NRL: The Sydney Roosters have become the first team to win back-to-back premierships in 26 years after claiming a controversial* 14-8 grand final win over Canberra.
However, the game might be remembered for a refereeing mistake when the scores were locked at 8-8 in the 72nd minute and official Ben Cummins waved “six again” (meaning a second Raiders set of six tackles) off a spilt Raiders kick but then changed the call, instead handing the ball to the Roosters.
One minute later, Roosters fullback James Tedesco scored the match-winning try by finishing off a 60m passage of play in front of a crowd of 82,982 at ANZ Stadium.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley said the right decision was made because the ball had bounced off the Raiders, however he admitted that the Raiders attackers were left confused.
The Roosters, who led by two points at halftime, had to overcome the sin-binning* of retiring halfback Cooper Cronk in the second half to lift the trophy.
Cronk said he was ready for retirement after 16 seasons, six premierships and 372 games.
“I’ve been blessed to be able to play this game. It’s a humbling experience to be able to live out a dream and have some success but I’m ready for retirement,” Cronk said after the match.
Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner praised his team’s defensive effort.
“We showed heart and character and stuck in there and we grabbed our opportunity and we held on in the end,” Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner said.
Canberra star Jack Wighton became the first player in six years to claim the Clive Churchill Medal (for best on ground) from the losing team. Wighton scored the Raiders’ only try and broke five tackles.
AFL: Richmond has confirmed their new dynasty, crushing GWS by 89 points in the most lopsided* AFL grand final in 12 years.
The 17.12 (114) to 3.7 (25) thrashing on September 27 at the MCG gave the Tigers their second flag in three years.
It is Richmond’s 12th flag, drawing them level with Melbourne in equal-fifth place.
It was the biggest grand final thrashing since Geelong’s record 119-point win in 2007 over Port Adelaide.
Dustin Martin shone with four goals and won his second Norm Smith Medal as best on ground.
AFL debutant Marlion Pickett starred on the game’s biggest stage.
The 27-year-old father of four, who did jail time as a teenager and was recruited four months ago, impressed as he became only the sixth player in AFL history to debut in a grand final.
The Giants’ first grand final was in trouble even before the game started in front of 100,014 fans with co-captain Phil Davis put through a fitness test an hour before the first bounce and then deciding to play with his sore calf.
Davis’ opponent Jack Riewoldt repeatedly had the jump on him leading for the ball and kicked five goals.
GWS did not kick a goal from 20 minutes in the first term until 24 minutes into the third as the Tigers applied tremendous pressure before running away with the game.
GLOSSARY
- controversial: cause of heated debate
- sin-binning: time out
- lopsided: uneven
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QUICK QUIZ
- How long since a team has won back-to-back NRL titles?
- What was the refereeing mistake in the NRL Grand Final?
- Who scored the winning try?
- How many overall flags have Richmond now won?
- Who was named the Norm Smith medallist?
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VCOP ACTIVITY
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