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2003 NRL season

The 2003 NRL premiership was the 96th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the sixth run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen teams competed, with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles returning in place of their failed joint-venture club, the Northern Eagles. Ultimately, the Penrith Panthers defeated reigning champions, the Sydney Roosters in the 2003 NRL grand final, claiming their first premiership since 1991.

2003 National Rugby League
Teams15
Premiers Penrith (2nd title)
Minor premiers Penrith (2nd title)
Matches played189
Points scored8993
Average attendance15,689
Attendance2,965,141
Top points scorer(s) Hazem El Masri (294)
Top try-scorer(s) Rhys Wesser (25)
← 2002
2004 →

Season summary edit

Season 2003 brought in the new "golden point" extra time rule, where after 80 minutes, if the game was drawn, then 10 minutes of extra time was played until one team scored the winning point(s). The salary cap for the 2003 season was A$3.25 million per club for their 25 highest-paid players.[1]

The first round of the Premiership improved on the previous year's in terms of attendance and television ratings.[2] The major story this season was the resurgence of the Penrith Panthers, who defied the critics and naysayers to win their second premiership in their illustrious history since joining the competition in 1967. Coached by John Lang and captained by Craig Gower, the Panthers were the surprise minor premiers, dominating the competition despite consistent disparagement from many sources, and would continue their outstanding form in the finals, beating the Broncos, Warriors and finally the Roosters in the grand final.

The Dally M Medal ceremony was cancelled by the NRL after negotiations with the players' union, the Rugby League Professionals Association, stalled. All votes for the award were destroyed. It was later revealed that with one round of the regular season to play, Craig Gower was leading both Brad Fittler and Clinton Schifcofske by one point in the overall points tally. However, with the ceremony officially cancelled more than a week out from the awards, no points were allocated in the final round of the season.[3]

At the end of the season, Chris Anderson would lose his job at Cronulla-Sutherland, while Peter Sharp was dismissed as the Sea Eagles coach. Trainer and former Manly star, Des Hasler would replace Sharp as head coach in 2004.

Also at the end of the season, a squad of players from the NRL premiership went on the 2003 Kangaroo tour.

A major flaw of the fixture was that the previous season's Grand Finalists, the New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters, did not meet until the penultimate round of the regular season.[4]

Teams edit

The lineup of fifteen teams for the 2003 premiership remained unchanged from the previous season, except that the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rejoined the competition since their merger with North Sydney Bears in 1999, taking the place of the failed Northern Eagles. This ended North Sydney's representation in the League.

Brisbane Broncos
16th season
Ground: Suncorp Stadium
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Gorden Tallis
Bulldogs
69th season
Ground: Sydney Showground & Telstra Stadium
Coach: Steve Folkes
Captain: Steve Price
Canberra Raiders
22nd season
Ground: Canberra Stadium
Coach: Matthew Elliott
Captain: Simon Woolford
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
37th season
Ground: Toyota Stadium
Coach: Chris Anderson
Captain: Brett Kimmorley
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
54th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Peter Sharp
Captain: Steve Menzies
Melbourne Storm
6th season
Ground: Olympic Park
Coach: Craig Bellamy
Captain: Stephen Kearney
New Zealand Warriors
9th season
Ground: Ericsson Stadium
Coach: Daniel Anderson
Captain: Stacey Jones
Newcastle Knights
16th season
Ground: EnergyAustralia Stadium
Coach: Michael Hagan
Captain: Andrew Johns
North Queensland Cowboys
9th season
Ground: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Coach: Graham Murray
Captain: Paul Bowman
Parramatta Eels
57th season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium
Coach: Brian Smith
Captain: Nathan Cayless
Penrith Panthers
37th season
Ground: CUA Stadium
Coach: John Lang
Captain: Craig Gower
South Sydney Rabbitohs
94th season
Ground: Aussie Stadium
Coach: Paul Langmack
Captain: Bryan Fletcher
St. George Illawarra Dragons
5th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval & WIN Stadium
Coach: Nathan Brown
Captain: Trent Barrett
Sydney Roosters
96th season
Ground: Aussie Stadium
Coach: Ricky Stuart
Captain: Brad Fittler
Wests Tigers
4th season
Ground: Campbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Darren Senter

Records and statistics edit

  • Anthony Minichiello ran 4,571 metres with the ball in 2003, more than any other player in the competition.[5]
  • Nathan Brown became the youngest non-playing coach in premiership history at the age of 29.[6] Brown had retired from playing in 2001 after a neck injury in a trial game.
  • Referee Bill Harrigan's tenth grand final in 2003, the final match of his career, stands as the record for the most grand finals officiated by a referee.
  • On 23 August the Parramatta Eels beat the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 74–4, at the time the third highest winning margin for a club game in Australian rugby league history.
  • Also on 23 August, the North Queensland Cowboys beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 60–8, at the time the biggest win and most points in a match in Cowboys history.
  • The Brisbane Broncos set a record for their longest losing streak, from round 20 to the 4th qualifying final. This was equalled again from round 22, 2005 to round 1, 2006 inclusive, and then broken when the club lost thirteen consecutive matches between round 10, 2020 and round 2, 2021 inclusive.
  • The Penrith Panthers became the first team to win the minor premiership and hold bottom spot on the ladder in the same season.
  • The Penrith Panthers won 8 matches in a row from 19 April - 7 June, most wins in a row in the club's history. This was broken in season 2020, when the club won seventeen consecutive matches between round six and the preliminary final inclusive.
  • The Bulldogs equalled their worst defeat with a 50–4 loss to the Melbourne Storm in round 22.
  • The Brisbane Broncos suffered their worst ever defeat at Suncorp Stadium, losing to the Bulldogs 40–4 in round 18. This was later eclipsed by a 56–18 loss to the New Zealand Warriors in round 12, 2013, and then again with a 59–0 loss to the Sydney Roosters in round 4, 2020. They also only recorded one victory at the Stadium in season 2003, which came two weeks earlier with a 10–8 win over the Sydney Roosters (who, at that time had not won at Suncorp since 1991, however this drought ended in 2005).

Advertising edit

In 2003 the NRL sacked their advertising agency of the previous two years, Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, and took the unusual step of coming up with their own in-house creative concept. Former Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks player and then current Parramatta Eels assistant coach Alan Wilson hit upon the idea of using the Hoodoo Gurus' 1987 hit "What's My Scene?" with reworked lyrics as "That's My Team".

"and another thing, I'm discovering lately, I'm a bit crazy, for my rugby league team "

Wilson is a friend of Hoodoo Gurus singer Dave Faulkner and made the necessary arrangements which included re-uniting the band to re-record the track. Faulkner is a long-time supporter of the Sharks and the original film clip of "What's My Scene?" had included shots of band members in Wests and Cronulla-Sutherland jumpers.

The ad focuses on the grass roots supporters at all levels of the game and in its finished version includes shots of fans from the Cessnock Goannas, a proud Bulldogs supporter and a Penrith teenager with a broken leg signed by her heroes. These images are included with the usual fare of pre-season team training images, big-hits, clever passes and post-try celebrations.[7]

To produce the ad the League returned to the agency who created and produced the Tina Turner campaigns from 1989 to 1995 - Hertz Walpole Advertising by now renamed MJW Hakuhodo.

Regular season edit

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 F1 F2 F3 GF
Brisbane Broncos PEN
+4
SOU
+2
CRO
+26
NQL
+8
NZL
−20
SYD
−7
PAR
+6
WTI
+32
NQL
+26
MEL
+20
CBY
+24
NEW
−10
X CAN
+4
X SYD
+2
SGI
−16
CBY
−36
MEL
+4*
MAN
−6
CRO
−10
PEN
−7
WTI
−2
NZL
−8
PAR
−2
SGI
−1
PEN
−10
Canberra Raiders NQL
+32
WTI
+7
SGI
+4
PEN
+12
PAR
+14
X CBY
+4
SOU
+22
MEL
−20
PEN
−8
NZL
+8
CRO
+6
PAR
+36
BRI
−4
NZL
−8
X MEL
−10
SGI
+1
WTI
+2
CRO
+28
SYD
−4
MAN
+35
NQL
−6
NEW
+8
CBY
+5
SYD
−7
MEL
−12
NZL
−1
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs SOU
+8
NZL
−4
WTI
+32
PAR
+20
NEW
−6
SGI
−10
CAN
−4
NZL
+6
SYD
+6
SGI
+2
BRI
−24
WTI
−6
SYD
+10
MAN
+14
MEL
+14
PEN
−2
NEW
+34
BRI
+36
X NQL
+20
SOU
+50
MEL
+46
MAN
+32
X CAN
−5
CRO
+14
NZL
−26
MEL
+30
SYD
−10
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks MEL
−4
X BRI
−26
SYD
−20
MEL
−6
NEW
−8
X SGI
−16
MAN
+24
SOU
+16
NEW
+6
CAN
−6
NZL
−17
WTI
+2
MAN
−18
NQL
+6
PEN
−20
WTI
−32
NZL
−7
CAN
−28
BRI
+10
SYD
−8
SGI
+9
PAR
−70
SOU
+20
CBY
−14
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles X NQL
−10
NZL
−4
WTI
−26
SGI
+26
MEL
+6
SOU
+8
PEN
−1
CRO
−24
PAR
+2*
NQL
−11
X WTI
+8
CBY
−14
CRO
+18
SGI
−14
PAR
−11
NZL
−8
SYD
−24
BRI
+6
NEW
−8
CAN
−35
CBY
−32
SYD
−30
PEN
−26
MEL
−30
Melbourne Storm CRO
+4
PEN
+26
X NEW
−16
CRO
+6
MAN
−6
NQL
−20
NEW
+40
CAN
+20
BRI
−20
PAR
+2
SYD
−7
SOU
−27
PEN
+20
CBY
−14
WTI
+8
CAN
+10
NQL
+6
BRI
−4*
SOU
+18
NZL
+2
CBY
−46
PAR
+38
SGI
+8
X MAN
+30
CAN
+12
CBY
−30
Newcastle Knights NZL
+10
SYD
−4
PAR
−18
MEL
+16
CBY
+6
CRO
+8
WTI
+28
MEL
−40
SOU
+14
SYD
−22
CRO
−6
BRI
+10
X SGI
+2
PEN
−28
PAR
+14
CBY
−34
X PEN
−13
WTI
−40
MAN
+8
NQL
+36
NZL
+16
CAN
−8
SGI
+34
NQL
+8
SYD
−28
New Zealand Warriors NEW
−10
CBY
+4
MAN
+4
SOU
+22
BRI
+20
NQL
+6
PEN
−14
CBY
−6
PAR
+2
X CAN
−8
PEN
−22
CRO
+17
PAR
−2
CAN
+8
SOU
+1*
NQL
−20
MAN
+8
CRO
+7
X MEL
−2
SGI
+10
NEW
−16
BRI
+8
SYD
+2
WTI
+16
CBY
+26
CAN
+1
PEN
−8
North Queensland Cowboys CAN
−32
MAN
+10
SOU
+7
BRI
−8
SYD
−32
NZL
−6
MEL
+20
X BRI
−26
WTI
+18
MAN
+11
SGI
+20
PEN
−4*
SYD
−1
PAR
−2
CRO
−6
NZL
+20
MEL
−6
SGI
−20
CBY
−20
X NEW
−36
CAN
+6
SOU
+52
WTI
+20
NEW
−8
Parramatta Eels SYD
−18
SGI
−2
NEW
+18
CBY
−20
CAN
−14
WTI
+20
BRI
−6
SYD
−32
NZL
−2
MAN
−2*
MEL
−2
SOU
+24
CAN
−36
NZL
+2
NQL
+2
NEW
−14
MAN
+11
X SOU
+14
SGI
+26
WTI
+3
X MEL
−38
CRO
+70
BRI
+2
PEN
−18
Penrith Panthers BRI
−4
MEL
−26
SYD
+1
CAN
−12
X SOU
+2
NZL
+14
MAN
+1
SGI
+4
CAN
+8
WTI
+22
NZL
+22
NQL
+4*
MEL
−20
NEW
+28
CBY
+2
CRO
+20
SOU
+6
NEW
+13
SYD
−14
SGI
−6
BRI
+7
X WTI
+16
MAN
+26
PAR
+18
BRI
+10
X NZL
+8
SYD
+12
South Sydney Rabbitohs CBY
−8
BRI
−2
NQL
−7
NZL
−22
WTI
+10
PEN
−2
MAN
−8
CAN
−22
NEW
−14
CRO
−16
SGI
−2
PAR
−24
MEL
+27
X SGI
−14
NZL
−1*
SYD
−28
PEN
−6
PAR
−14
MEL
−18
CBY
−50
WTI
+2
SYD
−10
NQL
−52
CRO
−20
X
St. George Illawarra Dragons WTI
−4
PAR
+2
CAN
−4
X MAN
−26
CBY
+10
SYD
+4
CRO
+16
PEN
−4
CBY
−2
SOU
+2
NQL
−20
X NEW
−2
SOU
+14
MAN
+14
BRI
+16
CAN
−1
NQL
+20
PAR
−26
PEN
+6
NZL
−10
CRO
−9
MEL
−8
NEW
−34
BRI
+1
Sydney Roosters PAR
+18
NEW
+4
PEN
−1
CRO
+20
NQL
+32
BRI
+7
SGI
−4
PAR
+32
CBY
−6
NEW
+22
X MEL
+7
CBY
−10
NQL
+1
WTI
−8
BRI
−2
SOU
+28
X MAN
+24
PEN
+14
CAN
+4
CRO
+8
SOU
+10
MAN
+30
NZL
−2
CAN
+7
NEW
+28
X CBY
+10
PEN
−12
Wests Tigers SGI
+4
CAN
−7
CBY
−32
MAN
+26
SOU
−10
PAR
−20
NEW
−28
BRI
−32
X NQL
−18
PEN
−22
CBY
+6
MAN
−8
CRO
−2
SYD
+8
MEL
−8
X CRO
+32
CAN
−2
NEW
+40
PAR
−3
SOU
−2
BRI
+2
PEN
−16
NQL
−20
NZL
−16
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 F1 F2 F3 GF

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

Ladder edit

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Penrith Panthers (P) 24 18 0 6 2 659 527 +132 40
2   Sydney Roosters 24 17 0 7 2 680 445 +235 38
3   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 16 0 8 2 702 419 +283 36
4   Canberra Raiders 24 16 0 8 2 620 463 +157 36
5   Melbourne Storm 24 15 0 9 2 564 486 +78 34
6   New Zealand Warriors 24 15 0 9 2 545 510 +35 34
7   Newcastle Knights 24 14 0 10 2 632 635 -3 32
8   Brisbane Broncos 24 12 0 12 2 497 464 +33 28
9   Parramatta Eels 24 11 0 13 2 570 582 -12 26
10   St George Illawarra Dragons 24 11 0 13 2 548 593 -45 26
11   North Queensland Cowboys 24 10 0 14 2 606 629 -23 24
12   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 8 0 16 2 497 704 -207 20
13   Wests Tigers 24 7 0 17 2 470 598 -128 18
14   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 7 0 17 2 557 791 -234 18
15   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 3 0 21 2 457 758 -301 10

Ladder progression edit

  • 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
  • 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 24 25 26
1   Penrith 0 0 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 26 28 30 30 30 32 34 36 38 40
2   Sydney 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 20 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 36 38
3   Bulldogs 2 4 4 6 6 6 6 8 10 12 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 34 36
4   Canberra 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 16 16 18 20 22 22 22 24 24 26 28 30 30 32 32 34 36 36
5   Melbourne 2 4 6 6 8 8 8 10 12 12 14 14 14 16 16 18 20 22 22 24 26 26 28 30 32 34
6   New Zealand 0 2 4 6 8 10 10 10 12 14 14 14 16 16 18 20 20 22 24 26 26 28 28 30 32 34
7   Newcastle 2 2 2 4 6 8 10 10 12 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 20 22 22 22 24 26 28 28 30 32
8   Brisbane 2 4 6 8 8 8 10 12 14 16 18 18 20 22 24 26 26 26 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28
9   Parramatta 0 0 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 8 10 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 22 24 26 26
10   St George Illawarra 0 2 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 10 12 12 14 14 16 18 20 20 22 22 24 24 24 24 24 26
11   North Queensland 0 2 4 4 4 4 6 8 8 10 12 14 14 14 14 14 16 16 16 16 18 18 20 22 24 24
12   Cronulla-Sutherland 0 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 10 12 12 14 14 14 14 14 16 16 18 18 20 20
13   Wests 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 8 8 8 10 10 12 14 14 16 16 16 18 18 18 18
14   Manly-Warringah 2 2 2 2 4 6 8 8 8 10 10 12 14 14 16 16 16 16 16 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
15   South Sydney 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 10


Finals series edit

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Crowd
Qualifying Finals
  Canberra Raiders 18 – 30   Melbourne Storm 12 September 2003 Canberra Stadium Tim Mander 14,094
  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22 – 48   New Zealand Warriors 13 September 2003 Sydney Showground Bill Harrigan 18,312
  Sydney Roosters 36 – 8   Newcastle Knights 13 September 2003 Aussie Stadium Sean Hampstead 23,853
  Penrith Panthers 28 – 18   Brisbane Broncos 14 September 2003 Penrith Football Stadium Steve Clark 18,534
Semi-finals
  New Zealand Warriors 17 – 16   Canberra Raiders 20 September 2003 Aussie Stadium Tim Mander 31,616
  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30 – 0   Melbourne Storm 21 September 2003 Aussie Stadium Bill Harrigan 19,367
Preliminary Finals
  Sydney Roosters 28 – 18   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 27 September 2003 Aussie Stadium Bill Harrigan 41,123
  Penrith Panthers 28 – 20   New Zealand Warriors 28 September 2003 Telstra Stadium Tim Mander 43,174

Finals Chart edit

Qualifying finalsSemifinalsPreliminary finalsFinal
1  Penrith28
8  Brisbane181W  Penrith28
4W  New Zealand17  New Zealand20
2  Sydney362L  Canberra16
  Penrith18
7  Newcastle8
  Sydney6
3  Canterbury222W  Sydney28
6  New Zealand483W  Melbourne0  Canterbury18
1L  Canterbury30
4  Canberra18
5  Melbourne30

Grand Final edit

2003 NRL Grand Final
Sunday, 5 October
19:05 AEST (UTC+10)
Penrith Panthers   18 – 6   Sydney Roosters
Tries: 3
Rooney   31'73'
Priddis   66'
Goals: 3
Campbell   66', 74' (2/2)
Girdler   32' (1/1)
Field goals:
Gower (0/1)
1st: 6–0
2nd: 12–6
Report[8]
Tries: 1
Hegarty   48'
Goals: 1
Fitzgibbon   50' (1/1)
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 81,166[9]
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Touch judges: Steve Carrall, Glyn Henderson
Clive Churchill Medal: Luke Priddis (Penrith)


Player statistics edit

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 26.

2003 Transfers edit

Players edit

Player 2002 Club 2003 Club
Ashley Harrison   Brisbane Broncos   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Allan Langer   Brisbane Broncos Retirement
Lote Tuqiri   Brisbane Broncos New South Wales Waratahs (Super 12)
Shane Walker   Brisbane Broncos   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Brett Finch   Canberra Raiders   Sydney Roosters
Ken Nagas   Canberra Raiders Retirement
Todd Payten   Canberra Raiders   Sydney Roosters
Brett Howland   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs   Penrith Panthers
Paul Rauhihi   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs   North Queensland Cowboys
Darren Smith   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs   Super League: St. Helens
Nathan Sologinkin   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs   Melbourne Storm
Darrell Trindall   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement
Colin Best   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks   Super League: Hull F.C.
Preston Campbell   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks   Penrith Panthers
Nick Graham   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks   Super League: Wigan Warriors
Matthew Johns   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement
Karl Lovell   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement
Chris McKenna   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks   Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Paul Mellor   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks   Super League: Castleford Tigers
Andrew Pierce   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement
Dean Treister   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks   Super League: Hull F.C.
William Leyshon   Melbourne Storm   Parramatta Eels
Henry Perenara   Melbourne Storm   St. George Illawarra Dragons
Matt Rua   Melbourne Storm N/A
Ian Sibbit   Melbourne Storm   Super League: Warrington Wolves
Richard Swain   Melbourne Storm   Brisbane Broncos
Julian Bailey   Newcastle Knights   Super League: Huddersfield Giants
John Morris   Newcastle Knights   Parramatta Eels
Clinton O'Brien   Newcastle Knights   Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Bill Peden   Newcastle Knights   Super League: London Broncos
Kevin Campion   New Zealand Warriors   North Queensland Cowboys
Ivan Cleary   New Zealand Warriors Retirement
Shontayne Hape   New Zealand Warriors   Super League: Bradford Bulls
David Myles   New Zealand Warriors   North Queensland Cowboys
Tim Brasher   North Queensland Cowboys Bath (English rugby union)
John Doyle   North Queensland Cowboys N/A
Peter Jones   North Queensland Cowboys Retirement
Tim Maddison   North Queensland Cowboys   Newcastle Knights
Ken McGuinness   North Queensland Cowboys Retirement
Lenny Beckett   Northern Eagles ACT Brumbies (Super 12)
Shayne Dunley   Northern Eagles   Parramatta Eels
Jason Ferris   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Wade Forrester   Northern Eagles Retirement
Jamie Goddard   Northern Eagles Retirement
John Hopoate   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Nik Kosef   Northern Eagles Retirement
Tasesa Lavea   Northern Eagles Auckland (New Zealand rugby union)
Danny Lima   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Nathan Long   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Ben MacDougall   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Steve Menzies   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Robert Miles   Northern Eagles   Wests Tigers
Scott Pethybridge   Northern Eagles Retirement
Brendon Reeves   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Mark Shipway   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Albert Torrens   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
David Westley   Northern Eagles Retirement
Luke Williamson   Northern Eagles   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Michael Buettner   Parramatta Eels   Wests Tigers
Scott Donald   Parramatta Eels   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Brad Drew   Parramatta Eels   Canberra Raiders
Ian Hindmarsh   Parramatta Eels   Canberra Raiders
Ben Kusto   Parramatta Eels Retirement
Andrew McFadden   Parramatta Eels   Melbourne Storm
Andrew Ryan   Parramatta Eels   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Ned Catic   Penrith Panthers   Sydney Roosters
John Cross   Penrith Panthers   St. George Illawarra Dragons
Jody Gall   Penrith Panthers Retirement
Lee Hopkins   Penrith Panthers   Parramatta Eels
Justin Brooker   South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Chris Caruana   South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Anthony Colella   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Glenn Grief   South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Brent Grose   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Super League: Warrington Wolves
Andrew King   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Super League: London Broncos
Paul McNicholas   South Sydney Rabbitohs   North Queensland Cowboys
Adam Muir   South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Adam Peek   South Sydney Rabbitohs   Parramatta Eels
Luke Felsch   St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement
Lee Hookey   St. George Illawarra Dragons   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Jason Hooper   St. George Illawarra Dragons   Super League: St. Helens
Shane Millard   St. George Illawarra Dragons   Super League: Widnes Vikings
Willie Peters   St. George Illawarra Dragons   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Justin Smith   St. George Illawarra Dragons   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Bryan Fletcher   Sydney Roosters   South Sydney Rabbitohs
Paul Green   Sydney Roosters   Parramatta Eels
Dallas Hood   Sydney Roosters   Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
David Kidwell   Sydney Roosters   Melbourne Storm
Brett Mullins   Sydney Roosters Retirement
Luke Phillips   Sydney Roosters Retirement
Steven Crouch   Wests Tigers   Parramatta Eels
Ben Jeffries   Wests Tigers   Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Kevin McGuinness   Wests Tigers   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Hassan Saleh   Wests Tigers   St. George Illawarra Dragons
Matt Seers   Wests Tigers   Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Robbie Beckett   Super League: Halifax Blue Sox   Wests Tigers
Tonie Carroll   Super League: Leeds Rhinos   Brisbane Broncos
Ben Walker   Super League: Leeds Rhinos   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Darren Treacy   Super League: Salford City Reds   Parramatta Eels
Solomon Haumono Hiatus   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Sources and footnotes edit

  1. ^ . tvnz.co.nz. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  2. ^ Masters, Roy (17 March 2003). "The circus is back in town". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  3. ^ Pace, Daniel (7 September 2003). "Freddie sympathises with Gower but backs players' stance". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 10 September 2007.[permanent dead link][dead link]
  4. ^ "Dogs on top but grand final rematch is way down track". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 November 2002. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  5. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (6 May 2012). "Gallen set to smash record". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  6. ^ Henderson, Philip; Fitzgibbon, Liam (1 April 2008). . The Age. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  7. ^ B&T magazine article 2003 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Middleton, David (21 April 2024). Rugby League 2004. South Melbourne: Thomas C Lothian Pty Ltd. pp. 182–183. ISBN 978-0734407252.
  9. ^ "2003 NRL Grand Final". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 March 2023.

External links edit

  • NRL official website
  • 2003 NRL "That's My Team" Season Advertisement
  • 2003 NRL Grand Final 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine at sportsphotography.net

2003, season, 2003, premiership, 96th, season, professional, rugby, league, football, australia, sixth, national, rugby, league, fifteen, teams, competed, with, manly, warringah, eagles, returning, place, their, failed, joint, venture, club, northern, eagles, . The 2003 NRL premiership was the 96th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the sixth run by the National Rugby League Fifteen teams competed with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles returning in place of their failed joint venture club the Northern Eagles Ultimately the Penrith Panthers defeated reigning champions the Sydney Roosters in the 2003 NRL grand final claiming their first premiership since 1991 2003 National Rugby LeagueTeams15PremiersPenrith 2nd title Minor premiersPenrith 2nd title Matches played189Points scored8993Average attendance15 689Attendance2 965 141Top points scorer s Hazem El Masri 294 Top try scorer s Rhys Wesser 25 20022004 Contents 1 Season summary 1 1 Teams 1 2 Records and statistics 1 3 Advertising 2 Regular season 3 Ladder 3 1 Ladder progression 4 Finals series 4 1 Finals Chart 5 Grand Final 6 Player statistics 7 2003 Transfers 7 1 Players 8 Sources and footnotes 9 External linksSeason summary editSeason 2003 brought in the new golden point extra time rule where after 80 minutes if the game was drawn then 10 minutes of extra time was played until one team scored the winning point s The salary cap for the 2003 season was A 3 25 million per club for their 25 highest paid players 1 The first round of the Premiership improved on the previous year s in terms of attendance and television ratings 2 The major story this season was the resurgence of the Penrith Panthers who defied the critics and naysayers to win their second premiership in their illustrious history since joining the competition in 1967 Coached by John Lang and captained by Craig Gower the Panthers were the surprise minor premiers dominating the competition despite consistent disparagement from many sources and would continue their outstanding form in the finals beating the Broncos Warriors and finally the Roosters in the grand final The Dally M Medal ceremony was cancelled by the NRL after negotiations with the players union the Rugby League Professionals Association stalled All votes for the award were destroyed It was later revealed that with one round of the regular season to play Craig Gower was leading both Brad Fittler and Clinton Schifcofske by one point in the overall points tally However with the ceremony officially cancelled more than a week out from the awards no points were allocated in the final round of the season 3 At the end of the season Chris Anderson would lose his job at Cronulla Sutherland while Peter Sharp was dismissed as the Sea Eagles coach Trainer and former Manly star Des Hasler would replace Sharp as head coach in 2004 Also at the end of the season a squad of players from the NRL premiership went on the 2003 Kangaroo tour A major flaw of the fixture was that the previous season s Grand Finalists the New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters did not meet until the penultimate round of the regular season 4 Teams edit The lineup of fifteen teams for the 2003 premiership remained unchanged from the previous season except that the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles rejoined the competition since their merger with North Sydney Bears in 1999 taking the place of the failed Northern Eagles This ended North Sydney s representation in the League Brisbane Broncos 16th seasonGround Suncorp StadiumCoach Wayne BennettCaptain Gorden Tallis Bulldogs 69th seasonGround Sydney Showground amp Telstra StadiumCoach Steve FolkesCaptain Steve Price Canberra Raiders 22nd seasonGround Canberra StadiumCoach Matthew ElliottCaptain Simon Woolford Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 37th seasonGround Toyota StadiumCoach Chris AndersonCaptain Brett Kimmorley Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 54th seasonGround Brookvale OvalCoach Peter SharpCaptain Steve Menzies Melbourne Storm 6th seasonGround Olympic ParkCoach Craig BellamyCaptain Stephen Kearney New Zealand Warriors 9th seasonGround Ericsson StadiumCoach Daniel AndersonCaptain Stacey Jones Newcastle Knights 16th seasonGround EnergyAustralia StadiumCoach Michael HaganCaptain Andrew Johns North Queensland Cowboys 9th seasonGround Dairy Farmers StadiumCoach Graham MurrayCaptain Paul Bowman Parramatta Eels 57th seasonGround Parramatta StadiumCoach Brian SmithCaptain Nathan Cayless Penrith Panthers 37th seasonGround CUA StadiumCoach John LangCaptain Craig Gower South Sydney Rabbitohs 94th seasonGround Aussie StadiumCoach Paul LangmackCaptain Bryan Fletcher St George Illawarra Dragons 5th seasonGround Kogarah Oval amp WIN StadiumCoach Nathan BrownCaptain Trent Barrett Sydney Roosters 96th seasonGround Aussie StadiumCoach Ricky StuartCaptain Brad Fittler Wests Tigers 4th seasonGround Campbelltown Stadium amp Leichhardt OvalCoach Tim SheensCaptain Darren Senter Records and statistics edit Anthony Minichiello ran 4 571 metres with the ball in 2003 more than any other player in the competition 5 Nathan Brown became the youngest non playing coach in premiership history at the age of 29 6 Brown had retired from playing in 2001 after a neck injury in a trial game Referee Bill Harrigan s tenth grand final in 2003 the final match of his career stands as the record for the most grand finals officiated by a referee On 23 August the Parramatta Eels beat the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 74 4 at the time the third highest winning margin for a club game in Australian rugby league history Also on 23 August the North Queensland Cowboys beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 60 8 at the time the biggest win and most points in a match in Cowboys history The Brisbane Broncos set a record for their longest losing streak from round 20 to the 4th qualifying final This was equalled again from round 22 2005 to round 1 2006 inclusive and then broken when the club lost thirteen consecutive matches between round 10 2020 and round 2 2021 inclusive The Penrith Panthers became the first team to win the minor premiership and hold bottom spot on the ladder in the same season The Penrith Panthers won 8 matches in a row from 19 April 7 June most wins in a row in the club s history This was broken in season 2020 when the club won seventeen consecutive matches between round six and the preliminary final inclusive The Bulldogs equalled their worst defeat with a 50 4 loss to the Melbourne Storm in round 22 The Brisbane Broncos suffered their worst ever defeat at Suncorp Stadium losing to the Bulldogs 40 4 in round 18 This was later eclipsed by a 56 18 loss to the New Zealand Warriors in round 12 2013 and then again with a 59 0 loss to the Sydney Roosters in round 4 2020 They also only recorded one victory at the Stadium in season 2003 which came two weeks earlier with a 10 8 win over the Sydney Roosters who at that time had not won at Suncorp since 1991 however this drought ended in 2005 Advertising edit In 2003 the NRL sacked their advertising agency of the previous two years Saatchi amp Saatchi Sydney and took the unusual step of coming up with their own in house creative concept Former Cronulla Sutherland Sharks player and then current Parramatta Eels assistant coach Alan Wilson hit upon the idea of using the Hoodoo Gurus 1987 hit What s My Scene with reworked lyrics as That s My Team and another thing I m discovering lately I m a bit crazy for my rugby league team Wilson is a friend of Hoodoo Gurus singer Dave Faulkner and made the necessary arrangements which included re uniting the band to re record the track Faulkner is a long time supporter of the Sharks and the original film clip of What s My Scene had included shots of band members in Wests and Cronulla Sutherland jumpers The ad focuses on the grass roots supporters at all levels of the game and in its finished version includes shots of fans from the Cessnock Goannas a proud Bulldogs supporter and a Penrith teenager with a broken leg signed by her heroes These images are included with the usual fare of pre season team training images big hits clever passes and post try celebrations 7 To produce the ad the League returned to the agency who created and produced the Tina Turner campaigns from 1989 to 1995 Hertz Walpole Advertising by now renamed MJW Hakuhodo 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 23 24 25 26 F1 F2 F3 GF Brisbane Broncos PEN 4 SOU 2 CRO 26 NQL 8 NZL 20 SYD 7 PAR 6 WTI 32 NQL 26 MEL 20 CBY 24 NEW 10 X CAN 4 X SYD 2 SGI 16 CBY 36 MEL 4 MAN 6 CRO 10 PEN 7 WTI 2 NZL 8 PAR 2 SGI 1 PEN 10 Canberra Raiders NQL 32 WTI 7 SGI 4 PEN 12 PAR 14 X CBY 4 SOU 22 MEL 20 PEN 8 NZL 8 CRO 6 PAR 36 BRI 4 NZL 8 X MEL 10 SGI 1 WTI 2 CRO 28 SYD 4 MAN 35 NQL 6 NEW 8 CBY 5 SYD 7 MEL 12 NZL 1 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs SOU 8 NZL 4 WTI 32 PAR 20 NEW 6 SGI 10 CAN 4 NZL 6 SYD 6 SGI 2 BRI 24 WTI 6 SYD 10 MAN 14 MEL 14 PEN 2 NEW 34 BRI 36 X NQL 20 SOU 50 MEL 46 MAN 32 X CAN 5 CRO 14 NZL 26 MEL 30 SYD 10 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks MEL 4 X BRI 26 SYD 20 MEL 6 NEW 8 X SGI 16 MAN 24 SOU 16 NEW 6 CAN 6 NZL 17 WTI 2 MAN 18 NQL 6 PEN 20 WTI 32 NZL 7 CAN 28 BRI 10 SYD 8 SGI 9 PAR 70 SOU 20 CBY 14 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles X NQL 10 NZL 4 WTI 26 SGI 26 MEL 6 SOU 8 PEN 1 CRO 24 PAR 2 NQL 11 X WTI 8 CBY 14 CRO 18 SGI 14 PAR 11 NZL 8 SYD 24 BRI 6 NEW 8 CAN 35 CBY 32 SYD 30 PEN 26 MEL 30 Melbourne Storm CRO 4 PEN 26 X NEW 16 CRO 6 MAN 6 NQL 20 NEW 40 CAN 20 BRI 20 PAR 2 SYD 7 SOU 27 PEN 20 CBY 14 WTI 8 CAN 10 NQL 6 BRI 4 SOU 18 NZL 2 CBY 46 PAR 38 SGI 8 X MAN 30 CAN 12 CBY 30 Newcastle Knights NZL 10 SYD 4 PAR 18 MEL 16 CBY 6 CRO 8 WTI 28 MEL 40 SOU 14 SYD 22 CRO 6 BRI 10 X SGI 2 PEN 28 PAR 14 CBY 34 X PEN 13 WTI 40 MAN 8 NQL 36 NZL 16 CAN 8 SGI 34 NQL 8 SYD 28 New Zealand Warriors NEW 10 CBY 4 MAN 4 SOU 22 BRI 20 NQL 6 PEN 14 CBY 6 PAR 2 X CAN 8 PEN 22 CRO 17 PAR 2 CAN 8 SOU 1 NQL 20 MAN 8 CRO 7 X MEL 2 SGI 10 NEW 16 BRI 8 SYD 2 WTI 16 CBY 26 CAN 1 PEN 8 North Queensland Cowboys CAN 32 MAN 10 SOU 7 BRI 8 SYD 32 NZL 6 MEL 20 X BRI 26 WTI 18 MAN 11 SGI 20 PEN 4 SYD 1 PAR 2 CRO 6 NZL 20 MEL 6 SGI 20 CBY 20 X NEW 36 CAN 6 SOU 52 WTI 20 NEW 8 Parramatta Eels SYD 18 SGI 2 NEW 18 CBY 20 CAN 14 WTI 20 BRI 6 SYD 32 NZL 2 MAN 2 MEL 2 SOU 24 CAN 36 NZL 2 NQL 2 NEW 14 MAN 11 X SOU 14 SGI 26 WTI 3 X MEL 38 CRO 70 BRI 2 PEN 18 Penrith Panthers BRI 4 MEL 26 SYD 1 CAN 12 X SOU 2 NZL 14 MAN 1 SGI 4 CAN 8 WTI 22 NZL 22 NQL 4 MEL 20 NEW 28 CBY 2 CRO 20 SOU 6 NEW 13 SYD 14 SGI 6 BRI 7 X WTI 16 MAN 26 PAR 18 BRI 10 X NZL 8 SYD 12 South Sydney Rabbitohs CBY 8 BRI 2 NQL 7 NZL 22 WTI 10 PEN 2 MAN 8 CAN 22 NEW 14 CRO 16 SGI 2 PAR 24 MEL 27 X SGI 14 NZL 1 SYD 28 PEN 6 PAR 14 MEL 18 CBY 50 WTI 2 SYD 10 NQL 52 CRO 20 X St George Illawarra Dragons WTI 4 PAR 2 CAN 4 X MAN 26 CBY 10 SYD 4 CRO 16 PEN 4 CBY 2 SOU 2 NQL 20 X NEW 2 SOU 14 MAN 14 BRI 16 CAN 1 NQL 20 PAR 26 PEN 6 NZL 10 CRO 9 MEL 8 NEW 34 BRI 1 Sydney Roosters PAR 18 NEW 4 PEN 1 CRO 20 NQL 32 BRI 7 SGI 4 PAR 32 CBY 6 NEW 22 X MEL 7 CBY 10 NQL 1 WTI 8 BRI 2 SOU 28 X MAN 24 PEN 14 CAN 4 CRO 8 SOU 10 MAN 30 NZL 2 CAN 7 NEW 28 X CBY 10 PEN 12 Wests Tigers SGI 4 CAN 7 CBY 32 MAN 26 SOU 10 PAR 20 NEW 28 BRI 32 X NQL 18 PEN 22 CBY 6 MAN 8 CRO 2 SYD 8 MEL 8 X CRO 32 CAN 2 NEW 40 PAR 3 SOU 2 BRI 2 PEN 16 NQL 20 NZL 16 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 F1 F2 F3 GF Bold Home game X Bye Golden point game Opponent for round listed above marginLadder editMain article 2003 NRL Season Results 2003 NRL seasonvte Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts 1 nbsp Penrith Panthers P 24 18 0 6 2 659 527 132 40 2 nbsp Sydney Roosters 24 17 0 7 2 680 445 235 38 3 nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 24 16 0 8 2 702 419 283 36 4 nbsp Canberra Raiders 24 16 0 8 2 620 463 157 36 5 nbsp Melbourne Storm 24 15 0 9 2 564 486 78 34 6 nbsp New Zealand Warriors 24 15 0 9 2 545 510 35 34 7 nbsp Newcastle Knights 24 14 0 10 2 632 635 3 32 8 nbsp Brisbane Broncos 24 12 0 12 2 497 464 33 28 9 nbsp Parramatta Eels 24 11 0 13 2 570 582 12 26 10 nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons 24 11 0 13 2 548 593 45 26 11 nbsp North Queensland Cowboys 24 10 0 14 2 606 629 23 24 12 nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 24 8 0 16 2 497 704 207 20 13 nbsp Wests Tigers 24 7 0 17 2 470 598 128 18 14 nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 24 7 0 17 2 557 791 234 18 15 nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 3 0 21 2 457 758 301 10 Ladder progression edit 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 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 24 25 26 1 nbsp Penrith 0 0 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 26 28 30 30 30 32 34 36 38 40 2 nbsp Sydney 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 20 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 36 38 3 nbsp Bulldogs 2 4 4 6 6 6 6 8 10 12 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 34 36 4 nbsp Canberra 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 16 16 18 20 22 22 22 24 24 26 28 30 30 32 32 34 36 36 5 nbsp Melbourne 2 4 6 6 8 8 8 10 12 12 14 14 14 16 16 18 20 22 22 24 26 26 28 30 32 34 6 nbsp New Zealand 0 2 4 6 8 10 10 10 12 14 14 14 16 16 18 20 20 22 24 26 26 28 28 30 32 34 7 nbsp Newcastle 2 2 2 4 6 8 10 10 12 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 20 22 22 22 24 26 28 28 30 32 8 nbsp Brisbane 2 4 6 8 8 8 10 12 14 16 18 18 20 22 24 26 26 26 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 9 nbsp Parramatta 0 0 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 8 10 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 22 24 26 26 10 nbsp St George Illawarra 0 2 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 10 12 12 14 14 16 18 20 20 22 22 24 24 24 24 24 26 11 nbsp North Queensland 0 2 4 4 4 4 6 8 8 10 12 14 14 14 14 14 16 16 16 16 18 18 20 22 24 24 12 nbsp Cronulla Sutherland 0 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 10 12 12 14 14 14 14 14 16 16 18 18 20 20 13 nbsp Wests 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 8 8 8 10 10 12 14 14 16 16 16 18 18 18 18 14 nbsp Manly Warringah 2 2 2 2 4 6 8 8 8 10 10 12 14 14 16 16 16 16 16 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 15 nbsp South Sydney 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 10Finals series editHome Score Away Match Information Date and Time Venue Referee Crowd Qualifying Finals nbsp Canberra Raiders 18 30 nbsp Melbourne Storm 12 September 2003 Canberra Stadium Tim Mander 14 094 nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 22 48 nbsp New Zealand Warriors 13 September 2003 Sydney Showground Bill Harrigan 18 312 nbsp Sydney Roosters 36 8 nbsp Newcastle Knights 13 September 2003 Aussie Stadium Sean Hampstead 23 853 nbsp Penrith Panthers 28 18 nbsp Brisbane Broncos 14 September 2003 Penrith Football Stadium Steve Clark 18 534 Semi finals nbsp New Zealand Warriors 17 16 nbsp Canberra Raiders 20 September 2003 Aussie Stadium Tim Mander 31 616 nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 30 0 nbsp Melbourne Storm 21 September 2003 Aussie Stadium Bill Harrigan 19 367 Preliminary Finals nbsp Sydney Roosters 28 18 nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 27 September 2003 Aussie Stadium Bill Harrigan 41 123 nbsp Penrith Panthers 28 20 nbsp New Zealand Warriors 28 September 2003 Telstra Stadium Tim Mander 43 174 Finals Chart edit Qualifying finalsSemifinalsPreliminary finalsFinal1 nbsp Penrith288 nbsp Brisbane181W nbsp Penrith284W nbsp New Zealand17 nbsp New Zealand202 nbsp Sydney362L nbsp Canberra16 nbsp Penrith187 nbsp Newcastle8 nbsp Sydney63 nbsp Canterbury222W nbsp Sydney286 nbsp New Zealand483W nbsp Melbourne0 nbsp Canterbury181L nbsp Canterbury304 nbsp Canberra185 nbsp Melbourne30Grand Final editMain article 2003 NRL Grand Final 2003 NRL Grand Final Sunday 5 October19 05 AEST UTC 10 Penrith Panthers nbsp 18 6 nbsp Sydney Roosters Tries 3Rooney nbsp 31 73 Priddis nbsp 66 Goals 3Campbell nbsp 66 74 2 2 Girdler nbsp 32 1 1 Field goals Gower 0 1 1st 6 02nd 12 6Report 8 Tries 1Hegarty nbsp 48 Goals 1Fitzgibbon nbsp 50 1 1 Telstra Stadium SydneyAttendance 81 166 9 Referee Bill HarriganTouch judges Steve Carrall Glyn HendersonClive Churchill Medal Luke Priddis Penrith Player statistics editThe following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 26 Top 5 point scorers Points Player Tries Goals Field Goals 270 nbsp Hazem El Masri 8 119 0 230 nbsp Josh Hannay 10 95 0 208 nbsp Clinton Schifcofske 8 87 2 180 nbsp Michael De Vere 12 66 0 170 nbsp Matt Orford 7 71 0 Top 5 try scorers Tries Player 24 nbsp Rhys Wesser 21 nbsp Matt Sing 21 nbsp Scott Donald 20 nbsp Joel Monaghan 19 nbsp Nigel Vagana 19 nbsp Billy Slater Top 5 goal scorers Goals Player 119 nbsp Hazem El Masri 95 nbsp Josh Hannay 87 nbsp Clinton Schifcofske 71 nbsp Matt Orford 69 nbsp Mark Riddell2003 Transfers editPlayers edit Player 2002 Club 2003 Club Ashley Harrison nbsp Brisbane Broncos nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Allan Langer nbsp Brisbane Broncos Retirement Lote Tuqiri nbsp Brisbane Broncos New South Wales Waratahs Super 12 Shane Walker nbsp Brisbane Broncos nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Brett Finch nbsp Canberra Raiders nbsp Sydney Roosters Ken Nagas nbsp Canberra Raiders Retirement Todd Payten nbsp Canberra Raiders nbsp Sydney Roosters Brett Howland nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs nbsp Penrith Panthers Paul Rauhihi nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs nbsp North Queensland Cowboys Darren Smith nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs nbsp Super League St Helens Nathan Sologinkin nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs nbsp Melbourne Storm Darrell Trindall nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement Colin Best nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks nbsp Super League Hull F C Preston Campbell nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks nbsp Penrith Panthers Nick Graham nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks nbsp Super League Wigan Warriors Matthew Johns nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks Retirement Karl Lovell nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks Retirement Chris McKenna nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks nbsp Super League Leeds Rhinos Paul Mellor nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks nbsp Super League Castleford Tigers Andrew Pierce nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks Retirement Dean Treister nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks nbsp Super League Hull F C William Leyshon nbsp Melbourne Storm nbsp Parramatta Eels Henry Perenara nbsp Melbourne Storm nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons Matt Rua nbsp Melbourne Storm N A Ian Sibbit nbsp Melbourne Storm nbsp Super League Warrington Wolves Richard Swain nbsp Melbourne Storm nbsp Brisbane Broncos Julian Bailey nbsp Newcastle Knights nbsp Super League Huddersfield Giants John Morris nbsp Newcastle Knights nbsp Parramatta Eels Clinton O Brien nbsp Newcastle Knights nbsp Super League Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Bill Peden nbsp Newcastle Knights nbsp Super League London Broncos Kevin Campion nbsp New Zealand Warriors nbsp North Queensland Cowboys Ivan Cleary nbsp New Zealand Warriors Retirement Shontayne Hape nbsp New Zealand Warriors nbsp Super League Bradford Bulls David Myles nbsp New Zealand Warriors nbsp North Queensland Cowboys Tim Brasher nbsp North Queensland Cowboys Bath English rugby union John Doyle nbsp North Queensland Cowboys N A Peter Jones nbsp North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Tim Maddison nbsp North Queensland Cowboys nbsp Newcastle Knights Ken McGuinness nbsp North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Lenny Beckett nbsp Northern Eagles ACT Brumbies Super 12 Shayne Dunley nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Parramatta Eels Jason Ferris nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Wade Forrester nbsp Northern Eagles Retirement Jamie Goddard nbsp Northern Eagles Retirement John Hopoate nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Nik Kosef nbsp Northern Eagles Retirement Tasesa Lavea nbsp Northern Eagles Auckland New Zealand rugby union Danny Lima nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Nathan Long nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Ben MacDougall nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Steve Menzies nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Robert Miles nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Wests Tigers Scott Pethybridge nbsp Northern Eagles Retirement Brendon Reeves nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Mark Shipway nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Albert Torrens nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles David Westley nbsp Northern Eagles Retirement Luke Williamson nbsp Northern Eagles nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Michael Buettner nbsp Parramatta Eels nbsp Wests Tigers Scott Donald nbsp Parramatta Eels nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Brad Drew nbsp Parramatta Eels nbsp Canberra Raiders Ian Hindmarsh nbsp Parramatta Eels nbsp Canberra Raiders Ben Kusto nbsp Parramatta Eels Retirement Andrew McFadden nbsp Parramatta Eels nbsp Melbourne Storm Andrew Ryan nbsp Parramatta Eels nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Ned Catic nbsp Penrith Panthers nbsp Sydney Roosters John Cross nbsp Penrith Panthers nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons Jody Gall nbsp Penrith Panthers Retirement Lee Hopkins nbsp Penrith Panthers nbsp Parramatta Eels Justin Brooker nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement Chris Caruana nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement Anthony Colella nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs nbsp Super League Huddersfield Giants Glenn Grief nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement Brent Grose nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs nbsp Super League Warrington Wolves Andrew King nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs nbsp Super League London Broncos Paul McNicholas nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs nbsp North Queensland Cowboys Adam Muir nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement Adam Peek nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs nbsp Parramatta Eels Luke Felsch nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons Retirement Lee Hookey nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Jason Hooper nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons nbsp Super League St Helens Shane Millard nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons nbsp Super League Widnes Vikings Willie Peters nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Justin Smith nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Bryan Fletcher nbsp Sydney Roosters nbsp South Sydney Rabbitohs Paul Green nbsp Sydney Roosters nbsp Parramatta Eels Dallas Hood nbsp Sydney Roosters nbsp Super League Wakefield Trinity Wildcats David Kidwell nbsp Sydney Roosters nbsp Melbourne Storm Brett Mullins nbsp Sydney Roosters Retirement Luke Phillips nbsp Sydney Roosters Retirement Steven Crouch nbsp Wests Tigers nbsp Parramatta Eels Ben Jeffries nbsp Wests Tigers nbsp Super League Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Kevin McGuinness nbsp Wests Tigers nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Hassan Saleh nbsp Wests Tigers nbsp St George Illawarra Dragons Matt Seers nbsp Wests Tigers nbsp Super League Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Robbie Beckett nbsp Super League Halifax Blue Sox nbsp Wests Tigers Tonie Carroll nbsp Super League Leeds Rhinos nbsp Brisbane Broncos Ben Walker nbsp Super League Leeds Rhinos nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Darren Treacy nbsp Super League Salford City Reds nbsp Parramatta Eels Solomon Haumono Hiatus nbsp Manly Warringah Sea EaglesSources and footnotes edit NRL salary cap guide ONE SPORT tvnz co nz 22 February 2006 Archived from the original on 5 October 2012 Retrieved 18 August 2012 Masters Roy 17 March 2003 The circus is back in town The Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax Digital Retrieved 12 December 2009 Pace Daniel 7 September 2003 Freddie sympathises with Gower but backs players stance Australian Associated Press Retrieved 10 September 2007 permanent dead link dead link Dogs on top but grand final rematch is way down track The Sydney Morning Herald 22 November 2002 Retrieved 29 April 2019 Proszenko Adrian 6 May 2012 Gallen set to smash record The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 7 May 2012 Henderson Philip Fitzgibbon Liam 1 April 2008 Bennett Furner set for new Roles The Age Archived from the original on 2 April 2008 Retrieved 28 June 2010 B amp T magazine article 2003 Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Middleton David 21 April 2024 Rugby League 2004 South Melbourne Thomas C Lothian Pty Ltd pp 182 183 ISBN 978 0734407252 2003 NRL Grand Final Rugby League Project Retrieved 8 March 2023 External links editNRL official website 2003 NRL That s My Team Season Advertisement 2003 NRL Grand Final Archived 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine at sportsphotography net Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2003 NRL season amp oldid 1216548325, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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