5 Greatest Grand Finals In The NRL

by Michael Griffin Michael How do the finals work in NRL? You take a league filled with championship teams and pit them against each other, resulting in some of the best NRL finals ever played. Since its inception in 1998, the NRL has produced some of the most thrilling grand finals we’ve ever seen. Our top 5 picks for the best NRL finals in history are:

5. Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 1998

The first NRL finals saw the Broncos come away with the premiership in a shocking upset. Even though the Bulldogs finished ninth on the ladder that year, they managed to claw their way into the finals, surprising fans around the country by making it to the grand finale. The first half of the game was close with the Bulldogs leading 12-10 at half time. The second half was all Broncos though, with an unanswered 28 points leading them to a decidedly satisfying defeat of the Bulldogs.

4. Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs Melbourne Storm 2016

What a season for the Sharks! The team had won 17 games in a row making them serious NRL finals contenders that year. Despite the Storm finishing the season on top of the ladder, they had to work hard against the Sharks in a nail-biter of a game. The Sharks were leading 8-0 at the end of the first half but Storm came back and took the lead scoring 2 tries back-to-back. With what turned out to be the deciding try by Andrew Fifita, the Sharks took back the lead, 14-12. The final ten seconds saw the Storm with the ball, but the Sharks prevented any further scores and they managed to hold onto victory, winning their first ever premiership.

3. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs Sydney Roosters 2004

Although captain Steve Price missed the grand final due to injury, the Bulldogs managed to pull off a fantastic win despite trailing the Roosters, the final favourites, in the first half. Tries by Matt Utai and Hazem El Masri in the second half put the Bulldogs in the lead, and a late break by Rooster, Michael Crocker, which was foiled by replacement Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan, securing the premiership for the Bulldogs.

2.  Melbourne Storm vs St. George Illawarra Dragons 1999

Watched by a world record crowd at Stadium Australia, the Dragons played consistently and led throughout the game finishing the first half 14-0. Melbourne Storm had other plans however, scoring to bring them within four points of the Dragons. The high tackle from Craig Smith resulted in the refs giving a direct-front penalty try, from which Matt Geyer scored, giving Storm the lead, and resulting win.

1. North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos 2015

This classic match tops the list of the best NRL finals for obvious reasons. The Broncos were the betting favourites for agents such as Sportsbet going in, finishing second on the ladder for the year and they were leading for much of the game until the final 60 seconds. Kyle Feldt managed to get the game to golden point with a try at the 80-minute mark. A dropped kick-off by Ben Hunt led to Cowboy, Jonathan Thurston, kicking the match-winning field goal that led the Cowboys to their first ever NRL finals win, 17–16.

With the thrilling excitement that the NRL finals have produced over the last 23 years of the NRL, there promises to be plenty more excitement to come for Australia’s National Rugby League in the upcoming seasons.

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Created on Sep 28th 2021 02:38. Viewed 1,314 times.

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