Parramatta boasted an experienced team, making their second consecutive Grand Final appearance. The young St. George side dubbed "Bath's Babes", were able to draw on the experience and wiles of their coach Harry Bath, and as the day of the decider approached the betting market narrowed.
A crowd of 66,000 flocked to the
Sydney Cricket Ground to see an enthusiastic St. George side come out with all guns blazing. Dragons lock forward 'Rocket' Rod Reddy, initially dominated proceedings with his brutal defensive play.
In attack, diminutive Dragons halfback Mark Shulman made inroads and they went ahead 4-0 with two penalty goals to Ted Goodwin. Just before half time, "Lord Ted" scored a miraculous try when he burst through and chipped ahead from halfway. Confronting his opposite fullback Phil Mann, Goodwin kicked again. A foot race followed with cover defenders Graeme Atkins and Ed Sulkowicz joining. The ball trickled towards the dead-ball line but Goodwin got there first, hitting the ground hard and knocking himself out in the process. He had run 50 yards and beat every defender to score a breath-taking individual try. John Chapman converted and though Goodwin took no further part in the match, he had given his side a handy 9-0 lead going into the break.
The second half began like the first, with uncompromising defence. Reddy was targeting Parramatta's champion lock, Ray Price but in the process gave away a number of penalties. Mick Cronin slotted three pressure goals to make it 9-6 and the older Eels were well positioned for a comeback against a tiring Dragons defence.
With 10 minutes to run, Parramatta pounced when Cronin drew three defenders and found Price in support who stepped through and gave a final pass to Sulkowicz who scored the equaliser out wide. Now Parramatta had the chance to snatch victory through Mick Cronin's conversion attempt. A prolific goal-kicker throughout his career, Cronin had an opportunity which young players dream of - to kick his team to premiership glory. But the ball sailed to the right of the uprights and moments later the full-time scoreboard read 9-all.
[2] For the first time in history, a New South Wales Rugby Football League Grand Final was forced into 20 minutes extra time.
Parramatta took command of the restart and looked strong. The Eels almost scored when prop Graham Olling found space near the line, but he failed to pass to his unmarked front rower partner Ron Hilditch. St. George then lifted a notch, grafted out some territory towards the Eels' end and began to think of field goals. Shulman and Chapman both made unsuccessful attempts before reserve Tony Quirk had a third attempt from close range. Quirk's kick initially looked on target but the ball bounced off the post and into the arms of St. George's hooker, Steve Edge. He grounded the ball over the line but was ruled offside by referee Gary Cook.
With one minute left Cook awarded a penalty to the Dragons within kicking range. In a final twist, Chapman's attempt went the same way as Cronin's earlier kick and after 100 minutes of Grand Final play, the scores were still locked at 9-all. The players initially appeared confused, then began shaking hands. The ground announcer advised that a replay would be required.
Greenwood's reference described the match as 'the game of the century'. This is a bold claim but it was undoubtedly a brave effort by both sides and a ground-breaking match in Australian rugby league history.
St. George 9 (Tries: Goodwin. Goals: Goodwin 2, Chapman.)
Parramatta 9 (Tries: Sulkowicz. Goals: Cronin 3.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_NSWRFL_season
