
15style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Gold Coast Seagulls|size=16}} Gold Coast

|22

5116363618|
25511
16style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Balmain

|22

4018303642|
3398

=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=225 |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|Canterbury|size=16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

| style="background: #ccffcc;"|2

2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #99ccff;"|14style="background: #99ccff;"|16style="background: #99ccff;"|18style="background: #99ccff;"|20style="background: #99ccff;"|20style="background: #99ccff;"|20style="background: #99ccff;"|22style="background: #99ccff;"|24style="background: #99ccff;"|26style="background: #99ccff;"|28style="background: #99ccff;"|30style="background: #ccffcc;"|30style="background: #ccffcc;"|32style="background: #99ccff;"|34style="background: #99ccff;"|36
2style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|North Sydney|size=16}} North Sydney Bears

| style="background: #ccffcc;"|2

style="background: #99ccff;"|4style="background: #99ccff;"|6style="background: #99ccff;"|8style="background: #99ccff;"|10style="background: #99ccff;"|12style="background: #99ccff;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="background: #ccffcc;"|15style="background: #ccffcc;"|17style="background: #ccffcc;"|19style="background: #ccffcc;"|21style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|25style="background: #ccffcc;"|27style="background: #ccffcc;"|29style="background: #99ccff;"|31style="background: #99ccff;"|33style="background: #ccffcc;"|33style="background: #ccffcc;"|35
3style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Canberra|size=16}} Canberra Raiders

| 0

2style="background: #ccffcc;"|44style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|12style="background: #ccffcc;"|14style="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
4style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Manly|size=16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| 0

13style="background: #ccffcc;"|55779style="background: #ccffcc;"|11style="background: #ccffcc;"|13style="background: #ccffcc;"|15style="background: #ccffcc;"|17style="background: #ccffcc;"|19style="background: #ccffcc;"|21style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|25style="background: #ccffcc;"|27style="background: #ccffcc;"|29style="background: #ccffcc;"|31style="background: #ccffcc;"|33style="background: #ccffcc;"|33
5style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Brisbane|size=16}} Brisbane Broncos

| 1

113557style="background: #ccffcc;"|9911111313151517style="background: #ccffcc;"|19style="background: #ccffcc;"|21style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|23style="background: #ccffcc;"|25style="background: #ccffcc;"|27
6style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Illawarra|size=16}} Illawarra Steelers

| 0

1344446891111131517style="background: #ccffcc;"|19192123232325
7style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

|style="background: #ccffcc;"|2

style="background: #ccffcc;"|44style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|881012121414161818181820202224
8style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Penrith|size=16}} Penrith Panthers

| 1

style="background: #ccffcc;"|3style="background: #ccffcc;"|5557style="background: #ccffcc;"|99style="background: #ccffcc;"|11style="background: #ccffcc;"|12121414141416181818202222
9style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|South Sydney|size=16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs

| style="background: #ffcccc;"|0

style="background: #ffcccc;"|0style="background: #ffcccc;"|013357911style="background: #ccffcc;"|13style="background: #ccffcc;"|15style="background: #ccffcc;"|17style="background: #ccffcc;"|171719191919191919
10style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Newcastle|size=16}} Newcastle Knights

|style="background: #99ccff;"|2

222246881010121416style="background: #ccffcc;"|1818181818181818
11style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|St. George|size=16}} St. George Dragons

| style="background: #ccffcc;"|2

24style="background: #ccffcc;"|6style="background: #ccffcc;"|8style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|10style="background: #ccffcc;"|1010101012121414141416161818
12style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Parramatta|size=16}} Parramatta Eels

| 1

1133333style="background: #ffcccc;"|3style="background: #ffcccc;"|3style="background: #ffcccc;"|5style="background: #ffcccc;"|57777999111315
13style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|size=16}} Western Suburbs Magpies

| 2

style="background: #ccffcc;"|444444555688101010121212141414
14style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Easts|size=16}} Eastern Suburbs Roosters

| 0

00style="background: #ffcccc;"|0style="background: #ffcccc;"|24677777777991111111113
15style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Seagulls|size=16}} Gold Coast Seagulls

| 1

style="background: #ccffcc;"|3333style="background: #ffcccc;"|3style="background: #ffcccc;"|3style="background: #ffcccc;"|3557777777911111111
16style="text-align:left;"|{{leagueicon|Balmain|size=16}} Balmain Tigers

| 0

2style="background: #ccffcc;"|4444446666style="background: #ffcccc;"|6style="background: #ffcccc;"|6style="background: #ffcccc;"|6style="background: #ffcccc;"|6style="background: #ffcccc;"|6style="background: #ffcccc;"|6style="background: #ffcccc;"|6style="background: #ffcccc;"|8style="background: #ffcccc;"|8style="background: #ffcccc;"|8

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 North Sydney Bears

|12-26

|align=left | 23x23px Canberra Raiders

|3 September 1994

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Bill Harrigan

|33,641

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

|4-16

|align=left | 23x23px Brisbane Broncos

|4 September 1994

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Greg McCallum

|34,891

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Semi-finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px North Sydney Bears

|15-14

|align=left | 23x23px Brisbane Broncos

|10 September 1994

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Bill Harrigan

|36,011

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

|19-18

|align=left | 23x23px Canberra Raiders

|11 September 1994

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Greg McCallum

|41,865

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Preliminary final

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Canberra Raiders

|22-9

|align=left | 23x23px North Sydney Bears

|18 September 1994

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Greg McCallum

|41,941

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Grand final

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

|12-36

|align=left | 23x23px Canberra Raiders

|25 September 1994

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Greg McCallum

|42,234

=Chart=

{{5McIntyre

| 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=16x16px North Sydney

| RD1-score1=12

| RD1-seed2=3

| RD1-team2=16x16px Canberra

| RD1-score2=26

| RD1-seed3=4

| RD1-team3=16x16px Manly

| RD1-score3=4

| RD1-seed4=5

| RD1-team4=16x16px Brisbane

| RD1-score4=16

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=16x16px Canterbury

| RD2-score1=19

| RD2-seed2=

| RD2-team2=16x16px Canberra

| RD2-score2=18

| RD2-seed3=

| RD2-team3=16x16px North Sydney

| RD2-score3=15

| RD2-seed4=

| RD2-team4=16x16px Brisbane

| RD2-score4=14

| RD3-seed1=

| RD3-team1=16x16px Canberra

| RD3-score1=22

| RD3-seed2=

| RD3-team2=16x16px North Sydney

| RD3-score2=9

| RD4-seed1=

| RD4-team1=16x16px Canterbury

| RD4-score1=12

| RD4-seed2=

| RD4-team2=16x16px Canberra

| RD4-score2=36

}}

=Grand final=

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

! style="width:140px; border:3px solid blue; background: white; color: blue"|Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

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

! style="width:140px; border:3px solid blue; background: #32CD32; color: white"|Canberra Raiders

align=center

|

  1. Scott Wilson

| FB

# Brett Mullins
align=center

| 2. Jason Williams

WG2. Ken Nagas
align=center

| 3. Steven Hughes

CE3. Mal Meninga (c)
align=center

| 4. Jarrod McCracken

CE4. Ruben Wiki
align=center

| 5. Daryl Halligan

WG5. Noa Nadruku
align=center

| 6. Terry Lamb (c)

FE6. Laurie Daley
align=center

| 7. Craig Polla-Mounter

HB7. Ricky Stuart
align=center

| 8. Darren Britt

PR8. Quentin Pongia
align=center

| 9. Jason Hetherington

HK9. Steve Walters
align=center

| 10. Martin Bella

PR46. Paul Osborne
align=center

| 11. Dean Pay

SR11. Jason Croker
align=center

| 12. Jason Smith

SR12. David Furner
align=center

| 13. Jim Dymock

LK13. Bradley Clyde
align=center

| 17. Matthew Ryan

Reserve42. Brett Hetherington
align=center

| 21. Steve Price

Reserve43. David Westley
align=center

| 40. Simon Gillies

Reserve
align=center

| 41. Mark Brokenshire

Reserve
align=center

| Chris Anderson

CoachTim Sheens

The Canberra Raiders were confident in the lead up, despite their one-point loss to the Bulldogs in the major semi-final, and everything played into their hands from the whistle. Canterbury veteran prop Martin Bella dropped the ball from the kick-off and before too long Canberra had posted two tries.

Canberra legend Mal Meninga was given a champion's farewell as his "Green Machine" swamped the Bulldogs.{{cite news|title=NRL Finals in the 1990s |url=http://www.sportal.com.au/league-ford-ute-display/nrl-finals-in-the-1990s-97342 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206023313/http://www.sportal.com.au/league-ford-ute-display/nrl-finals-in-the-1990s-97342 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2012 |access-date=30 June 2012 |newspaper=sportal.com.au }} Canberra's Paul Osborne also enjoyed a fairytale day. On the outer for most of the year, Osborne won a reprieve, playing at {{rlp|PR}} after team-mate John Lomax was suspended for a high tackle in the preliminary final against North Sydney. Osborne, playing in his 135th and last career game before retirement, rose to the occasion by setting up the first two Raiders tries in the opening sixteen minutes.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

Meninga's 166th and final match for the Raiders ended perfectly when he scored the last try of the day after intercepting a pass from Jason Smith. Meninga then outlasted the cover defence, running almost 40 metres and palming off his opposite {{rlp|CE}} Jarrod McCracken to score the try beside the posts, sending the 42,234 strong crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium into raptures.{{cn|date=June 2025}} Despite being a goal kicker for most of his career, Meninga declined to take what would have been an easy conversion of his own try, instead leaving the kick to regular team kicker, Clive Churchill Medallist David Furner.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

The Canberra Raiders had claimed their third premiership, amassing the highest score in a grand final since Eastern Suburbs defeated St. George 38-0 in 1975.{{cn|date=June 2025}} It was the highest-scoring grand final since 1951 when South Sydney defeated Manly 42-14 (though tries then were worth only three points).{{cn|date=June 2025}}

Canberra Raiders 36
Tries: Nagas 2, Furner, Daley, Nadruku, Croker, Meninga
Goals: Furner 4/7

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12
Tries: Williams, Hetherington
Goals: Halligan 2/2

  • Clive Churchill Medallist: David Furner
  • Referee: Greg McCallum
  • Attendance: 42,234 at the Sydney Football Stadium{{cite web|last=D'Souza |first=Miguel |title=Grand Final History |url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/league/2009-grand-final/grandFinal_History.swf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082626/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/league/2009-grand-final/grandFinal_History.swf |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 August 2014 |work=wwos.ninemsn.com.au |publisher=AAP |access-date=8 September 2013 }}

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

259

|{{leagueicon|Canterbury}} Daryl Halligan

|align=center|12

|align=center|105

|align=center|1

234

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Matthew Ridge

|align=center|5

|align=center|106

|align=center|2

205

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} Jason Taylor

|align=center|6

|align=center|88

|align=center|5

170

|{{leagueicon|Canberra}} David Furner

|align=center|5

|align=center|75

|align=center|0

162

|{{leagueicon|Newcastle}} Andrew Johns

|align=center|7

|align=center|65

|align=center|4

Top 5 try scorers

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

!width=200 |Player

22

|{{leagueicon|Brisbane}} Steve Renouf

20

|{{leagueicon|Canberra}} Brett Mullins

19

|{{leagueicon|Canberra}} Jason Croker

18

|{{leagueicon|Cronulla}} Andrew Ettingshausen

18

|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs}} Paul Smith

{{col-2}}

Top 5 goal scorers

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

!width=200 |Player

106

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Matthew Ridge

105

|{{leagueicon|Canterbury}} Daryl Halligan

88

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} Jason Taylor

75

|{{leagueicon|Canberra}} David Furner

65

|{{leagueicon|Newcastle}} Andrew Johns

{{col-end}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070322205925/http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1994.html Rugby League Tables - Season 1994] The World of Rugby League
  • [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.com/competitions/NSWRL_1994.html NSWRL season 1994 at rugbyleagueproject.com]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080724073218/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Results---1991-2000.html Results: 1991-2000 at rabbitohs.com.au]

{{Canberra Raiders}}

{{Canberra Raiders squad 1994 NSWRL premiership}}

{{National Rugby League seasons}}

{{1994 in rugby league}}

NSWRL season

Category:New South Wales Rugby League premiership