1981 1982 1983 1986 
Post by Electric Eel on May 14, 2020 20:16:18 GMT 10
1982 Grand Final: Parramatta 21 d Manly 8 at SCG
Parramatta's tactic of criticising referees reached fever pitch in the week leading up to the grand final; this time John Gocher was the target. Coach Jack Gibson, Ray Price and club secretary Denis Fitzgerald had become masters at this form of 'professional sledging'-referees actually considered boycotting Eels matches after the grand final!
After thrashing the Eels in their last three encounters, Manly were comfortable pre-match favorites for the 1982 grand final. When the Sea Eagles scored a snap try in the second minute, after Neil Hunt fumbled a Phil Blake bomb and the half-back pounced for the try, the predictions seemed to be falling into place. Nevertheless, Parramatta's dramatic form reversal in the final still cast doubt on the outcome of the most important match of the year.
Just how wrong the tipsters were soon became apparent. Manly's much heralded line-up literally went missing. By halftime the Eels led 16-3! Kenny crossed for the first of two tries and set up another three to Ella, Grothe and Hunt. Parramatta's pack-Bugden, Edge, Phelan, Muggleton, Sharp and Price-outgunned Manly's all-international six, and their defence put the big names out of action.
The reply Manly supporters were hoping for came in the forty-ninth minute when Les Boyd toed the ball forward close to Parramatta's line. With Eadie's conversion there were eight points in it. However, thirteen minutes later Parramatta's five-eighth Kenny put Manly out of their misery by crossing for the sealer which secured Parramatta back-to-back titles.
That Parramatta could come back from the Manly debacle in the major semi-final and defeat Easts so comprehensively in the final was testament to the skill of their coach and the quality of their players. That they did the same to Manly in the grand final the following week stamps the Eels premiership victory in 1982 as one of the best ever.
Parramatta 21 (B.Kenny 2, E.Grothe, S.Ella, N.Hunt tries, M.Cronin 3 goals) defeated Manly 8 (P.Blake, L.Boyd tries, G.Eadie goal). Referee: J.Gocher. Crowd: 52,186.
Parramatta's tactic of criticising referees reached fever pitch in the week leading up to the grand final; this time John Gocher was the target. Coach Jack Gibson, Ray Price and club secretary Denis Fitzgerald had become masters at this form of 'professional sledging'-referees actually considered boycotting Eels matches after the grand final!
After thrashing the Eels in their last three encounters, Manly were comfortable pre-match favorites for the 1982 grand final. When the Sea Eagles scored a snap try in the second minute, after Neil Hunt fumbled a Phil Blake bomb and the half-back pounced for the try, the predictions seemed to be falling into place. Nevertheless, Parramatta's dramatic form reversal in the final still cast doubt on the outcome of the most important match of the year.
Just how wrong the tipsters were soon became apparent. Manly's much heralded line-up literally went missing. By halftime the Eels led 16-3! Kenny crossed for the first of two tries and set up another three to Ella, Grothe and Hunt. Parramatta's pack-Bugden, Edge, Phelan, Muggleton, Sharp and Price-outgunned Manly's all-international six, and their defence put the big names out of action.
The reply Manly supporters were hoping for came in the forty-ninth minute when Les Boyd toed the ball forward close to Parramatta's line. With Eadie's conversion there were eight points in it. However, thirteen minutes later Parramatta's five-eighth Kenny put Manly out of their misery by crossing for the sealer which secured Parramatta back-to-back titles.
That Parramatta could come back from the Manly debacle in the major semi-final and defeat Easts so comprehensively in the final was testament to the skill of their coach and the quality of their players. That they did the same to Manly in the grand final the following week stamps the Eels premiership victory in 1982 as one of the best ever.
Parramatta 21 (B.Kenny 2, E.Grothe, S.Ella, N.Hunt tries, M.Cronin 3 goals) defeated Manly 8 (P.Blake, L.Boyd tries, G.Eadie goal). Referee: J.Gocher. Crowd: 52,186.
