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Following a "tough as" semi-final series, it all
boiled down to easy minor premiers and clear favourites
Valleys going for their third premiership in a row, and
the old-style Tom Raudonikis - coached Norths .... a side
known for the biggest and roughest pack in Brisbane, trying
to win their first premiership since the major upset 1980
win over the Meninga-Bennett Souths side.
All week the media and local fans speculated about whether
Tommy would use the knuckle to unseat the Diehards in the
decider. 3 weeks before the finals, Norths tried it at home
against the boys in royal blue, and were soundly flogged
52-16.
A last-minute change to Norths by coach Raudonikis saw 17yo
prop Mark Bevan relegated to the bench. This was the key.
Referee David Manson had remained tight-lipped during the
week when queried by the press whether he felt it would
be "on" or not. He clearly looked a man under
pressure as he blew time on .....
The devils kicked off deep towards the scoreboard end of
Lang Park, with the kick-returner being hammered in a two-man
special 5 out from his own line. Valleys hooker Bill Holmes
took the next ruck up to be met the same, except Norths
hooker Troy Evans let go a massive swinging arm and collected
Holmes across the scone.
The next ruck was met by a 4-man reception committee, and
as the Valleys player tried to play the ball, Norths 2nd-rower
Paul Dinte stood over him. The Valleys players lashed out
with the boots and Dinte immediately retaliated with a not-so-subtle
knee.
Referee Manson instantly blew the whistle and physically
separated the two players as they 'fronted up' to each other.
3 or 4 players from each side also joined in a push and
shove with plenty of spoken word !!!
Feelings were clearly running high on-field, and the unbelieveably
vocal pro-Norths crowd of about 15,000 bayed for Valleys,
and now Manson's blood .........
After Valleys kick for touch, the tap was taken by Holmes
and 5/8 Peter Coyne was smashed in a 3-man tackle. The next
ruck saw the ball flung wide by Valleys, with Tony Catton
the tackled man under 3 more Norths jerseys being given
a short, sharp one to the gob by Devils half Neil Wharton.
From here, it was on .....
Catton immediately dropped the pill and retaliated into
any Devils jersey he could see. Every player on the park
immediately joined in, with some terrific match-ups by local
hardheads. Wingers Peter Shields (V) and Brad Foster (N)
put on one of the best sideline toe-to-toe dust-ups seen
at Lang Park. Ziggy Strasser (V) and Paul Dinte (N) were
going at it when Troy Evans cleaned up Strasser bigtime
with a right hook that came from somewhere near Coffs Harbour
and ended up in Gladstone !!!
Holmes (V) ironed out Evans straight away before Devils
prop and local bouncer Scott McKay landed a fantastic right
cross to Holmes nose. It was a bloody melee of viciousness
and intensity not seen for years. Some of the older blokes
in the crowd recalled a Wests-Souths blow-up back in 1970
as the only thing they've seen worse than this.
There was one hardcore group of about 10 players all swinging,
all landing. Some 20 meters away Peter Elmore (N) and Frank
Rolls (V) had totally lost their jerseys (ala Chris Close)
in the middle of the field.
Referee Manson's whistle was being drowned out by a crisp
loud and empassioned chant of NORTHS - NORTHS - NORTHS -
NORTHS - NORTHS ..... from the crowd.
The atmosphere was electric, the thick as pea soup, and
that good you wouldn't be able to cut it with a chainsaw.
After the 'softening-up' period, referee Manson held an
en-masse caution, then called 3 players from each side out
for a special chat. Make no mistake, that when this penalty
also went the way of the Diehards, the crowd went ballistic
!!!
As a sidenote, silvertails Valleys got away to a 10-0 lead
midway thru the 2nd half before Norths hit back in emphatic
fashion to lead 16-10 with 3 minutes to go. One lapse allowed
Valleys to score and level before Peter Coyne slotted a
field goal with one minute to go and lead 17-16.
A last-second equaliser slipped to the right of the posts
for the Devils, and Tommy Terrific broke into tears as yet
another premiership slipped thru his fingers.
The channel 9 commentators for this match were Rod Tiley,
Bruce Warwick and Alan Thomas, and boy did they coin some
classics ....
Rod Tiley (on the sideline) - "Someone said the call
was Anzacs, someone else said it was 99. I heard neither
one." "Talk about lighting the fuse, and an explosive
start"
"Strasser's in there, and he's giving
as much as he's getting" "Well, Holmes looks a
little worse for wear, but the trainer's with him at the
moment. I can't see any blood flowing which is a good sign.
But boy, did he cop plenty."
Alan Thomas - "Shields going at Foster. Oooooh! Foster
trying to line him up."
"Well, I might just
sit right back here, Rod"
"Manson's called
out Coyne, Holmes and Strasser for Valleys. And McKay, Wharton
and Evans for Norths." "If Manson sends one, he
could send ten."
A great grand final, a great knuckle, and a great day of
rugby league .....
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