Round 1, 1984: Canterbury 18 Parramatta 16

Parramatta had won the three previous premierships heading into the 1984 season, and 1980 premiers Canterbury were desperate to reclaim their status at the kings of Sydney football.

With that in mind, the family club had undergone many significant changes, replacing Ted Glossop with former Newtown mentor Warren Ryan and recruiting a bunch of new players including Peter Tunks from Souths, Peter Kelly from the Jets and Terry Lamb from the Magpies. Ryan wasn’t the only new coach in town, though, with John Monie having taken the reins at the Eels following the resignation of Jack Gibson.

A penalty goal to Cronin gave the Eels a 2-0 lead within the opening minute of play, but Peter Mortimer scored the first try after receiving a lovely inside pass from Andrew Farrar. Parramatta soon struck back with a spectacular team try of their own to get within one point of their opponents, but two penalties and two field goals to Lamb saw Canterbury ahead 12-8 at the break.

The Blue and Golds started the second half strongly and led 16-12 when David Liddiard finished off a sweeping move down the right flank, but their inability to maintain possession ensured that Canterbury remained within striking distance.

They got their chance in the 68th minute of play when Eels fullback Paul Taylor’s mishandling of a Phil Gould bomb gifted winger Kevin Pobjie a match levelling try on the touchline. Once again, Lamb stepped up to the plate and, showing all the coolness of the proverbial cucumber, nailed the difficult conversion to give Cantebury a dramatic 18-16 win.