1999 NRL season

The 1999 NRL season was the 92nd season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the second to be run by the National Rugby League. With the exclusion of the Adelaide Rams and Gold Coast Chargers, and the joint venture of the St. George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers, seventeen teams competed for the NRL Premiership during the 1999 season, which culminated in the first grand final to be played at Stadium Australia. The St. George Illawarra Dragons, the first joint-venture club to appear in the grand final, played against the Melbourne Storm, who won the premiership in only their second season.

1999 National Rugby League
DurationMarch 5 – September 26, 1999
Teams17
Premiers Melbourne (1st title)
Minor premiers Cronulla-Sutherland (2nd title)
Matches played213
Points scored8857
Average attendance15,368
Attendance3,273,372
Top points scorer(s) Matt Geyer (242)
Player of the year Andrew Johns (Dally M Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Nathan Blacklock (24)

Season summary

The 1999 National Rugby League season was historic for many reasons. The St. George Illawarra Dragons played their inaugural game after forming the League's first joint venture, losing 10-20 to the Parramatta Eels. That game was the second of a double header, which was the first event to be held at Sydney's Stadium Australia, the central venue for the Olympic Games the following year. That game attracted a rugby league world record of 104,583 spectators.

During the season, the members of the Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies voted to form another joint venture, to be named the Wests Tigers. After the conclusion of the season, the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Sydney Bears were excluded from the premiership. The Bears would later form the game's third joint venture with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, whilst South Sydney would fight a two-year legal battle for reinclusion.

In August the NRL's CEO Neil Whittaker announced that he would resign at the end of the season.[1]

The defending premiers, Brisbane endured their worst ever start to a season, with just one win and a draw from their first ten games, however they would miraculously recover and record 11 wins in a row before hitting a few hurdles along the way, including a draw against Manly in round 24 and a loss against then-bogey team Parramatta at home in round 25. Their champion halfback and captain Allan Langer retired mid-season as a result. The Newcastle Knights also lost an iconic player when 1997 premiership captain Paul Harragon retired mid-season due to a chronic knee injury. The Melbourne Storm's premiership victory saw their captain Glenn Lazarus become the only player to ever win grand finals for three clubs.

Cliff Lyons, making a comeback from retirement for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, was the oldest player in the NRL in 1999.[2]

Teams

The exclusion of the Adelaide Rams and Gold Coast Chargers, and the joint venture of the St. George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers, saw a reduction in the League's teams from twenty to seventeen: the largest reduction in the number of teams in premiership history and the first reduction since the exclusion of Sydney's Newtown Jets at the end of the 1983 season.

Auckland
Warriors

5th season
Ground: Ericsson Stadium
Coach: Mark Graham
Captain: Matthew RidgeJohn Simon
Balmain
Tigers

92nd season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Wayne Pearce
Captain: Darren Senter
Brisbane
Broncos

12th season
Ground: ANZ Stadium
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Allan LangerKevin Walters
Canberra
Raiders

18th season
Ground: Bruce Stadium
Coach: Mal Meninga
Captain: Laurie Daley
Canterbury
Bulldogs

65th season
Ground: Stadium Australia
Coach: Steve Folkes
Captain: Darren Britt
Manly-Warringah
Sea Eagles

53rd season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Peter Sharp
Captain: Geoff Toovey
Melbourne
Storm

2nd season
Ground: Olympic Park Stadium
Coach: Chris Anderson
Captain: Glenn Lazarus
Newcastle
Knights

12th season
Ground: Marathon Stadium
Coach: Warren Ryan
Captain: Paul HarragonTony Butterfield
North Queensland
Cowboys

5th season
Ground: Malanda Stadium
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Noel Goldthorpe
North Sydney
Bears

92nd season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Coach: Peter LouisKeiran Dempsey
Captain: Jason Taylor
Parramatta
Eels

53rd season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium
Coach: Brian Smith
Captain: Jarrod McCracken &
Nathan Cayless
Penrith
Panthers

33rd season
Ground: Penrith Stadium
Coach: Royce Simmons
Captain: Steve Carter
Sharks
33rd season
Ground: Shark Park
Coach: John Lang
Captain: Andrew Ettinghausen
South Sydney
Rabbitohs

92nd season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: Craig Coleman
Captain: Sean Garlick
St. George-Illawarra
Dragons

1st season
Ground: Kogarah Oval & WIN Stadium
Coach: David Waite & Andrew Farrar
Captain: Paul McGregor
Sydney City
Roosters

92nd season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: Phil Gould
Captain: Brad Fittler
Western Suburbs
Magpies

92nd season
Ground: Campbelltown Stadium
Coach: Tommy Raudonikis
Captain: Steve Georgallis

Advertising

In a move that polarised some fans, the NRL in its 1999 promotional campaign focused on the game's grass roots supporters who perhaps had been overlooked and pained in the trauma of the Super League war. Sydney advertising agency VCD, in the third year of their four-year tenure with the NRL, produced an advertisement featuring Thomas Keneally reading his poem, "Ode to Rugby League", which had been commissioned by the NRL. It speaks of the innocent excitement that begins each season. The ad was used at season launch and there was minimal media budget to support it throughout the year. Keneally is a longtime supporter of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

We go to the cupboard, we take out club colours.


And the air sings. The season's close.
Our boys are running up sandhills, their legs pump.
This season, this season, this is our season.
This year we all start equal.
Kids paint signs, and I am seven again.
I know I will see heroes soon.
I feel the excitement.
I have hope in March, and I might share in the glory of September.
Blow that whistle, ref.
Send that ball soaring.


Blow that whistle, ref.

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2418062586332+25440
2 Parramatta Eels 2417072500294+20638
3 Melbourne Storm (P) 2416082639392+24736
4 Sydney City Roosters 2416082592377+21536
5 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2415182520462+5835
6 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2415092588416+17234
7 Newcastle Knights 2414192575484+9133
8 Brisbane Broncos 2413292510368+14232
9 Canberra Raiders 24131102618439+17931
10 Penrith Panthers 24111122492428+6427
11 Auckland Warriors 24100142538498+4024
12 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24100142349556-20724
13 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2491142454623-16923
14 North Sydney Bears 2480162490642-15220
15 Balmain Tigers 2480162345636-29120
16 North Queensland Cowboys 2441192398588-19013
17 Western Suburbs Magpies 2430212285944-65910

Ladder progression

  • Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
  • Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round
  • Numbers underlined indicate the team had a bye in that round
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
1 Cronulla-Sutherland 246810121214161820222224242626262830303234363840
2 Parramatta 24466688101214141618182022242628303234343638
3 Melbourne 224668810121416181818182022222426283032343436
4 Sydney City 02468101214141618202222242424262830303232343436
5 Canterbury 024466810101214161820222222242426283032333535
6 St George Illawarra 00224688101010121416182022242628283030303234
7 Newcastle 2224668991113131517192123252729292931333333
8 Brisbane 000002233357911131517192123252729303032
9 Canberra 22246889111111131315171719212121232527292931
10 Penrith 02468101214141616161818202020202020222424252727
11 Auckland 224444466688810101214141414161618202224
12 South Sydney 24468888101012141616181820222424242424242424
13 Manly-Warringah 000000024668810101010121416181820212323
14 North Sydney 24688101010101010101214141616161616161616161820
15 Balmain 024466810101212121212141616161616181818202020
16 North Queensland 222222457779999911111111111111111313
17 Western Suburbs 022224666668810101010101010101010101010

Finals series

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time (local) Venue Referee Crowd
Qualifying Finals
Sydney City Roosters 8–12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 3 September 1999, 7:30 pm Sydney Football Stadium Sean Hampstead 23,478
Melbourne Storm 10–34 St. George Illawarra Dragons 4 September 1999, 2:30 pm Olympic Park Steve Clark 22,053
Parramatta Eels 30–16 Newcastle Knights 4 September 1999, 7:30 pm Parramatta Stadium Bill Harrigan 15,653
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 42–20 Brisbane Broncos 5 September 1999, 2:30 pm Shark Park Tim Mander 13,713
Semi-finals
St. George Illawarra Dragons 28–18 Sydney City Roosters 11 September 1999, 7:30 pm Sydney Football Stadium Bill Harrigan 31,506
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22–24 Melbourne Storm 12 September 1999, 2:30 pm Sydney Football Stadium Steve Clark 20,075
Preliminary Finals
Parramatta Eels 16-18 Melbourne Storm 18 September 1999, 7:30 pm Sydney Football Stadium Bill Harrigan 27,555
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8–24 St. George Illawarra Dragons 19 September 1999, 2:30 pm Stadium Australia Steve Clark 51,827
Grand Final
St. George Illawarra Dragons 18-20 Melbourne Storm 26 September 1999, 3:00 pm Stadium Australia Bill Harrigan 107,999

Chart

Qualifying finalsSemifinalsPreliminary finalsFinal
1 Cronulla42
8 Brisbane201W Cronulla8
4W St. George Illawarra28 St. George Illawarra24
2 Parramatta302L Sydney City18
St. George Illawarra18
7 Newcastle16
Melbourne20
3 Melbourne102W Parramatta16
6 St. George Illawarra343W Canterbury22 Melbourne18
1L Melbourne24
4 Sydney City8
5 Canterbury12

Grand Final

The 1999 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1999 NRL season. It was contested by the competition's two newest clubs: the Melbourne Storm, competing in only its second year (having finished the regular season in 3rd place); and the St. George Illawarra Dragons, in their first year as a joint-venture club (having finished the regular season in 6th place), after both sides eliminated the rest of the top eight during the finals.

A new rugby league world record crowd of 107,999 was at Stadium Australia for the game. The attendance, which saw 67,142 more people attend than had done so for the 1998 NRL Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium, broke the record attendance for a Grand Final, eclipsing the previous record of 78,065 set in 1965 when St. George defeated South Sydney 12-8 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It was the last time that the Clive Churchill Medal was presented in a case before it was changed the following season where it is presented separately with a ribbon being worn around the neck.

Pre-match entertainment featured Hugh Jackman's rendition of the Australian national anthem.

1999 NRL Grand Final
Sunday, 26 September
15:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Melbourne Storm 20 – 18 St. George-Illawarra Dragons
Tries: 3
Martin rugby ball 53'
Roarty rugby ball 57'
Smith rugby ball (penalty) 75'
Goals: 4
Smith rugby goalposts icon pen 42', 59', pen 64' (3/4)
Geyer rugby goalposts icon 77' (1/1)
1st: 0–14
2nd: 20–4
Report[4]
Tries: 3
Fitzgibbon rugby ball 13'
Blacklock rugby ball 29'
McGregor rugby ball 56'
Goals: 3
Bartrim rugby goalposts icon 15', 31' (2/3)
Fitzgibbon rugby goalposts icon pen 23' (1/1)
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 107,999[5]
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Touch judges: Colin White, John McCormack
Clive Churchill Medal: Brett Kimmorley (Melbourne)

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 24.

1999 Transfers

Players

Player 1998 Club 1999 Club
Graham Appo Adelaide Rams Sydney City Roosters
Dave Boughton Adelaide Rams Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Alan Cann Adelaide Rams Retirement
Peter Clarke Adelaide Rams South Sydney Rabbitohs
Mark Corvo Adelaide Rams Canberra Raiders
Matt Daylight Adelaide Rams Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Darrien Doherty Adelaide Rams North Queensland Cowboys
Brett Galea Adelaide Rams Retirement
Noel Goldthorpe Adelaide Rams North Queensland Cowboys
Andrew Hick Adelaide Rams Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Tony Iro Adelaide Rams South Sydney Rabbitohs
Bruce Mamando Adelaide Rams N/A
Rod Maybon Adelaide Rams Canberra Raiders
Marty McKenzie Adelaide Rams Retirement
Andrew Pierce Adelaide Rams Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Chris Quinn Adelaide Rams Parramatta Eels
Dean Schifilliti Adelaide Rams Parramatta Eels
Wayne Simonds Adelaide Rams Featherstone Rovers
Kerrod Walters Adelaide Rams Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Luke Williamson Adelaide Rams Canberra Raiders
Sean Hoppe Auckland Warriors Super League: St. Helens
Kevin Iro Auckland Warriors Super League: St. Helens
Stephen Kearney Auckland Warriors Melbourne Storm
Quentin Pongia Auckland Warriors Sydney City Roosters
Tea Ropati Auckland Warriors Retirement
Tyran Smith Auckland Warriors Balmain Tigers
Anthony Swann Auckland Warriors North Sydney Bears
Paul Sironen Balmain Tigers Villeneuve Leopards (French Rugby League Championship)
Michael Withers Balmain Tigers Super League: Bradford Bulls
Darren Smith Brisbane Broncos Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Bradley Clyde Canberra Raiders Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Brett Hetherington Canberra Raiders North Queensland Cowboys
Luke Priddis Canberra Raiders Brisbane Broncos
Ricky Stuart Canberra Raiders Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Greg Fleming Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Super League: London Broncos
Tony Grimaldi Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Solomon Haumono Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Balmain Tigers
Robert Mears Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Auckland Warriors
Paul Mellor Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Mitch Newton Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement
Matthew Ryan Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs North Queensland Cowboys
Robert Tocco Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scott Wilson Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Super League: Warrington Wolves
Geoff Bell Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks North Queensland Cowboys
Les Davidson Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement
Paul Green Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks North Queensland Cowboys
Craig Greenhill Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Penrith Panthers
Danny Lee Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Nick Zisti Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Bradford Bulls
Troy Campbell Gold Coast Chargers Retirement
Scott Conley Gold Coast Chargers Newcastle Knights
Damian Driscoll Gold Coast Chargers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Tony Durheim Gold Coast Chargers Retirement
Jamie Goddard Gold Coast Chargers North Sydney Bears
Jason Hudson Gold Coast Chargers Retirement
Andrew King Gold Coast Chargers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Chris Lawler Gold Coast Chargers Retirement
Graham Mackay Gold Coast Chargers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jason Nicol Gold Coast Chargers South Sydney Rabbitohs
Clinton O'Brien Gold Coast Chargers Newcastle Knights
Steve Parsons Gold Coast Chargers North Sydney Bears
Wes Patten Gold Coast Chargers South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scott Sattler Gold Coast Chargers Penrith Panthers
Craig Teevan Gold Coast Chargers Retirement
Trent Barrett Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Darren Bradstreet Illawarra Steelers Super League: London Broncos
Jonathan Britten Illawarra Steelers Retirement
Dean Callaway Illawarra Steelers Super League: London Broncos
Scott Cram Illawarra Steelers Super League: London Broncos
Craig Fitzgibbon Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Andrew Hart Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Terry Lamey Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Chris Leikvoll Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Brad Mackay Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Paul McGregor Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Andrew Purcell Illawarra Steelers Super League: Hull Sharks
Brendon Reeves Illawarra Steelers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Will Robinson Illawarra Steelers Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Craig Simon Illawarra Steelers Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Craig Smith Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Shaun Timmins Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
David Walsh Illawarra Steelers Retirement
Craig Wilson Illawarra Steelers Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Rod Wishart Illawarra Steelers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Craig Hancock Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Balmain Tigers
John Carlaw Melbourne Storm Balmain Tigers
Brett Grogan Newcastle Knights Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Lee Jackson Newcastle Knights Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Neil Piccinelli Newcastle Knights Retirement
Wayne Richards Newcastle Knights South Sydney Rabbitohs
Owen Cunningham North Queensland Cowboys Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Jason Death North Queensland Cowboys Auckland Warriors
Andrew Dunemann North Queensland Cowboys South Sydney Rabbitohs
Jason Ferris North Queensland Cowboys Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Dale Fritz North Queensland Cowboys Super League: Castleford Tigers
Ian Roberts North Queensland Cowboys Retirement
Dale Shearer North Queensland Cowboys Retirement
Steve Walters North Queensland Cowboys Newcastle Knights
Greg Florimo North Sydney Bears Super League: Wigan Warriors
Paul Carige Parramatta Eels Super League: Salford City Reds
Ian Herron Parramatta Eels Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Brett Horsnell Parramatta Eels Retirement
Aaron Raper Parramatta Eels Super League: Castleford Tigers
John Simon Parramatta Eels Auckland Warriors
Matthew Spence Parramatta Eels Western Suburbs Magpies
Phil Adamson Penrith Panthers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Brett Boyd Penrith Panthers North Queensland Cowboys
Darren Brown Penrith Panthers Super League: Salford City Reds
Jody Gall Penrith Panthers North Queensland Cowboys
Jason Williams Penrith Panthers Retirement
Darren Burns South Sydney Rabbitohs Sydney City Roosters
David Hall South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Terry Hermansson South Sydney Rabbitohs Auckland Warriors
Matt Munro South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Michael Ostini South Sydney Rabbitohs Balmain Tigers
Geordi Peats South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Troy Slattery South Sydney Rabbitohs Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Jamie Ainscough St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Wayne Bartrim St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Nathan Blacklock St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Nathan Brown St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Adrian Brunker St. George Dragons Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Mark Coyne St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Luke Felsch St. George Dragons Super League: Gateshead Thunder
Jeff Hardy St. George Dragons Super League: Sheffield Eagles
Tony Hearn St. George Dragons Retirement
Jim Lenihan St. George Dragons Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Anthony Mundine St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Lee Murphy St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Corey Pearson St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Willie Poching St. George Dragons Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Matthew Rodwell St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Brad Smith St. George Dragons Balmain Tigers
Andrew Tangata-Toa St. George Dragons Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Lance Thompson St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Darren Treacy St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Daniel Wagon St. George Dragons Parramatta Eels
Colin Ward St. George Dragons St. George Illawarra Dragons
Nigel Gaffey Sydney City Roosters Penrith Panthers
Scott Gourley Sydney City Roosters Retirement
Jason Lowrie Sydney City Roosters Balmain Tigers
Damian Kennedy Western Suburbs Magpies Canberra Raiders
Aseri Laing Western Suburbs Magpies Melbourne Storm
Paul Langmack Western Suburbs Magpies Sydney City Roosters
Darren Willis Western Suburbs Magpies Retirement
Mark Carroll Super League: London Broncos South Sydney Rabbitohs
Luke Goodwin Super League: London Broncos Western Suburbs Magpies
Damien Smith Super League: St. Helens North Queensland Cowboys
Matt Fuller Wakefield Trinity Western Suburbs Magpies

Coaches

Coach 1998 Club 1999 Club
Mal Reilly Newcastle Knights Super League: Huddersfield Giants

References

  1. "NRL boss Neil Whittaker quits". CNN Sports Illustrated. Australia: Reuters. 1999-08-13. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  2. Toohey, Barry (2 February 2011). "Still some bite in old Mad Dog". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  3. Mahoney, Blair (2009). Poetry Reloaded. Australia: Cambridge University Press. p. 72. ISBN 9780521746618.
  4. Middleton, David (2000). Rugby League 2000. Sydney: Harper Sports. ISBN 0732265576.
  5. "1999 NRL Grand Final". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
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