Thats right. Once upon a time the Minor Premiers had the right to challenge the winner of the final. It wasn't a great system because it only ensured that the MP would be there at the end whether they won or lost - it reduced the incentive for them win first up. They tried this system firstly in 1930 and Saints won the Final but were beaten by Wests in the return 'grand final'. If these finals had of been played under the previous years rules, Saints would have been Premiers in 1930. Ironically, they put the new finals system on ice after Wests were bundled out in similar fashion a few years later.
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This is from the SOTV Dragons history site (a pop up window in the Statistics section):
To win an Australian Rugby League Grand Final is widely regarded as the greatest prize of all. It comes on the back of the toughest competition in the world and only then after a gruelling semi final struggle. For a team to make it to a grand final is a monumental effort in itself. To then win a grand final defies the laws of gravity. In modern Rugby League, there is no greater achievement.
Prior to 'grand finals', premierships were decided by the minor premiers (competition leader) or by a playoff 'final'.
The first 'grand final' was contested between Easts and Glebe in 1911 but this was little more than a return match of the previous week's final.
The next grand final in 1930 was more legitimate. Contested between Wests and St George, the 1930 grand final was preceded by a four team semi-finals series. In previous years, 'preliminary' final winners, St George would have been declared the season champions but they were defeated by Wests in the grand final and Saints were denied their first premiership.
Nevertheless, the new system was flawed and three seasons later, grand finals were dropped. In 1933, the NSWRL re-installed a decider by way of the less competitive 'final'.
In 1942, the competition had its 5th grand final when once again, the preliminary final winners St George were defeated, this time by Canterbury.
The newly introduced system involved having a minor semi final plus a major semi final (the winner advancing to the grand final) followed by a preliminary final (to decide the other grand finalist).This was successful and was retained for a number of years.
During this period, only 1945, 1950 and 1953 discarded the need for grand finals. The variations in the semi finals often being brought about by circumstances.
It wasn't until 1954 that the grand final became compulsory with a top four semi-final race.
In 1973, this was altered to a top five system.
In 1995, the expanding competition saw the introduction of the top eight (reduced to top seven in 1997 during the Super League conflict).
Including the 1911 encounter, there have been a total of 62 'grand finals'. The Dragons, with 26 grand final appearances are twice that of their nearest rivals, Canterbury who have appeared in 13 grand finals.
In all, the Dragons have contested nearly half of all Grand Finals - an astounding achievement.
