Eventual grand finalists the Balmain Tigers had a dreadful start to the season with six wins and five losses by the end of the first full round. But their plight was rescued by a masterstroke from their chief executive Keith Barnes. The Great Britain side was touring Australia that season and in strict secrecy Barnes negotiated to have the English captain and centre Ellery Hanley – judged the best player in the English competition the previous season and an undoubted world-class player – to join the Tigers. Barnes got to the NSWRL to register Hanley at 4:55pm on 30 June, just five minutes inside the deadline for signing players for that season.
Twenty-two regular season rounds were played in total from March till August, with Cronulla-Sutherland winning their first ever minor premiership since joining the competition in 1967. Penrith and Balmain finished on equal points in fifth place and played each other for the place in the top five, alongside Cronulla, Canterbury, Canberra and Manly.
Teams
This season saw the premiership's first expansion since 1982 with the addition of three newly created teams: the Brisbane Broncos, the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants and the Newcastle Knights.[3] This brought the League another step closer to becoming a national competition as a total of sixteen teams, the largest number in the tournament's history, contested the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one from the Australian Capital Territory.
1988 saw the NSWRL move their advertising account from John Singleton Advertising to Hertz Walpole Advertising. There was initially however no shift in the prior campaign direction. For the second year running a visual and vocal performance by Australian rock journeyman John "Swanee" Swan was used. Swanee recorded a purpose-written jingle entitled "The Greatest Game of All" and a rock-clip style ad was shot on a stage setting with smoke, lights and fireworks. The performance footage was interspersed with game action.
Five years later Swan's younger brother Jimmy Barnes would also feature in an NSWRL season advertisement performing alongside Tina Turner.
Balmain had staged a gripping charge for the final five, winning nine of their last eleven games including five in a row to leave them in equal fifth spot with the Penrith Panthers at the regular season's end. They then won four sudden death finals to make it to the Grand final.
This was the first grand final not to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Following Balmain's extraordinary late season run in winning thirteen of fifteen games, the stage was set for a grand final of great appeal. 1980s master coach Warren Ryan of Balmain was up against the club he had coached for four years to three grand finals and two premierships, as well as being matched against the man who had replaced him at Canterbury – Phil Gould. It was master against pupil. At just 30 years of age, Gould was vying not only to become the youngest coach to win a grand final but the first since Balmain's Leo Nosworthy in 1969 to steer a team to premiership victory in his first season coaching the top-grade.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs faced the Balmain Tigers on 11 September 1988 in the first grand final played at the Sydney Football Stadium and the last game for Steve Mortimer. The match was played early so that Channel Ten could broadcast the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The Australian national anthem was performed by Glenn Shorrock.
After five minutes Peter Tunks was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for treading on Ben Elias. The first points of the match were scored shortly after from Terry Lamb's successful penalty kick. Another penalty kick from Lamb put the Bulldogs in front 4 nil. However Balmain grabbed the first try an Elias put up a bomb and was first to the ball ahead of Bulldog Jason Alchin. Conlon's conversion from in front gave the Tigers the lead for first time at 6–4.[4]
A highly controversial tackle by Terry Lamb put Balmain's in form British import Ellery Hanley out of the game before the 30-minute mark had been reached.[5] Hanley staggered off, heavily concussed, with the score at 6–4. Under the rules of the time, Hanley was allowed 10 minutes to recover in the head bin. If he could not return he would need to be replaced. He returned just before half-time and stood, out-of-sorts, on the wing. The Bulldogs then ran in a 70-metre try from broken play and went to the break with a lead of 10–8.
Hanley did not return after half-time and the Bulldogs started to dominate. A great Canterbury team try to Michael Hagan sealed the match. Bruce McGuire scored Balmain's second try late in the match although the outcome was already clear. The match ended on a sentimental note when Gould called the Bulldog's representative star, former captain and 271 game veteran, Steve Mortimer to the sideline. He was less than fully fit and had his arm heavily padded to protect the wrist he had broken early in the season. However Mortimer had been named as a fresh reserve as tribute to his previous club contributions and the match ended with him moving to dummy half and taking the ball up for the last time.
^. sydneycricketground.com.au. Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
^Paul Tait & Heather Smith (1 September 1988). "Cool Russell is ready to shoulder the burden for Sharks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax. p. 50. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
^"History of the Premiership". centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au. Australian Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
^Weidler, Danny (11 September 1988). "Minutes that mattered". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 3. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
^Coady, Ben (28 September 2009). . WA Today. Australia: Fairfax Digital. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
^D'Souza, Miguel. . wwos.ninemsn.com.au. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
External links
The World of Rugby League.
1988 J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup at rleague.com[dead link]
NSWRL season 1988 at rugbyleagueproject.com
January 07, 2023
1988, nswrl, season, 81st, season, professional, rugby, league, football, australia, first, expansion, south, wales, rugby, league, premiership, outside, borders, south, wales, another, expansion, outside, sydney, with, addition, three, teams, brisbane, bronco. The 1988 NSWRL season was the 81st season of professional rugby league football in Australia and saw the first expansion of the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership outside the borders of New South Wales and another expansion outside of Sydney with the addition of three new teams the Brisbane Broncos Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Tweed Giants The largest NSWRL premiership yet sixteen clubs competed during the 1988 season with the J J Giltinan Shield for minor premiers going to Cronulla Sutherland Sharks The finals culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and Balmain Tigers This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1988 Panasonic Cup 1988 New South Wales Rugby League premiershipTeams16PremiersCanterbury Bankstown 6th title Minor premiersCronulla Sutherland 1st title Matches played183Points scored6559Attendance1966658Top points scorer s Gary Belcher 218 Player of the yearBarry Russell Rothmans Medal Top try scorer s John Ferguson 20 19871989 Contents 1 Season summary 1 1 Teams 1 2 Advertising 2 Regular season 2 1 Ladder 2 2 Ladder progression 3 Finals 4 Chart 4 1 Grand final 5 Player statistics 6 1988 Transfers 6 1 Players 6 2 Coaches 7 References 8 External linksSeason summary Edit1988 was the year of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations and on 4 March the season opened with the first game of rugby league played at the newly built Sydney Football Stadium 1 The St George Dragons defeated the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 24 14 Easts and South Sydney would use the SFS as their home venue from 1988 This saw the end of both the Sydney Sports Ground which closed due to the building of the SFS and Redfern Oval as regular venues The brand new Brisbane Broncos club featuring Australian Kangaroos captain Wally Lewis and starting their first ever season of football played their first match against the previous season s premiers the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and won 44 10 Eventual grand finalists the Balmain Tigers had a dreadful start to the season with six wins and five losses by the end of the first full round But their plight was rescued by a masterstroke from their chief executive Keith Barnes The Great Britain side was touring Australia that season and in strict secrecy Barnes negotiated to have the English captain and centre Ellery Hanley judged the best player in the English competition the previous season and an undoubted world class player to join the Tigers Barnes got to the NSWRL to register Hanley at 4 55 pm on 30 June just five minutes inside the deadline for signing players for that season The 1988 season s Rothmans Medallist was Cronulla Sutherland s Barry Russell 2 The Dally M Award went to Russell s teammate Gavin Miller and Rugby League Week gave its player of the year award to Balmian s hooker Ben Elias Twenty two regular season rounds were played in total from March till August with Cronulla Sutherland winning their first ever minor premiership since joining the competition in 1967 Penrith and Balmain finished on equal points in fifth place and played each other for the place in the top five alongside Cronulla Canterbury Canberra and Manly Teams Edit This season saw the premiership s first expansion since 1982 with the addition of three newly created teams the Brisbane Broncos the Gold Coast Tweed Giants and the Newcastle Knights 3 This brought the League another step closer to becoming a national competition as a total of sixteen teams the largest number in the tournament s history contested the premiership including five Sydney based foundation teams another six from Sydney two from greater New South Wales two from Queensland and one from the Australian Capital Territory BalmainTigers 81st seasonGround Leichhardt Oval Coach Warren RyanCaptain Wayne Pearce BrisbaneBroncos 1st seasonGround Lang Park Coach Wayne BennettCaptain Wally Lewis CanberraRaiders 7th seasonGround Seiffert Oval Coach Tim SheensCaptain Dean Lance Canterbury BankstownBulldogs 54th seasonGround Belmore Oval Coach Phil GouldCaptain Peter TunksCronulla SutherlandSharks 22nd seasonGround Caltex Field Coach Allan FitzgibbonCaptain David Hatch Eastern SuburbsRoosters 81st seasonGround Sydney Football Stadium Coach Arthur BeetsonCaptain Hugh McGahan Gold Coast TweedGiants 1st seasonGround Seagulls Stadium Coach Bob McCarthyCaptain Billy Johnstone IllawarraSteelers 7th seasonGround Wollongong Stadium Coach Terry FearnleyCaptain Perry Haddock Paul UpfieldManly WarringahSea Eagles 42nd seasonGround Brookvale Oval Coach Bob FultonCaptain Paul Vautin NewcastleKnights 1st seasonGround Newcastle ISC Coach Allan McMahonCaptain Sam Stewart North SydneyBears 81st seasonGround North Sydney Oval Coach Frank StantonCaptain Mark Graham ParramattaEels 42nd seasonGround Parramatta Stadium Coach John MonieCaptain Peter SterlingPenrithPanthers 22nd seasonGround Penrith Stadium Coach Ron WilleyCaptain Royce Simmons South SydneyRabbitohs 81st seasonGround Sydney Football Stadium Coach George PigginsCaptain Mario Fenech St GeorgeDragons 68th seasonGround Belmore Sports Ground Coach Ted GlossopCaptain Craig Young Western SuburbsMagpies 81st seasonGround Orana Park Coach Laurie Freier John BaileyCaptain Ian SchubertAdvertising Edit 1988 saw the NSWRL move their advertising account from John Singleton Advertising to Hertz Walpole Advertising There was initially however no shift in the prior campaign direction For the second year running a visual and vocal performance by Australian rock journeyman John Swanee Swan was used Swanee recorded a purpose written jingle entitled The Greatest Game of All and a rock clip style ad was shot on a stage setting with smoke lights and fireworks The performance footage was interspersed with game action Five years later Swan s younger brother Jimmy Barnes would also feature in an NSWRL season advertisement performing alongside Tina Turner Regular season EditTeam 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 F1 F2 F3 F4 GFBalmain Tigers NOR 20 PAR 20 NEW 4 WES 3 MAN 2 PEN 10 BRI 8 STG 8 SOU 9 CBY 11 CRO 2 EAS 10 GCG 14 CAN 24 ILA 12 NOR 10 PAR 16 NEW 2 WES 6 MAN 4 PEN 2 BRI 10 PEN 20 MAN 13 CAN 8 CRO 7 CBY 12Brisbane Broncos MAN 34 PEN 2 WES 34 NOR 12 PAR 6 NEW 14 BAL 8 CRO 30 EAS 4 GCG 3 CAN 20 ILA 22 STG 4 SOU 12 CBY 15 MAN 18 PEN 2 WES 26 NOR 18 PAR 8 NEW 16 BAL 10Canberra Raiders ILA 20 STG 24 SOU 28 CBY 5 CRO 18 EAS 36 GCG 44 PAR 28 WES 14 NOR 8 BRI 20 PEN 6 MAN 6 BAL 24 NEW 18 ILA 9 STG 16 SOU 33 CBY 7 CRO 22 EAS 8 GCG 20 X CBY 1 BAL 8Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs GCG 11 CRO 4 EAS 4 CAN 5 ILA 6 STG 14 SOU 4 PEN 6 MAN 18 BAL 11 NEW 18 PAR 28 WES 25 NOR 12 BRI 15 GCG 15 CRO 8 EAS 15 CAN 7 ILA 6 STG 26 SOU 4 X CAN 1 CRO 18 X BAL 12Cronulla Sutherland Sharks SOU 1 CBY 4 GCG 1 EAS0 CAN 18 ILA 18 STG 16 BRI 30 PEN 22 MAN 14 BAL 2 NEW0 PAR 5 WES 36 NOR 4 SOU 2 CBY 8 GCG 20 EAS 18 CAN 22 ILA 8 STG 2 X X CBY 18 BAL 7Eastern Suburbs Roosters STG 10 SOU 2 CBY 4 CRO0 GCG 18 CAN 36 ILA 4 NOR0 BRI 4 PEN 22 MAN 4 BAL 10 NEW 16 PAR 4 WES0 STG 21 SOU 25 CBY 15 CRO 18 GCG 24 CAN 8 ILA 21Gold Coast Tweed Giants CBY 11 ILA0 CRO 1 STG 8 EAS 18 SOU 12 CAN 44 WES 20 NOR 4 BRI 3 PEN 35 MAN 28 BAL 14 NEW 9 PAR 3 CBY 15 ILA 15 CRO 20 STG 2 EAS 24 SOU0 CAN 20Illawarra Steelers CAN 20 GCG0 STG 16 SOU 13 CBY 6 CRO 18 EAS 4 NEW 8 PAR 22 WES 16 NOR 29 BRI 22 PEN 34 MAN 16 BAL 12 CAN 9 GCG 15 STG 2 SOU 2 CBY 6 CRO 8 EAS 21Manly Warringah Sea Eagles BRI 34 NOR 26 PAR 52 NEW 32 BAL 2 WES 20 PEN 22 SOU 14 CBY 18 CRO 14 EAS 4 GCG 28 CAN 6 ILA 16 STG 16 BRI 18 NOR 4 PAR 30 NEW 8 BAL 4 WES 3 PEN 14 X BAL 13Newcastle Knights PAR 24 WES 4 BAL 4 MAN 32 PEN 6 BRI 14 NOR 34 ILA 8 STG 12 SOU 7 CBY 18 CRO0 EAS 16 GCG 9 CAN 18 PAR 1 WES 10 BAL 2 MAN 8 PEN 11 BRI 16 NOR 32North Sydney Bears BAL 20 MAN 26 PEN 27 BRI 12 WES 7 PAR 4 NEW 34 EAS0 GCG 4 CAN 8 ILA 29 STG 8 SOU0 CBY 12 CRO 4 BAL 10 MAN 4 PEN 5 BRI 18 WES 4 PAR 6 NEW 32Parramatta Eels NEW 24 BAL 20 MAN 52 PEN 2 BRI 6 NOR 4 WES 2 CAN 28 ILA 22 STG 12 SOU 8 CBY 28 CRO 5 EAS 4 GCG 3 NEW 1 BAL 16 MAN 30 PEN 4 BRI 8 NOR 6 WES 4Penrith Panthers WES 20 BRI 2 NOR 27 PAR 2 NEW 6 BAL 10 MAN 22 CBY 6 CRO 22 EAS 22 GCG 35 CAN 6 ILA 34 STG 4 SOU 8 WES 12 BRI 2 NOR 5 PAR 4 NEW 11 BAL 2 MAN 14 BAL 20South Sydney Rabbitohs CRO 1 EAS 2 CAN 28 ILA 13 STG 32 GCG 12 CBY 4 MAN 14 BAL 9 NEW 7 PAR 8 WES 8 NOR0 BRI 12 PEN 8 CRO 2 EAS 25 CAN 33 ILA 2 STG 2 GCG0 CBY 4St George Dragons EAS 10 CAN 24 ILA 16 GCG 8 SOU 32 CBY 14 CRO 16 BAL 8 NEW 12 PAR 12 WES 2 NOR 8 BRI 4 PEN 4 MAN 16 EAS 21 CAN 16 ILA 2 GCG 2 SOU 2 CBY 26 CRO 2Western Suburbs Magpies PEN 20 NEW 4 BRI 34 BAL 3 NOR 7 MAN 20 PAR 2 GCG 20 CAN 14 ILA 16 STG 2 SOU 8 CBY 25 CRO 36 EAS0 PEN 12 NEW 10 BRI 26 BAL 6 NOR 4 MAN 3 PAR 4Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 F1 F2 F3 F4 GFBold Home game X Bye Opponent for round listed above margin Ladder Edit Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts1 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 22 16 2 4 507 330 177 342 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs P 22 16 0 6 412 268 144 323 Canberra Raiders 22 15 0 7 596 346 250 304 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 22 15 0 7 538 347 191 305 Penrith Panthers 22 15 0 7 394 258 136 306 Balmain Tigers 22 15 0 7 402 341 61 307 Brisbane Broncos 22 14 0 8 474 368 106 288 South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 12 2 8 425 383 42 249 North Sydney Bears 22 9 2 11 366 424 58 2010 St George Dragons 22 9 0 13 352 493 141 1811 Parramatta Eels 22 8 0 14 359 412 53 1612 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 22 6 3 13 387 443 56 1513 Illawarra Steelers 22 6 1 15 353 510 157 1314 Newcastle Knights 22 5 1 16 270 460 190 1115 Gold Coast Giants 22 4 2 16 238 484 246 1016 Western Suburbs Magpies 22 4 1 17 287 493 206 9South Sydney were stripped of 2 competition points due to an illegal replacement in one game Ladder progression Edit 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 Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 221 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 0 0 2 3 3 5 7 9 11 11 13 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 342 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 2 4 6 8 8 10 12 14 14 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 24 26 28 30 32 323 Canberra Raiders 2 4 6 6 8 10 12 12 14 14 16 16 16 18 20 22 24 26 26 26 28 304 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 0 2 4 6 6 8 8 8 10 12 12 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 26 28 28 305 Penrith Panthers 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 12 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 24 26 28 30 30 306 Balmain Tigers 2 2 2 4 6 6 8 10 10 12 12 14 16 16 18 20 22 24 26 26 28 307 Brisbane Broncos 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 12 14 14 14 16 18 18 18 20 22 24 26 26 28 288 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 12 12 12 12 14 15 17 17 17 19 19 21 21 22 249 North Sydney Bears 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 7 9 11 13 13 14 16 16 16 16 16 16 18 20 2010 St George Dragons 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 6 8 10 12 12 12 12 12 12 14 16 18 18 1811 Parramatta Eels 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 8 8 10 10 10 12 12 12 12 12 12 14 14 1612 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 0 0 0 1 3 3 3 4 4 6 8 8 10 10 11 13 13 13 13 15 15 1513 Illawarra Steelers 0 1 3 3 5 5 7 9 9 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1314 Newcastle Knights 0 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 1115 Gold Coast Tweed Giants 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 5 7 7 9 9 9 9 10 1016 Western Suburbs Magpies 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 7 7 7 9 9Finals EditBalmain had staged a gripping charge for the final five winning nine of their last eleven games including five in a row to leave them in equal fifth spot with the Penrith Panthers at the regular season s end They then won four sudden death finals to make it to the Grand final Home Score Away Match InformationDate and Time Venue Referee CrowdPlayoff Penrith Panthers 8 28 Balmain Tigers 16 August 1988 Parramatta Stadium Mick Stone 14 206Qualifying Finals Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 6 19 Balmain Tigers 20 August 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Mick Stone 25 327 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 19 18 Canberra Raiders 21 August 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Graham Annesley 19 259Semi finals Canberra Raiders 6 14 Balmain Tigers 27 August 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Mick Stone 28 879 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 8 26 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 28 August 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Graham Annesley 31 684Preliminary final Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 2 9 Balmain Tigers 4 September 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Mick Stone 34 848Grand final Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 24 12 Balmain Tigers 11 September 1988 Sydney Football Stadium Mick Stone 40 000Chart EditQualifying finalMajor semi finalPreliminary finalGrand final1 Cronulla Sutherland82 Canterbury242 Canterbury265 Balmain122 Canterbury191 Cronulla Sutherland23 Canberra18Minor semi final5 Balmain93 Canberra64 Manly65 Balmain145 Balmain19Grand final Edit Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Position Balmain TigersJason Alchin FB Garry JackGlen Nissen WG Russell GartnerTony Currie CE Ellery HanleyAndrew Farrar CE Michael PobjieRobin Thorne WG Ross ConlonTerry Lamb FE Mick NeilMichael Hagan HB Gary FreemanPaul Dunn PR Bruce McGuireJoe Thomas HK Benny EliasPeter Tunks c PR Kerry HemsleyDavid Gillespie SR Paul SironenSteve Folkes SR David BrooksPaul Langmack LK Wayne Pearce c Steve Mortimer Bench Kevin HardwickBrandon Lee Bench Steve EdmedDarren McCarthy Bench Scott GaleMark Bugden BenchPhil Gould Coach Warren RyanThis was the first grand final not to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground Following Balmain s extraordinary late season run in winning thirteen of fifteen games the stage was set for a grand final of great appeal 1980s master coach Warren Ryan of Balmain was up against the club he had coached for four years to three grand finals and two premierships as well as being matched against the man who had replaced him at Canterbury Phil Gould It was master against pupil At just 30 years of age Gould was vying not only to become the youngest coach to win a grand final but the first since Balmain s Leo Nosworthy in 1969 to steer a team to premiership victory in his first season coaching the top grade The Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs faced the Balmain Tigers on 11 September 1988 in the first grand final played at the Sydney Football Stadium and the last game for Steve Mortimer The match was played early so that Channel Ten could broadcast the 1988 Seoul Olympics The Australian national anthem was performed by Glenn Shorrock After five minutes Peter Tunks was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for treading on Ben Elias The first points of the match were scored shortly after from Terry Lamb s successful penalty kick Another penalty kick from Lamb put the Bulldogs in front 4 nil However Balmain grabbed the first try an Elias put up a bomb and was first to the ball ahead of Bulldog Jason Alchin Conlon s conversion from in front gave the Tigers the lead for first time at 6 4 4 A highly controversial tackle by Terry Lamb put Balmain s in form British import Ellery Hanley out of the game before the 30 minute mark had been reached 5 Hanley staggered off heavily concussed with the score at 6 4 Under the rules of the time Hanley was allowed 10 minutes to recover in the head bin If he could not return he would need to be replaced He returned just before half time and stood out of sorts on the wing The Bulldogs then ran in a 70 metre try from broken play and went to the break with a lead of 10 8 Hanley did not return after half time and the Bulldogs started to dominate A great Canterbury team try to Michael Hagan sealed the match Bruce McGuire scored Balmain s second try late in the match although the outcome was already clear The match ended on a sentimental note when Gould called the Bulldog s representative star former captain and 271 game veteran Steve Mortimer to the sideline He was less than fully fit and had his arm heavily padded to protect the wrist he had broken early in the season However Mortimer had been named as a fresh reserve as tribute to his previous club contributions and the match ended with him moving to dummy half and taking the ball up for the last time Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 24Tries Nissen Hagan Gillespie LambGoals Lamb 4Balmain Tigers 12Tries Elias McGuireGoals Conlon 2Clive Churchill Medal Paul Dunn Canterbury 6 Player statistics EditThe following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22 Top 5 point scorers Points Player Tries Goals Field goals210 Gary Belcher 10 85 0196 Michael O Connor 17 64 0164 Ricky Walford 15 52 0161 Alan Wilson 7 66 1155 David Smith 7 63 1Top 5 try scorers Tries Player19 John Ferguson17 Andrew Ettingshausen17 Michael O Connor15 Wally Lewis15 Ricky Walford Top 5 goal scorers Goals Player85 Gary Belcher66 Alan Wilson66 Mark Ellison64 Michael O Connor64 Ross Conlon1988 Transfers EditPlayers Edit Player 1987 Club 1988 ClubGavin Hanrahan Balmain Tigers Newcastle KnightsPhil Sigsworth Balmain Tigers RetirementTerry Fahey Canberra Raiders RetirementJay Hoffman Canberra Raiders RetirementTerry Regan Canberra Raiders Hull F C David Boyd Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Newcastle KnightsGlen Frendo Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Newcastle KnightsPat Jarvis Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Eastern Suburbs RoostersPeter Kelly Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Penrith PanthersChris Mortimer Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Penrith PanthersPeter Mortimer Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Hull Kingston RoversPhil Hurst Cronulla Sutherland Sharks Canberra RaidersJim Leis Cronulla Sutherland Sharks RetirementBrian Battese Eastern Suburbs Roosters Canberra RaidersKevin Hastings Eastern Suburbs Roosters RetirementGlen Leggett Eastern Suburbs Roosters Illawarra SteelersTerry Matterson Eastern Suburbs Roosters Brisbane BroncosGary Prohm Eastern Suburbs Roosters RetirementTony Rampling Eastern Suburbs Roosters Gold Coast Tweed GiantsRobert Simpkins Eastern Suburbs Roosters Gold Coast Tweed GiantsBrad Tessmann Eastern Suburbs Roosters Brisbane BroncosJohn Tobin Eastern Suburbs Roosters RetirementGraeme Bradley Illawarra Steelers Penrith PanthersChris Close Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Gold Coast Tweed GiantsMitchell Cox Manly Warringah Sea Eagles RetirementRon Gibbs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Gold Coast Tweed GiantsMarty Gurr Manly Warringah Sea Eagles LeedsMartin Meredith Manly Warringah Sea Eagles HalifaxSimon Brockwell North Sydney Bears RetirementOlsen Filipaina North Sydney Bears RetirementPaul McCaffery North Sydney Bears Hull F C Don McKinnon North Sydney Bears Manly Warringah Sea EaglesGraeme Atkins Parramatta Eels RetirementMichael Eden Parramatta Eels Gold Coast Tweed GiantsErnie Garland Parramatta Eels Western Suburbs MagpiesNeil Hunt Parramatta Eels Gold Coast Tweed GiantsStan Jurd Parramatta Eels RetirementKen Wolffe Parramatta Eels RetirementDarryl Brohman Penrith Panthers RetirementTony Butterfield Penrith Panthers Newcastle KnightsWarren Fenton Penrith Panthers RetirementBen Gonzales Penrith Panthers Gold Coast Tweed GiantsChris Houghton Penrith Panthers Canberra RaidersCraig Izzard Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsBrandon Lee Penrith Panthers Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsDavid Liddiard Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsGlenn Miller Penrith Panthers Newcastle KnightsMark Robinson Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsJoe Vitanza Penrith Panthers Gold Coast Tweed GiantsNeil Baker South Sydney Rabbitohs Penrith PanthersMichael Pobjie South Sydney Rabbitohs Balmain TigersMark Ross South Sydney Rabbitohs Gold Coast Tweed GiantsGlenn Burgess St George Dragons Gold Coast Tweed GiantsBronko Djura St George Dragons South Sydney RabbitohsMarc Glanville St George Dragons Newcastle KnightsChris Johns St George Dragons Brisbane BroncosBilly Johnstone St George Dragons Gold Coast Tweed GiantsBilly Noke St George Dragons Brisbane BroncosBrian Quinton St George Dragons Newcastle KnightsTony Townsend St George Dragons Newcastle KnightsJohn Bilbija Western Suburbs Magpies South Sydney RabbitohsBrett Clark Western Suburbs Magpies St George DragonsJohn Elias Western Suburbs Magpies Eastern Suburbs RoostersCraig Ellis Western Suburbs Magpies RetirementPaul Sheahan Western Suburbs Magpies Gold Coast Tweed GiantsGary Webster Western Suburbs Magpies RetirementLes White Western Suburbs Magpies South Sydney RabbitohsGrant Rix Fortitude Valley Diehards BRL Brisbane BroncosAllan Langer Ipswich Jets BRL Brisbane BroncosKerrod Walters Ipswich Jets BRL Brisbane BroncosGeoff Bagnall Norths Devils BRL Gold Coast Tweed GiantsGreg Dowling Norths Devils BRL Brisbane BroncosTrevor Bailey Past Brothers BRL St George DragonsPeter Gill Past Brothers BRL St George DragonsJoe Kilroy Past Brothers BRL Brisbane BroncosClinton Mohr Past Brothers BRL St George DragonsGary Smith Past Brothers BRL North Sydney BearsGreg Conescu Redcliffe Dolphins BRL Brisbane BroncosJeff Doyle Redcliffe Dolphins BRL Newcastle KnightsBryan Niebling Redcliffe Dolphins BRL Brisbane BroncosWally Lewis Wynnum Manly Seagulls BRL Brisbane BroncosGene Miles Wynnum Manly Seagulls BRL Brisbane BroncosColin Scott Wynnum Manly Seagulls BRL Brisbane BroncosBrett Atkins Castleford Parramatta EelsNeil James Halifax Gold Coast Tweed GiantsKerry Boustead Hull Kingston Rovers North Sydney BearsMark Hohn Hunslet Brisbane BroncosPeter Smith Leeds Gold Coast Tweed GiantsGary Bridge Oldham Eastern Suburbs RoostersSteve Halliwell Wakefield Trinity Gold Coast Tweed GiantsPaul Bishop Warrington Cronulla Sutherland SharksJoe Ropati Warrington Manly Warringah Sea EaglesEllery Hanley Wigan Balmain TigersAdrian Shelford Wigan Newcastle KnightsTony Kemp Doncaster Newcastle KnightsCoaches Edit Coach 1987 Club 1988 ClubWayne Bennett Canberra Raiders Brisbane BroncosWarren Ryan Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Balmain TigersTim Sheens Penrith Panthers Canberra RaidersReferences Edit Sydney Football Stadium Magic Moments sydneycricketground com au Sydney Cricket amp Sports Ground Trust Archived from the original on 16 August 2007 Retrieved 2 September 2009 Paul Tait amp Heather Smith 1 September 1988 Cool Russell is ready to shoulder the burden for Sharks The Sydney Morning Herald Australia Fairfax p 50 Retrieved 6 May 2010 History of the Premiership centenaryofrugbyleague com au Australian Rugby League Archived from the original on 21 October 2013 Retrieved 21 October 2013 Weidler Danny 11 September 1988 Minutes that mattered The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Digital p 3 Retrieved 6 October 2009 Coady Ben 28 September 2009 Grand final dramas WA Today Australia Fairfax Digital Archived from the original on 4 October 2018 Retrieved 15 January 2010 D Souza Miguel Grand Final History wwos ninemsn com au Australian Associated Press Archived from the original on 19 August 2014 Retrieved 8 September 2013 External links EditRugby League Tables Season 1988 The World of Rugby League 1988 J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup at rleague com dead link Results 1981 90 at rabbitohs com au NSWRL season 1988 at rugbyleagueproject com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1988 NSWRL season amp oldid 1129847933, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
