In 2000, we were lucky to get to the GF. Was the first time the team had made one in 20 years. It was still unlimited interchange and the Broncos were an efficient, if somewhat boring team that year. They just bashed and barged their way to victory.
2002 it all came together. The forwards gave Freddy the time and space to dictate play and he nailed it.
2003 the team started slowly. However going into the last 20 minutes it was all locked up. Sattler's tackle on Byrne was the turning point as, not long after, the Panthers hit the front by scoring a converted try. It was ll down hill from there. It raining that day just prior to the game, and drizzling during the first half made the ground greasy which more suited the Panthers style of play.
In 2004, by Grand Final day Fittler was mentally worn out. He said it himself in his autobiography. His comeback for origins 2 and 3 that year took a lot out of him. He also picked up a nasty shoulder injury in the second or third last round that year which hampered him the rest of the season. Then you had some dumb things by Ricky Stuart (e.g. only using one of his interchange players for 7 minutes in the whole game), and the players as a group playing their worst half of football all year in the second half (a number of them said this to me as I was at the Roosters team function at the Easts Leagues Club after the GF). As such I would not pin that loss on Freddy.