Rugby League Premierships 1908-2004

[t-ba]

CS-Deciders were played long before 1954. They were even mandatory during some years. The rules chopped and changed until the NSWRL finally decided to establish the GF permanently.

 

[Mr Saab]

CS-Deciders were played long before 1954. They were even mandatory during some years. The rules chopped and changed until the NSWRL finally decided to establish the GF permanently.

well aware of that, but 1954 is the year it was mandatory. Before that the minor premier could challenge 2nd place if they lost the semi etc etc.
Since GFs became mandatory souths have won 6.

 

[Red Bear]

CS-Deciders were played long before 1954. They were even mandatory during some years. The rules chopped and changed until the NSWRL finally decided to establish the GF permanently.

well aware of that, but 1954 is the year it was mandatory. Before that the minor premier could challenge 2nd place if they lost the semi etc etc.
Since GFs became mandatory souths have won 6.

I didnt dispute that, just said that overall(including pre 1954) souths have won 9 deciders.
http://www.rl1908.com/NSWRL-Statistics.htm

 

[Jimbo]

Don't forget the 1909 Decider :lol: . The Dodgiest premiership of them all...

Actually 1978 was the dodgiest Premiership of them all...

 

[izzo]

UP THE RABBITOHS

20 PREMIERSHIPS 8)

 

[Nugby]

I'm all for living in the past

Congratulations Rabbitohs

 

[Red Bear]

I'm all for living in the past

How great is it eh

 

[oxenham]

Much better would be the strike rate or percent, because teams like Melbourne have only been in the comp for 7 years and would have ??% strike rate of winning the premiership, that would be more fair.

 

[Mayor_Quimby]

go manly

 

[gregstar]

how many have the sharks won?!!!!!!! :lol:

 

[AzzA84]

I also notice that the roosters since 1954 have only won 3 grand finals, but i suppose all that matters is they got into them, hahahaha, roosters champions of 2nd. :lol: :lol: :lol:

1960 St.George Easts, 1972 Manly Easts, 1980 CANTERBURY Easts, 2000 Brisbane Sydney City, 2003 Penrith Sydney Roosters, 2004 CANTERBURY Sydney Roosters. 6 grand final losses againest 3 grand final wins.

Vs The Bulldogs 2nd most wins since 1954 - 6 wins (80,84,85,88,95,04)

GO THE MIGHTY PREMIERS UP THE MIGHTY BULLDOGS!!! :mrgreen:

 

[Anonymous]

Don't forget the 1909 Decider :lol: . The Dodgiest premiership of them all...

If you go by the age of "Mandatory" GF's

St George:13
Souths:6
Manly:6
Canterbury:6
Brisbane:5
Parra:4
Canberra:3
Roosters:3
Penrith:2
Newcastle:2
Balmain:1
Melbourne:1

*Edit-Canberra and Penrith altered...*

There's a general misunderstanding about Grand Finals. They were indeed mandatory from 1954 but there plenty of Grand Finals prior to 1954.
For example, St George won a Grand Final in 1949, with the top 4 semi-finals (same as post-1954). So they have won 14 'Grand Finals' and one 'Final'. I was reading up on it once and was surprised to learn there were a number of Grand Finals contested prior to 1954, although at least one of these was not in a top 4 semis.

Here is a brief outline of Grand Final history (doesn't include this year):

GRAND FINALS

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. In modern Rugby League, there is no greater achievement than to win a grand final.

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.

Three seasons later, the new grand finals system was 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 mandatory 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 (reduce 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.

http://www.showroom.com.au/dragons/dragonshistory/history_stats.htm

*now 63
**now 14

 

[Anonymous]

How many do the Dragons have if you exclude those Grand Finals which were referreed by known game fixer Darcy Lawler?

He was not allowed to ref another GF after the '63 debacle.

6 isn't it?

This old chestnut. :lol:
Firstly, Darcy Lawler was referee for 11 years and retired at the end of 1963. You're suggesting that he was dropped but that's just another urban myth.

Have you seen the 1963 Grand Final DJ1?
I had the good fortune to watch it recently and I paid particular attention to the controversial 'tackle' on Johnny King before he scored the try.

Excuse the copy and paste but I wrote this last July in the Dragons forum:

The 1963 Grand Final was played in difficult muddy conditions.... a slush pit at the SCG. It was the same Grand Final which inspired the photgraph of Norm Provan and Athur Summons ('The Gladiators') which is now part of the premiership trophy.

For years, Wests supporters had moaned that Johnny King was tackled... and then got up and ran after the referee had called held and told him to play it.

The insinuation being that the referee, Darcy Lawler, changed his mind and was corrupt throughout the match. These accusations have largely been hearsay as most people have never seen the match or have only caught glimpses of it on TV snippets.

Johnny King's winning try still causes arguments with a debate about it happening in this very forum just a few months ago.

Well after seeing it several times, frame-by-frame, I think we can put this one to rest. There is no way that King was definitely held and there was no hand movements or hesitations from the referee who was in good position.

In fact, King hit the mud on his knees, slid away from the tackle, and put his hand on the ground. He wasn't held.

Saints went on to win 8-3 and Wests claimed they were robbed.

For rest of the match, there was very little opportunity for both sides in the mud... scrums were hard to pack down with players often losing their footing.

By the way, Saints led 5-0 early on and Wests struck back with a try under the posts to make it 5-3. Summons then had the chance to convert to make it 5-5 which would have been a big boost under the conditions... but he missed from right in front.