There is no doubting that Gold Coast and Wellington have been the two most dominant sides in recent ASRL history. The two sides have felled all comers this season, racking up enormous scores, and finishing equal first after twenty six rounds. In their one encounter this year, Wellington downed the eventual minor premiers. Now, playing on Australian soil, the Crusade were hoping to win their first Grand Final since their miraculous 2001/2002 win. Wellington were out to defend a title they claimed last year in a memorable Grand Final.
A near sell-out crowd gathered to watch the pride of Queensland up against the pride of New Zealand. Both sides were without stars, Wellington losing Timana Tahu in the intense clash with Perth, and last week's hero, Steve Simpson, missing the match. Brad Flemming (Wellington) and Phil Bailey (Gold Coast) would get a chance to shine in a Grand Final.
Gold Coast Crusade Wellington Cougars
1 Dennis Moran 1 Anthony Minichiello
2 Tommy O'Reilly 2 Ben Tune
3 Matthew Gidley 3 John Sitizein
4 Ryan Girdler 4 Clinton Toopi
5 Billy Slater 5 Brad Flemming
6 Jonny Wilkinson 6 Trent Barrett
7 Andrew Johns © 7 Brent Sherwin ©
8 Luke Davico 8 Jerry Seu Seu
9 Danny Buderus 9 Jeremy Paul
10 Josh Perry 10 Paul Stringer
11 Daniel Abraham 11 Jamie Peacock
12 Tony Puletua 12 Mike Forshaw
13 George Smith 13 Kevin Sinfield
++Interchange
14 Phil Bailey 14 Ruben Wiki
15 Scott Logan 15 Blaze Wilson
16 Craig Gower 16 Kylie Leulai
17 Scott Sattler 17 Justin Holbrook
The big crowd, their enthusiasm somewhat dulled by the one-sided Division Two GF, got on their feet as Jonny Wilkinson started the clash off with a towering bomb. Two tackles in, and Wellington's Trent Barrett showed nerves when he lost the ball cold. The Crusade, out to prove themselves after a poor recent showing against Wellington, made immediate metres through enthusiastic Josh Perry. A solid first up set ended with a dangerous Johns' grubber, with Minichiello diffusing it with his customary calm, and then making some metres of his own after the chase fell off too early.
Gold Coast shone with the ball in hand however, their forwards making some big busts despite the presence of Great Britain internationals across Wellington's pack. George Smith, an early candidate for lock of the year, made a big run of his own in the 3rd to put Gold Coast in excellent field position. Danny Buderus looked to have scored the first try of the 2003 Grand Final when he went over, but the try was called back after it was ruled Puletua had obstructed the defence.
The Crusade enthusiasm knew no bounds however, Tommy O'Reilly inspiring his team-mates by meeting Ben Tune head on and pushing the winger back and into touch. The Crusade were quick to capitalise on a shocked Wellington line- Wollongong bound Luke Davico going over out wide after collecting a loose ball. It wasn't a pretty try by any means, but the Crusade went up 4-0. Andrew Johns' conversion attempt was waved away.
Wellington didn't let the early try demoralise them, and some good defence forced a dropped ball from the usually faultless Andrew Johns. As a result of the resulting set, Anthony Minichiello made a half break which threatened to amount to a try. Dennis Moran diffused the situation, and was then involved in a scuffle with his opposite number. The Crusade were penalised, and Kevin Sinfield calmly knocked over a penalty to make it 4-2 in the 7th.
The play became frantic end-to-end stuff in the next few minutes, and while it was entertaining, it didn't look like putting points on the board. Both sides have prided themselves on attacking flare all season- so it seemed strange to see the likes of Tommy O'Reilly and Jeremy Paul putting down the ball when the game was on the line.
Wellington's biggest chance came in the 11th, when a penalty for a dangerous throw gave them some prime position. Anthony Minichiello menaced the line, drawing two defenders before flicking it inside to a trailing Mike Forshaw. The big Englishman wasn't able to hold onto it though, losing it inches short.
Wellington then showcased some unusually poor defence, upon which the Crusade capitalised, a solid set of six making sixty five metres with apparent ease. It seemed each touch of the ball made metres for the minor premiers- with Buderus and Gower on the field to work the play the ball. Josh Perry was rewarded for his tireless start to the game, crashing over for a try of his own in the 12th. This time Andrew Johns was closer to the posts, and sailed it over easily. The Crusade were back in control, 10-2 leaders in what had been an entertaining first quarter.
Something snapped in the Wellington line, captain Sherwin giving his forwards a verbal beating after they'd failed to stand up to the Crusade's much less well recognised pack. It worked, and the next few defensive sets from Wellington were remeniscent of 'softening up' periods you usually see early in clashes. Despite this, Gold Coast's attacking flare meant they weren't easily penned, Luke Davico enjoying his night with another clean break off a Wilkinson short ball. The prop even had the audicity to put up a bomb- easily diffused by Minichiello.
Wellington's enthusiastic defence was amazing- but their attack was rudimentary at best. After their recent success basing their attack around Anthony Minichiello- the Cougars couldn't seem to get the same kind of combinations working. Whenever 'Mini' got the ball, he'd have a forward breathing down his neck, and it began to demoralise the entire side. While it was one thing to defend their line- Wellington would need to score to win the match.
Leave it to German sensation John Sitizien to spark the Cougars' attack. The strong German centre didn't have much trouble out-played Matthew Gidley, who was a victorious player in North Melbourne's 2002 premiership winning club. Sitizien's run had a lot of promise, but Moran was again faultless at the back, bringing down the centre at great risk to himself. The set played itself out, but broke down on the kick, Minichiello forced to attempt a chip from ten out. Slater collected it and stepped around the chase of Sherwin. He then had open spaces ahead of him, and the crowd got up as he got away from first Minichiello and then Sherwin. It was down to Central bound Brad Flemming to produce the goods, and the winger came across to bring down the pacy Aussie winger. Slater fell badly, and time off was called as the winger was stretchered from the field. The game got back underway, with Phil Bailey moving to the centres and Girdler to the wing, but Wellington had time enough to rally and repel the assault.
Sinfield was next to make a mark on the Wellington 'line breaks' column, the young Englishman stepping out of a lazy Sattler tackle to make a half break. He then found Sherwin on his outside, and the freakish talent produced a banana kick that very nearly produced dividends for a flying Ben Tune. Somehow O'Reilly got above the runner to disarm a dangerous situation.
The Crusade then embarked on their most dominant set so far, making ninety metres with sheer muscle. Not a single line-break was made, but two George Smith hit ups had the Cougars on the back foot. A penalty on the last tackle for a gruesome high tackle on Wilkinson from Paul Stringer gave Johns a chance for two more- but he opted for a tap and a chance at closing the game out. His foresight proved valid, Scott Logan (fresh from the bench) scoring a lucky try. Johns' bomb found Flemming on the full, but the future Phoenix couldn't hold it- and Logan dived on the loose ball for Gold Coast's third of the night. Johns made it two from three and 16-2.
As word came from the sideline that Billy Slater had fractured his jaw and wouldn't be returning, another Crusade player was forced to depart the field, inspirational second rower Tony Puletua dazed after a sickening head clash with Paul Stringer. Playing with fifteen men, the Crusade needed to play mistake free football- but seemed intent on repeating the 42-0 and 30-12 hammerings they'd dished out so far in the finals. The overzealous style came out as handling errors, but thankfully the Cougars were just as bad.
The final five were frantic, as Wellington sought to score the all important try that would make the game a contest- and Gold Coast fought fatigue amongst their forwards. With only Scott Logan and Scott Sattler able to play in the forwards from the bench- Buderus had shifted to lock and Gower to hooker. Whilst the reshuffle didn't produce miracles, it served its purpose, and the halftime siren went with Gold Coast up 16-2.
HALFTIME: Gold Coast 16 lead Wellington 2
It was a sloppy start from both sides to the second half, but fans were pleased to see Tony Puletua return the bench- apparently none the worse for wear after his headclash. Matthew Gidley lead the first raid of the second half- a dummy to Girdler confusing Sitizien and leading to a break. Minichiello defended the situation well, lifting and driving Gidley to the ground to force the ball lose.
Brent Sherwin, after trying to get some help from his forwards in the first half, took it upon himself to rally the Cougars' cause. The little general made an inspiring sixty metre run on the back of his own deft chip-kick. The run and resultant field position laid a platform- Ben Tune getting above Moran to snare the ball and score Wellington's first try of the evening. Sinfield was quick to convert, and the game was back on at 16-8 with thirty to go.
The sloppiness only seemed to increase as a result of the try- but for different reasons. Gold Coast lacked something with their re-adjusted lineup- whilst Wellington went in search of the miracle points they'd defended so well against in last year's Grand Final and this year's Bob Fulton Cup. George Smith seemed to have his eye on the prize though, another big bust in the 52nd just what Gold Coast needed to lift their game.
Repeated penalties from both sides gave Sinfield and Johns chances to shoot for goal- but both greedily ignored the opportunities in favour of the bigger points a try would offer. Wellington fans were befuddled after Sherwin ignored the chance to go for goal after four straight penalties- and were right in their disgust- the Cougars again repelled by the determined Crusade defenders.
The sixty sixth minute came, and the scoreline still hadn't changed. Puletua returned to the field, whilst former Brisbane captain, Blaze Wilson, came on to try and stir something for Wellington. Having played in the finals for Brisbane in 2002, Wilson would hopefully direct inexperienced players like Sitizien and Leullai a little better. The injection of the US star did have an effect, and Wellington enjoyed good field position and control for a period of ten minutes. Union convert George Smith was inspirational in defence- making a mountain of tackles to compensate for the tiredness of his pack. When Scott Logan left the field with a broken finger, Smith simply redoubled his efforts.
And when he wasn't defending, Smith was being Gold Coast's most dangerous weapon. His forty four metre run, which beat or overran four defenders, not only lifted the Crusade- but also came from an intercept taken by O'Reilly when a three on two overlap had formed. The quick-thinking Irishman had batted it back to Smith- who made it his personal responsibility to break free.
It seems a Grand Final wouldn't be an event without controversy, and when Jeremy Paul dived over after a quick play the ball- it looked for all money that the Cougars would be down 16-14 with five to go. Crusade fans went ballistic that the try was allowed to go ahead, when replays showed that Paul had knocked it on in the play the ball. Modern technology saved the day, with the video ref disallowing the try and shattering the Cougars' hopes of back to back.
That isn't to say either side died trying. Mike Forshaw and Jeremy Paul both made dangerous busts for Wellington- whilst Sydney bound Sattler finished his final game in Crusade colours with a bone-rattling tackle on Peacock to jar the ball lose right on full time. Peacock had looked certain to score, and whilst a try wouldn't have changed the outcome, the tackle perfectly described the man who so ably lead Central in previous seasons- and this year aided Gold Coast's near miraculous comeback in the BFC.
Fulltime sounded, and the Crusade players were clearly elated at their victory. Of the players on the field, only Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus had tasted success in the 2001/2002 premiership. The Queenslanders had produced a marvellous double, and Wellington were left to wonder what could have been.
The Best and Fairest Award Winner was no surprise, the tireless defence and attack of George Smith earning him the accolade. Player of the match points also went to captain, Andrew Johns, and bruising forward- Scott Logan.
FULLTIME:
Gold Coast 16
Scott Logan
Josh Perry
Luke Davico
Johns 2/3
def.
Wellington 8
Ben Tune
Sinfield 2/2
Voices from the Grand Final
Walker-Bush: "What a game. I don't think anything will ever top seeing Laurie Daley charge down a field goal in golden point extra time- but this was an intense and pleasing clash. Wellington have been the benchmark all year, and I don't care if we finished higher on the ladder. They're our hoodoo side- and I'm just glad that we chose today of all days to break that little jinx'.
Sattler: "It's really been an honour to play with this club this year. I came here from Central, and it was a real disappointment to lose last year's grand final in such a close finish. I thought I was jinxed when the same thing happened in the BFC final- but it was great to finish my time here with a premiership ring"
"That tackle? Mate, it was just good to get them back. They'd been hammering me all night"
"I'm looking forward to my time at Sydney. I'm going to have my work cut out for me ousting BK (Ben Kennedy) and Nick Grahem. I think I can do it though, and if not, I've played a few games at five eighth here and had an ok time of it".
Smith: "Mate. It is a f**king amazing feeling. I've spent two years playing league up north for Townsville- and while I loved the club- nothing compares to this feeling. Screw Super 12 mate, this is it right here"
"I'm quietly confident of playing for Australia. I think my form's been good, and hopefully I can knock Beaver (Menzies) off his pedastal there".
