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1996 ARL season#Regular season

{{distinguish|1996 AFL season}}

{{Short description|Rugby league competition}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}}

{{Infobox rugby league season

| year =1996

| competition = Australian Rugby League

| image = Optus Cup Logo.jpg

| imagesize = 200px

| caption =

| duration = 22 March – 29 September 1996

| teams = 20

| premiers = 16x16px Manly-Warringah

| count = 6th

| minor premiers = 16x16px Manly-Warringah

| mpcount = 8th

| matches = 223

| points = 8,547

| attendance = 2,743,516

| avg_attendance = 12,303

| top point scorer = 16x16px Jason Taylor (238)

| top try scorer = 16x16px Noa Nadruku (21)

| MVP = {{leagueicon|North Sydney|16}} Jason Taylor

| MVP_link = Rothmans Medal

| wooden_spoon = South Qld Crushers

| wooden_spoon_count = 1st

| prevseason_year = 1995

| nextseason_year = 1997 (ARL)
1997 (SL)

| module = {{Infobox rugby league season

}}

}}

The 1996 ARL premiership (also known as the 1996 Optus Cup due to sponsorship from Optus) was the 89th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the second to be administered by the Australian Rugby League (ARL). Twenty teams contested the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, four from Queensland, and one each from New Zealand, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia. Ultimately two Sydney clubs, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and St. George Dragons contested the grand final.

The grand finals:

  • {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs {{leagueicon|St George|16}} St. George Dragons (Senior Grade)
  • {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla Sharks vs {{leagueicon|Auckland|16}} Auckland Warriors (Reserve Grade)
  • {{leagueicon|South Queensland|16}} South Queensland Crushers vs {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels (Under-20s Grade)

The winners in all grades were:

  • {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (Senior Grade)
  • {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla Sharks (Reserve Grade)
  • {{leagueicon|South Queensland|16}} South Queensland Crushers (Under-20s Grade)

The test match

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

The State of Origin Series

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

The Region of Origin Series

  • {{leagueicon|City|16}} City vs {{leagueicon|Country|16}} Country

Teams

The lineup of teams remained unchanged from the previous season except for the re-branding of the Gold Coast team from the "Seagulls" to the "Chargers" as the ARL took control of the club.{{cite web|title=History of the Premiership |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/about/history/history-of-the-premiership.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131021091506/http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/about/history/history-of-the-premiership.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2013 |work=centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au |publisher=Australian Rugby League |access-date=21 October 2013 }}

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

!width=175|

!width=175|

!width=175|

!width=175|

align="center"|Auckland WarriorsFile:Auckland Jersey 1996.png

2nd season
Ground: Ericsson Stadium

Coach: John Monie
Captain: Greg Alexander

|align="center"|Brisbane BroncosFile:Brisbane Jersey 1996.png

9th season
Ground: ANZ Stadium

Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Allan Langer

|align="center"|Canberra RaidersFile:Canberra Jersey 1996.png

15th season
Ground: Bruce Stadium

Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Ricky Stuart → Laurie Daley

|align="center"|Canterbury BulldogsFile:Sydney Bulldogs Jersey 1996.png

62nd season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium

Coach: Chris Anderson
Captain: Simon Gillies

|align="center"|Cronulla SharksFile:Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1996.png

30th season
Ground: Endeavour Park

Coach: John Lang
Captain: Andrew Ettingshausen

align="center"|Gold Coast ChargersFile:Gold Coast Jersey 1996.png

9th season
Ground: Seagulls Stadium

Coach: Phil Economidis
Captain: Dave Watson

|align="center"|Illawarra SteelersFile:Illawarra Jersey 1996.png

15th season
Ground: Wollongong Stadium

Coach: Allan McMahon
Captain: John Cross → Paul McGregor

|align="center"|Manly Sea EaglesFile:Manly-Warringah Jersey 1996.png

50th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval

Coach: Bob Fulton
Captain: Geoff Toovey

|align="center"|Newcastle KnightsFile:Newcastle Jersey 1996.png

9th season
Ground: Marathon Stadium

Coach: Malcolm Reilly
Captain: Paul Harragon

|align="center"|North Qld CowboysFile:North Queensland Jersey 1996.png

2nd season
Ground: Stockland Stadium

Coach: Graham Lowe
Captain: Dean Schifilliti

align="center"|Norths BearsFile:North Sydney Jersey 1996.png

89th season
Ground: North Sydney Oval

Coach: Peter Louis
Captain: Jason Taylor

|align="center"|Parramatta EelsFile:Parramatta Jersey 1996.png

50th season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium

Coach: Ron Hilditch
Captain: Gary Freeman → Jarrod McCracken

|align="center"|Penrith PanthersFile:Penrith Jersey 1996.png

30th season
Ground: Penrith Stadium

Coach: Royce Simmons
Captain: Steve Carter

|align="center"|South Qld CrushersFile:South Queensland Jersey 1996.png

2nd season
Ground: Suncorp Stadium

Coach: Bob Lindner
Captain: Trevor Gillmeister

|align="center"|Souths RabbitohsFile:South Sydney Jersey 1996.png

89th season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium

Coach: Ken Shine
Captain: Craig Field → Craig Salvatori

align="center"|St. George DragonsFile:St George Jersey 1996.png

76th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval

Coach: David Waite
Captain: Mark Coyne

|align="center"|Sydney City Roosters
(Easts Roosters)File:Sydney Jersey 1996.png

89th season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium

Coach: Phil Gould
Captain: Sean Garlick

|align="center"|Sydney Tigers
(Balmain Tigers)File:Sydney Tigers Jersey 1996.png

89th season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium

Coach: Wayne Pearce
Captain: Paul Sironen

|align="center"|Western RedsFile:Western Reds Jersey 1996.png

2nd season
Ground: WACA Ground

Coach: Peter Mulholland
Captain: Mark Geyer

|align="center"|Wests MagpiesFile:Western Suburbs Jersey 1996.png

89th season
Ground: Campbelltown Stadium

Coach: Tommy Raudonikis
Captain: Paul Langmack

Regular season

With the Super League war in full effect off the field, those clubs affiliated with the breakaway competition refused to participate in five games of Round 1, all forfeited to ARL-aligned clubs and only four of the ten scheduled games took place. Of the two games between two Super League clubs, Canterbury versus North Queensland was cancelled, whilst Auckland flew a team consisting of players from the Otahuhu Leopards and Ellerslie Eagles clubs to Brisbane and were thus declared winners over the Broncos by forfeit.Frank Endacott with John Coffey Being Frank:The Frank Endacott Story. Auckland, Hodder Moa Beckett, 2002. {{ISBN|1-86958-922-X}}. p.78

Following up on their performance in the 1995 season up to the grand final, Manly-Warringah dominated the season with their defence, which conceded only 34 tries in 25 matches, the best record of any team since the six-tackle rule was introduced in 1971. Indeed, the Sea Eagles only conceded 191 points during the minor round, an average of only 8.7 points per game, while scoring 549 points at 24.9 points per game. Their 1995 rivals Canberra were hit by injuries which wiped out the seasons of key players including captain Ricky Stuart, Bradley Clyde and Jason Croker, and suspensions to Kiwi props John Lomax and Quentin Pongia.

Super League-aligned Canterbury were also hit by the loss of key players Jim Dymock, Dean Pay, Jason Smith and Jarrod McCracken to ARL-loyal Parramatta. Sydney City started the season in good form, but fell off after winning their first ten games, whilst Brisbane (with Allan Langer putting in some strong performances) dominated early but as had become their custom, lost ground mid-season during the Origin period. North Sydney, with a powerful forward pack and skillful goal-kicking half Jason Taylor feeding a superb set of outside backs, were expected to make the Grand Final, but as had become their habit in the 1990s they lost the preliminary final, this time to St. George.

The 20-team competition in 1995 and 1996 caused frequent jackpots in FootyTAB's "Pick The Margins" and after three successive rounds without a single winner, on 8 July 1996 after a last-minute Sydney City penalty goal, one punter received an all-time record for any form of sports betting in Australia: $2,006,217.

This year Canterbury-Bankstown back Terry Lamb set new record for most first-grade premiership games at 350 before retiring at the end of the season.

North Sydney's Jason Taylor won the official player of the year award, the Rothmans Medal, while the Dally M Medal was awarded to Brisbane's Allan Langer.

At the end of the season, ARL chief executive John Quayle resigned and was replaced by Balmain president (and former hooker) Neil Whittaker.{{cite news

| last = Hadfield

| first =Dave

| title = Hetherington signs three players from Eagles

| work = The Independent

| place =UK

| publisher = independent.co.uk

| date = 12 December 1996

| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-hetherington-signs-three-players-from-eagles-1314224.html

| access-date = 25 April 2010}}

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"| Auckland Warriors

|style="background:#cfc;" |BRI
Forfeit

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−14

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−12

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−12

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WRD
−20

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−29

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−32

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Brisbane Broncos

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
Forfeit

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |ILA
+50

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−8

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−6

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Canberra Raiders

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SQC
Forfeit

|style="background:#E6E7CE |PEN
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−6

|style="background:#cfc;" |NQL
+56

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−10

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−34

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+34

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−16

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−40

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−2

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

|style="background:|−

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−20

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−20

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−4

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
Forfeit

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WRD
−7

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NQL
−6

|style="background:#E6E7CE |STG
0

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−3

|style="background:#E6E7CE |NOR
0

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−7

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−24

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Gold Coast Chargers

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−14

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−4

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−3

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−42

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−32

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−2

|style="background:#E6E7CE |WRD
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−14

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NQL
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−28

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−30

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Illawarra Steelers

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−9

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−50

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCC
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−10

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WRD
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−16

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−4

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+38

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NOR
+23

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WRD
−3

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−4

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+38

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFD700;"|STG
+12

align="left"| Newcastle Knights

|style="background:#cfc;" |CRO
Forfeit

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−12

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NQL
−16

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−5

|style="background:#E6E7CE |NOR
0

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−2

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−22

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| North Queensland Cowboys

|style="background:|−

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−38

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−56

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−44

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−44

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−42

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−24

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−21

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−46

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WRD
−26

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−28

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| North Sydney Bears

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−4

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−34

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−23

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−5

|style="background:#E6E7CE |NEW
0

|style="background:#E6E7CE |CRO
0

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−1

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−17

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Parramatta Eels

|style="background:#cfc;" |PEN
Forfeit

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SQC
−4

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−4

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCC
−13

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−24

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−18

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−44

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

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

|style="background:#E6E7CE |ROS
0

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−8

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Penrith Panthers

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
Forfeit

|style="background:#E6E7CE |CAN
0

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−10

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SQC
−4

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−34

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−40

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

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| South Queensland Crushers

|style="background:#cfc;" |CAN
Forfeit

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−10

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−26

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−10

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−32

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCC
−48

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WRD
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NQL
−5

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−1

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−26

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| South Sydney Rabbitohs

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−38

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCC
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−42

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−28

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−62

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−18

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−8

|style="background:#E6E7CE |WES
0

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−14

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−30

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−42

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−38

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| St. George Dragons

|style="background:#cfc;" |WRD
Forfeit

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−42

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ILA
−6

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−4

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−11

|style="background:#E6E7CE |CRO
0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NQL
−4

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#D3D3D3;"|MAN
−12

align="left"| Sydney Tigers

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−28

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NQL
−15

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−20

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−28

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|GCC
−12

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−11

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−18

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−24

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−18

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−14

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Sydney City Roosters

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |NQL
+38

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

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

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

|style="background:#cfc;" |SOU
+62

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

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

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−12

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−4

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−28

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

|style="background:#E6E7CE |PAR
0

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−2

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−20

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Western Reds

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
Forfeit

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−6

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CBY
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CAN
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PEN
−34

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−8

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|WES
−14

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NOR
−22

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SOU
−6

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

|style="background:#E6E7CE |GCC
0

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|PAR
−12

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−12

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−4

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−6

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

|style="background:#808080;"|

align="left"| Western Suburbs Magpies

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−22

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ROS
−20

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|NEW
−22

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|TIG
−6

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

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

|style="background:#E6E7CE |SOU
0

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|ACK
−16

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|SQC
−2

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|STG
−8

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

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|BRI
−30

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|MAN
−30

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

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"|CRO
−8

|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

Opponent for round listed above margin

=Ladder=

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

!width=240 |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 Manly (P)

|22

1804549191+35836
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|2

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

|21

1704607263+34434
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|3

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

|22

1525598325+27332
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|4

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

|22

1516521321+20031
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|5

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

|21

1425399268+13130
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|6

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

|21

1317538384+15427
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|7

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

|21

1218443360+8327
style="background: #ccffcc;"

|8

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

|22

1219394434−4025
9style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Newcastle

|21

10110416388+2823
10style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Canterbury

|21

11010375378−322
11style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Auckland

|21

10011412427−1522
12style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Sydney Tigers

|22

11011319459−14022
13style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Parramatta

|21

9111404415−1121
14style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Illawarra

|22

8014403444−4116
15style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Penrith|size=16}} Penrith

|21

7113363464−10115
16style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Western Reds

|21

6114313420−10713
17style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px North Queensland

|21

6015288643−35512
18style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Gold Coast

|22

5116359521−16211
19style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px South Sydney

|22

5116314634−32011
20style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px South Queensland

|21

3018220496−2768

{{Arl1996ladderprogression}}

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 Cronulla Sharks

|20–12

|align=left | 23x23px Wests Magpies

|6 September 1996

|Parramatta Stadium

|David Manson

|22,433

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Brisbane Broncos

|16–21

|align=left | 23x23px Norths Bears

|7 September 1996

|Suncorp Stadium*

|Eddie Ward

|25,983

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Canberra Raiders

|14–16

|align=left | 23x23px St. George Dragons

|7 September 1996

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Kelvin Jeffes

|28,185

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Manly Sea Eagles

|16–14

|align=left | 23x23px Sydney City Roosters (Easts Roosters)

|8 September 1996

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Paul McBlane

|31,327

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Semi-finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Brisbane Broncos

|16–22

|align=left | 23x23px Cronulla Sharks

|14 September 1996

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Kelvin Jeffes

|27,665

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | {{leagueicon|Sydney|size=23}} Sydney City Roosters (Easts Roosters)

|16–36

|align=left | 23x23px St. George Dragons

|15 September 1996

|Sydney Football Stadium

|David Manson

|37,858

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Preliminary Finals

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Norths Bears

|12–29

|align=left | 23x23px St. George Dragons

|21 September 1996

|Sydney Football Stadium

|Kelvin Jeffes

|37,779

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

|align=left | 23x23px Manly Sea Eagles

|24–0

|align=left | 23x23px Cronulla Sharks

|22 September 1996

|Sydney Football Stadium

|David Manson

|40,525

bgcolor="#D0E7FF"

| colspan=7 | Grand Final

bgcolor=#F5FAFF

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

|20–8

|align=left | 23x23px St. George Dragons

|29 September 1996

|Sydney Football Stadium

|David Manson

|40,985

  • Although Brisbane's home ground during the 1996 ARL season was ANZ Stadium this game was played at Suncorp.

=Chart=

{{8TeamBracket-PagePlayoff|RD1-RD2-cross=y|RD2-RD3-cross=y

|team-width=180

|score-width=40

|RD1-text1= 8 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium

|RD1-team1= {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah

|RD1-score1= 16

|RD1-team2= {{leagueicon|Sydney|16}} Sydney City

|RD1-score2= 14

|RD1-text2= 6 Sept, Parramatta Stadium

|RD1-team3= {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland

|RD1-score3= 20

|RD1-team4= {{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|16}} Western Suburbs

|RD1-score4= 12

|RD1-text3= 7 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium

|RD1-team5= {{leagueicon|Canberra|16}} Canberra

|RD1-score5= 14

|RD1-team6= {{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George

|RD1-score6= 16

|RD1-text4= 7 Sept, Suncorp Stadium

|RD1-team7= {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} Brisbane

|RD1-score7= 16

|RD1-team8= {{leagueicon|North Sydney|16}} North Sydney

|RD1-score8= 21

|RD2-text1= 15 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium

|RD2-team1= {{leagueicon|Sydney|16}} Sydney City

|RD2-score1= 16

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

|RD2-score2= 36

|RD2-text2= 14 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium

|RD2-team3= {{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} Brisbane

|RD2-score3= 16

|RD2-team4= {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland

|RD2-score4= 22

|RD3-text1= 22 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium

|RD3-team1= {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah

|RD3-score1= 24

|RD3-team2= {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland

|RD3-score2= 0

|RD3-text2= 21 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium

|RD3-team3= {{leagueicon|North Sydney|16}} North Sydney

|RD3-score3= 12

|RD3-team4= {{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George

|RD3-score4= 29

|RD4-text1= 29 Sept, Sydney Football Stadium

|RD4-team1= {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah

|RD4-score1= 20

|RD4-team2= {{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George

|RD4-score2= 8

}}

=Grand Final=

{{Infobox rugby league football match

|year = 1996

|title = ARL Grand Final

|image =

|imagesize = 125px

|alt =

|home = 50px
Manly Warringah
Sea Eagles

|away = 50px
St George
Dragons

|home_abbr = MAN {{leagueicon|Manly Sea Eagles|16}}

|away_abbr = STG {{leagueicon|St George Dragons|16}}

|home_half1 = 14

|home_half2 = 6

|home_total = 20

|away_half1 = 2

|away_half2 = 6

|away_total = 8

|date = 29 September 1996

|stadium = Sydney Football Stadium

|location = Sydney

|MoM_title = Clive Churchill Medal

|MoM = Geoff Toovey (MAN)

|anthem_title = Australian National anthem

|anthem =

|referee = David Manson

|attendance = 40,985

|network = Nine Network

|commentators = Ray Warren

|commentators2 = Peter Sterling

}}

This was the last grand final to feature two Sydney-based teams until 2003. 40,985 people were at the Sydney Football Stadium for the game, the lowest attendance since 1989. The match was refereed by Queenslander David Manson. For St. George, it was their third Grand Final appearance in the 1990s and would prove to be their last as a stand-alone club. Manly, looking for their 6th premiership, had been beaten Grand Finalists in 1995.

This would be the third and final time the two clubs would meet in a Grand Final, with St George having been victorious on both previous occasions in 1957 and 1959.

The pre-game entertainment focused on the 40th anniversary of television in Australia, as match broadcaster Channel 9 had been the first TV station in 1956. Music artists who performed in the pre-game included Glenn Shorrock, The Delltones, Ross Wilson, Christine Anu, and Kate Ceberano, who sang a video replay duet of "I Still Call Australia Home" with the late Australian entertainer Peter Allen (as Allen had died in 1992, he only appeared on the stadiums video replay screen).

Kate Ceberano also performed the Australian national anthem.

1st half

In the 5th minute, Manly centre Craig Innes won the chase and scored after a grubber kick by his skipper Geoff Toovey.{{cite news

| last = Jessup

| first = Peter

| title = Final line-break for Innes

| work = The New Zealand Herald

| publisher = APN Holdings NZ Limited

| date = 30 June 2001

| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=197615

| access-date = 8 December 2009}} Matthew Ridge converted from the sideline for 6–0. The Dragons played on after being awarded a penalty in front of the posts in the 8th minute but failed to score. At the 15-minute mark, Saints' halfback Noel Goldthorpe conceded a penalty right in front of their goal post after committing a head-high tackle on Manly's Daniel Gartner. Ridge took the kick, extending the lead to 8–0. St. George sent in forward replacements Lance Thompson and David Barnhill for Scott Gourley and Kevin Campion (head cut). For Manly, Neil Tierney came off the interchange bench to replace David Gillespie. Up until the 19th minute mark when Manly veteran five-eighth Cliff Lyons took the field, their coach Bob Fulton was using six running forwards with captain Geoff Toovey as dummy half.

The Dragons' first points came in the 37th minute when Wayne Bartrim kicked a penalty that was awarded when Manly forward Owen Cunningham stripped the ball. From the ensuing kick-off just before half-time, the game's controversial moment occurred by means of a hotly disputed try. Ridge made a spectacular short kick-off and regathered, catching the Dragons unaware. St George hooker Nathan Brown appeared to tackle Ridge, albeit one-handedly and by the collar. Ridge got up and ran when Brown was expecting him to stop and play the ball. Referee David Manson ruled that Brown did not complete the tackle. Ridge was eventually tackled just a few metres from the line. From there, dummy half Nik Kosef then passed the ball to Steve Menzies, who stormed his way through the Saints' defense of Thompson, Dean Raper, Noel Goldthorpe and Wayne Bartrim to score next to the posts, giving Ridge an easy conversion kick. The controversial ruling by referee Manson gave Manly a 14–2 half-time lead and broke the Saints' resolve. In the process of scoring, Menzies injured his groin/hamstring; and, although he returned for the second half, he was unable to run and was eventually interchanged by coach Fulton.

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

!align="center" width="110" style="border: 3px solid blue; background: maroon; color: white"|Manly-Warringah
Sea Eagles

! Posit.

!align="center" width="110" style="border: 3px solid red; background: white; color: red"|St. George
Dragons

# Matthew Ridge

| {{rlp|FB}}

# Dean Raper
2. Danny Moore{{rlp|WG}}2. Nick Zisti
3. Craig Innes{{rlp|CE}}3. Mark Coyne (c)
4. Terry Hill{{rlp|CE}}4. Mark Bell
5. John Hopoate{{rlp|WG}}5. Adrian Brunker
13. Nik Kosef{{rlp|FE}}6. Anthony Mundine
7. Geoff Toovey (c){{rlp|HB}}7. Noel Goldthorpe
17. David Gillespie{{rlp|PR}}8. Troy Stone
9. Jim Serdaris{{rlp|HK}}9. Jeff Hardy
10. Mark Carroll{{rlp|PR}}10. Luke Felsch
11. Steve Menzies{{rlp|SR}}19. Kevin Campion
12. Daniel Gartner{{rlp|SR}}12. Scott Gourley
8. Owen Cunningham{{rlp|LK}}13. Wayne Bartrim
6. Cliff LyonsRes.11. David Barnill
14. Neil TierneyRes.14. Lance Thompson
16. Des HaslerRes.15. Colin Ward
19. Craig HancockRes.16. Nathan Brown
Bob FultonCoachDavid Waite

2nd half

In the 53rd minute, Manly's Danny Moore scored a try from a Terry Hill pass after Hill drew Saints defenders Adrian Brunker and Nick Zisti. With Ridge off the field after being concussed in a tackle, Craig Innes converted from 5 metres off the sideline for the Sea Eagles to take a 20–2 lead. Five minutes later, Dragons' winger Zisti scored a try from a Bartrim cut-out pass. Bartrim then converted from the sideline for a final scoreline of 20–8.{{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 }} The final 20 minutes were scoreless, with two field goal attempts from Ridge charged down by Dragons' defenders. This ensured that the Sea Eagles secured their sixth official premiership and their only one of the 1990s.

=Full-Time Score=

{{rugbyleaguebox

|bg = #f1f5fc

|date = 29 September

|time =

|team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

|score = 20–8

|report = 1st: 14 – 2
2nd: 6 – 6

|team2 = {{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George Dragons

|points1 = Tries:
Craig Innes (5') 1
Steve Menzies (40') 1
Danny Moore (54') 1
Goals:
Matthew Ridge 3/3
(6', 18' pen, 40')
Craig Innes 1/1
(56')
Field Goals:
Matthew Ridge 0/2

|points2 = Tries:
Nick Zisti (61') 1
Goals:
Wayne Bartrim 2/2
(39' pen, 62')

|stadium = Sydney Football Stadium

|referee = David Manson

|attendance = 40,985


Clive Churchill Medal: Geoff Toovey{{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=Australian Associated Press|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

225

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} Jason Taylor

|align=center|5

|align=center|102

|align=center|1

168

|{{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs}} Ivan Cleary

|align=center|4

|align=center|76

|align=center|0

162

|{{leagueicon|Penrith}} Ryan Girdler

|align=center|8

|align=center|65

|align=center|0

160

|{{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Rod Wishart

|align=center|14

|align=center|52

|align=center|0

153

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Matthew Ridge

|align=center|7

|align=center|62

|align=center|1

Top 5 try scorers

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

!width=200 |Player

21

|{{leagueicon|Canberra}} Noa Nadruku

19

|{{leagueicon|Brisbane}} Steve Renouf

16

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Steve Menzies

15

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} Ben Ikin

14

|{{leagueicon|Brisbane}} Darren Smith

14

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} Brett Dallas

14

|{{leagueicon|Illawarra}} Rod Wishart

{{col-2}}

Top 5 goal scorers

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

!width=200 |Player

102

|{{leagueicon|North Sydney}} Jason Taylor

76

|{{leagueicon|Eastern Suburbs}} Ivan Cleary

65

|{{leagueicon|Penrith}} Ryan Girdler

64

|{{leagueicon|Newcastle}} Andrew Johns

62

|{{leagueicon|Manly}} Matthew Ridge

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • [http://afltables.com/rl/seas/1996.html Rugby League Tables – Season 1996]
  • [http://www.showroom.com.au/dragons/dragonshistory/history_stgeorge7b.htm#1996 St. George Dragons 1996 season at showroom.com.au]

{{Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles}}

{{Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles squad 1996 ARL premiership}}

{{National Rugby League seasons}}

{{1996 in rugby league}}

Category:National Rugby League seasons

ARL season

ARL season