Balmain going to a big lead in the premiership in 1966 then losing a string of games to run 2nd. They managed to account for Manly in the final but were outclassed in the big one. It was my last game as a Tigers supporter, as the Panthers debuted the following season. Unfortunately, the GF was not shown on TV that year. Perhaps the last year that was the case. Channel 7 gave scores during some Mickey Rooney movie. I mustn't have known about Frank Hyde at that time.
Actually it was early in the off season. Rex Mossop ran a touch comp in the channel 7 studios complete with concrete floors, and the new clubs Penrith and Cronulla were featured. From this event, played over several weeks, I was a Panther for life.
I remember getting quite a surprise when I saw Balmain play at Penrith in 1967, that their colours were not black and grey. I'd only seen them on TV, you see.