1979 New South Wales Rugby Football League
Teams12
Premiers St. George (15th title)
Minor premiers St. George (14th title)
Matches played138
Points scored4466
Attendance1500369
Top points scorer(s) Mick Cronin (253)
Player of the year Ray Price (Rothmans Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Mitch Brennan (16)
Tom Mooney (16)

The 1979 NSWRFL season was the 72nd season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve New South Wales Rugby Football League clubs competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the St. George and Canterbury-Bankstown clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed in the 1979 Amco Cup.

Season summary

Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, resulting in a top five of St. George, Parramatta, Cronulla-Sutherland, Western Suburbs and Canterbury-Bankstown who battled it out in the finals.

Parramatta's Ray Price was the 1979 season's Rothmans Medallist, and also won Rugby League Week’s player of the year award.

The 1979 season also saw the retirement from the League of future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Fulton.

Teams

Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the NSWRFL premiership.

Balmain

72nd season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Allan McMahon

Canterbury-Bankstown

45th season
Ground: Belmore Oval
Coach: Ted Glossop
Captain: George Peponis

Cronulla-Sutherland

13th season
Ground: Endeavour Field
Coach: Norm Provan
Captain: Greg Pierce

Eastern Suburbs

72nd season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Captain/Coach: Bob Fulton

Manly-Warringah

33rd season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Frank Stanton
Captain: Max Krilich

Newtown

72nd season
Ground: Henson Park
Coach: Warren Ryan
Captain: Trevor Ryan→ Ken Wilson

North Sydney

72nd season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Coach: Tommy Bishop
Captain: Keith Harris

Parramatta

33rd season
Ground: Cumberland Oval
Coach: Terry Fearnley
Captain: Ray Price

Penrith

13th season
Ground: Penrith Park
Coach: Len Stacker
Captain: Gary Pethybridge

South Sydney

72nd season
Ground: Redfern Oval
Coach: Jack Gibson
Captain: Bob McMillan, Darrel Bampton, Terry Fahey

St. George Dragons

59th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval
Coach: Harry Bath
Captain: Steve EdgeCraig Young

Western Suburbs

72nd season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval
Coach: Roy Masters
Captain: Tom Raudonikis

Regular season

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 F1 F2 F3 GF
Balmain Tigers EAS
+22
WES
−10
CRO
+9
CBY
−13
STG
+7
NEW
+4
MAN
+5
PEN
0
NOR
+15
PAR
−35
SOU
+10
EAS
+28
WES
−2
X CBY
−2
STG
+13
NEW
+4
MAN
−16
PEN
+7
NOR
+4
PAR
−1
CRO
−3
SOU
−1
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs PEN
+11
NOR
+8
PAR
−1
BAL
+13
EAS
+3
WES
+6
CRO
−2
SOU
+9
STG
−13
NEW
+28
MAN
−9
PEN
−5
NOR
+9
PAR
+1
BAL
+2
EAS
−8
WES
+1
CRO
−2
SOU
+6
STG
−8
NEW
+32
X MAN
−12
WES
+14
CRO
+15
PAR
+6
STG
−4
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks NOR
+27
PAR
+25
BAL
−9
EAS
−11
WES
+7
SOU
+9
CBY
+2
STG
+7
NEW
+20
MAN
−5
PEN
−6
NOR
+14
PAR
−15
X EAS
+22
WES
+10
SOU
−15
CBY
+2
STG
+5
NEW
−14
MAN
+19
BAL
+3
PEN
0
PAR
−20
CBY
−15
Eastern Suburbs Roosters BAL
−22
SOU
−4
WES
−9
CRO
+11
CBY
−3
STG
−13
NEW
+5
MAN
0
PEN
+32
NOR
−7
PAR
−5
BAL
−28
SOU
+5
WES
+5
CRO
−22
CBY
+8
STG
−25
NEW
+7
MAN
−22
PEN
+11
NOR
+14
X PAR
−9
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles STG
−25
NEW
+4
SOU
+11
PEN
+15
NOR
−3
PAR
−15
BAL
−5
EAS
0
WES
−7
CRO
+5
CBY
+9
STG
−7
NEW
+6
X PEN
+5
NOR
+7
PAR
−17
BAL
+16
EAS
+22
WES
−8
CRO
−19
SOU
−18
CBY
+12
Newtown Jets SOU
+1
MAN
−4
PEN
−9
NOR
+1
PAR
−18
BAL
−4
EAS
−5
WES
−3
CRO
−20
CBY
−28
STG
−5
SOU
+24
MAN
−6
PEN
+26
NOR
+19
PAR
−13
BAL
−4
EAS
−7
WES
−17
CRO
+14
CBY
−32
X STG
−12
North Sydney Bears CRO
−27
CBY
−8
STG
−17
NEW
−1
MAN
+3
PEN
−8
SOU
−7
PAR
−31
BAL
−15
EAS
+7
WES
−11
CRO
−14
CBY
−9
X NEW
−19
MAN
−7
PEN
−4
SOU
−6
PAR
−38
BAL
−4
EAS
−14
STG
−3
WES
−12
Parramatta Eels WES
−11
CRO
−25
CBY
+1
STG
−6
NEW
+18
MAN
+15
PEN
+9
NOR
+31
SOU
+11
BAL
+35
EAS
+5
WES
−18
CRO
+15
CBY
−1
STG
−1
NEW
+13
MAN
+17
PEN
+3
NOR
+38
SOU
+14
BAL
+1
X EAS
+9
CRO
+20
STG
−4
CBY
−6
Penrith Panthers CBY
−11
STG
+3
NEW
+9
MAN
−15
SOU
−30
NOR
+8
PAR
−9
BAL
0
EAS
−32
WES
−1
CRO
+6
CBY
+5
STG
−22
NEW
−26
MAN
−5
SOU
−17
NOR
+4
PAR
−3
BAL
−7
EAS
−11
WES
−8
X CRO
0
South Sydney Rabbitohs NEW
−1
EAS
+4
MAN
−11
WES
−14
PEN
+30
CRO
−9
NOR
+7
CBY
−9
PAR
−11
STG
−21
BAL
−10
NEW
−24
EAS
−5
X WES
+2
PEN
+17
CRO
+15
NOR
+6
CBY
−6
PAR
−14
STG
−8
MAN
+18
BAL
+1
St. George Dragons MAN
+25
PEN
−3
NOR
+17
PAR
+6
BAL
−7
EAS
+13
WES
+15
CRO
−7
CBY
+13
SOU
+21
NEW
+5
MAN
+7
PEN
+22
X PAR
+1
BAL
−13
EAS
+25
WES
+1
CRO
−5
CBY
+8
SOU
+8
NOR
+3
NEW
+12
X PAR
+4
X CBY
+4
Western Suburbs Magpies PAR
+11
BAL
+10
EAS
+9
SOU
+14
CRO
−7
CBY
−6
STG
−15
NEW
+3
MAN
+7
PEN
+1
NOR
+11
PAR
+18
BAL
+2
EAS
−5
SOU
−2
CRO
−10
CBY
−1
STG
−1
NEW
+17
MAN
+8
PEN
+8
X NOR
+12
CBY
−14
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 F1 F2 F3 GF

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 St. George 221705476309+16734
2 Parramatta 221606490317+17332
3 Cronulla-Sutherland 221417367270+9729
4 Western Suburbs 221408396312+8428
5 Canterbury-Bankstown 221309379310+6926
6 Balmain 221219358313+4525
7 Manly-Warringah 2211110341353-1223
8 Eastern Suburbs 229112250321-7119
9 South Sydney 229013286329-4318
10 Penrith 226214311473-16214
11 Newtown 226016321423-10212
12 North Sydney 222020302547-2454

Ladder progression

  • Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5.
  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
  • Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
  • Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during 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
1 St. George Dragons2246681010121416182020222224262628303234
2 Parramatta Eels002246810121416161818182022242628303032
3 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks2444681012141414161616182020222424262829
4 Western Suburbs Magpies246888810121416182020202020202224262628
5 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs24468101012121414141618202022222424262626
6 Balmain Tigers2244681011131315171717171921212325252525
7 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles024666677911111313151717192121212123
8 Eastern Suburbs Roosters000222457777911111313151517191919
9 South Sydney Rabbitohs0222446666666681012141414141618
10 Penrith Panthers02444667779111111111113131313131314
11 Newtown Jets22244444444668101010101012121212
12 North Sydney Bears00002222244444444444444

Finals

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Crowd
Minor semi-finals
Parramatta 24–4 Cronulla-Sutherland 1 September 1979 Sydney Cricket Ground Gary Cook 28,335
Western Suburbs 6–20 Canterbury-Bankstown 2 September 1979 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 22,104
Major semi-finals
St. George 15–11 Parramatta 8 September 1979 Sydney Cricket Ground Gary Cook 38,531
Cronulla-Sutherland 15–30 Canterbury-Bankstown 9 September 1979 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 24,132
Preliminary final
Parramatta 14–20 Canterbury-Bankstown 15 September 1979 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 33,291
Grand final
St. George 17–13 Canterbury-Bankstown 22 September 1979 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley 50,911

Chart

Qualifying finalMajor semi-finalPreliminary finalGrand final
1 St. George15 St. George17
Parramatta11 Canterbury13
2 Parramatta24 Parramatta14
3 Cronulla-Sutherland4Minor semi-final Canterbury20
Cronulla-Sutherland15
4 Western Suburbs6 Canterbury30
5 Canterbury20

Grand final

St. George Position Canterbury-Bankstown
  1. Brian Johnson
FB
  1. Stan Cutler
2. Mitch BrennanWG2. Chris Anderson
3. Graeme QuinnCE3. Chris Mortimer
4. Robert FinchCE4. Peter Mortimer
5. Michael SorridimiWG5. Steve Gearin
6. Tony TrudgettFE6. Garry Hughes
7. Steve MorrisHB7 Steve Mortimer
13. Bruce StarkeyPR13. Greg Cook
12. Steve EdgeHK12. George Peponis (c)
11. Craig Young (c)PR11. Peter Smith
10. George GrantSR10. Graeme Hughes
9. Graeme WynnSR9. Peter Cassilles
8. Rod ReddyLK8. Steve Folkes
16. Stephen ButlerRes.14. Mark Hughes
18. Robert StoneRes.
Harry BathCoachTed Glossop

St. George finished 22 rounds as minor premiers with 17 wins and were straight into the grand final after defeating Parramatta in the major semi. Their Grand final opponents Canterbury, qualified after defeating Wests, Cronulla and Parramatta.

Television Coverage Dispute

Under agreements in place at the time, the broadcast rights to the season saw one to two games on ABC TV on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons, and a Sunday Night primetime replay and highlights of other matches on ATN-7 (part of the Seven's Big League programming). Under this agreement, the networks had rights to each broadcast and/or simulcast all six of the finals series games, under which they could either accept or decline the matches.

The scene was set by an industrial relations dispute between camera and production crews and commercial broadcasting networks towards the end of 1979. This forced ATN-7 and the ABC into a shared feed arrangement using ABC production crew, but separate network commentary teams calling the game.

ATN-7, wore the financial costs as the designated broadcaster of the preliminary final, and provided the ABC with a clean feed of the match as agreed. However, the ABC refused to offer a clean feed to ATN-7 for the grand final, which caused massive controversy. ATN-7 then exercised their right as the primary broadcaster of the competition to broadcast the match between St George and Canterbury exclusively, deciding to source their own freelance crew and cover the match. The ABC then sued ATN-7, and the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal became involved, but ultimately the match remained exclusive to Seven's Big League.[1]

Match

The pre-game talk had been about the match-up of opposing half-backs Steve Morris and Steve Mortimer and the game didn't disappoint, beginning with a 40-metre flying break on a last tackle by Morris from deep in Dragons territory before he was cut down in a classic covering tackle by Mortimer.

The first half belonged to St. George with new fullback Brian Johnson scoring an easy opening try after taking a pass 10 metres out from the Canterbury line. Soon after, Rod Reddy, who was subduing his opponents with his experience and ruthlessness, put Morris into a gap. “Slippery” kicked ahead and the race was on. Mortimer had a head start and got there first but Morris tackled him into touch.

Soon afterwards Canterbury put a bomb up and toward the St. George in-goal. Brian Johnson was on hand to field the ball and returned it with a 60-metre run ended by a copybook tackle from his opposing fullback Stan Cutler. However the defence was opening up and it wasn't long before the Dragons scored their second try, with winger Mitch Brennan venturing infield and finding a gap courtesy of centre Robert Finch who slipped a short ball to Brennan 30 metres out. The strapping winger made a powerful run to score.

By now, Saints were carving Canterbury up with Morris, on his 20-metre line, putting Graeme Wynn into a gap. The lanky back rower ran 40 metres, leaving defenders in his wake. Next it was “Rocket” Reddy's turn when Morris, Wynn and Reddy combined down the right flank and exposed the Bulldogs defence. 'Rocket' handled twice in scoring a try under the posts. At half time the score was St George 17 – Canterbury 2.

Canterbury fought back gamely after the break. Steve Gearin and then Peter Mortimer crossed, with two further tries being disallowed. The St. George defence rallied and held from that point until Stan Cutler scored a third try out wide late in the match. St. George's goal-kicking second rower George Grant was the difference on the day, kicking four to ensure a 17–13 victory. Grant had kicked brilliantly all season, scoring 211 points in 1979.

The Dave Brown Medal for the best player on field, went to Steve Morris.

St. George 17 (Tries: Johnson, Brennan, Reddy. Goals: Grant 4.)

Canterbury-Bankstown 13 (Tries: Gearin, Mortimer, Cutler. Goals: Gearin 2.)

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.

See also

References

  1. MTN 9 1979 News, Adds and general presentation., retrieved 2022-11-18
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