How good was the midweek cup?! Between 1974 and 1989, footy fans were given an additional treat on top of the premiership proper, with four-quarter football becoming essential viewing on Wednesday nights.
While the cup always played second fiddle to the premiership, there was no doubt that it provided plenty of exciting memories, often throwing up its fair share of boilovers, and giving hope to fans whose teams had already bowed out of premiership contention by the middle of the season.
With nostalgia being the order of the day on this blog, I thought we’d take a trip down the time tunnel and revisit what I consider to be the top five finals of this much loved competition.
5. Balmain vs. Cronulla, 1985 National Panasonic Cup
While not necessarily the most spectacular game in terms of the quality of play, this match had both sets of fans biting their fingernails during a particularly tense fourth quarter.
Frank Stanton’s Tigers dominated the early exchanges and led 6-0 after five minutes when Steve Roach’s offload created a 50-metre try for five-eighth Gary Bridge. A Ross Conlon penalty extended Balmain’s lead to 8-0 during the second quarter and, despite defending well, the inexperienced Sharks struggled to generate any momentum in attack.
The black and golds looked home and hosed when a neat blindside play from Scott Gale and Wayne Pearce set up a converted try to Russel Gartner late in the third quarter. However, Jack Gibson’s men came home strongly during the final turn, scoring two quick tries through Mark Wakefield and Dean Carney, the second a spectacular chip and chase effort which put the Sharkies within two points with five minutes left on the clock.
Playing their fourth game in 11 days, the Tigers looked to be fading fast, but some last-ditch tackling from David Brooks enabled them to hold on for their second midweek cup title and their first top-grade trophy since 1976.
Balmain 14 (G.Bridge, R.Gartner tries; R.Conlon 3 goals) def. Cronulla 12 (M.Wakefield, D.Carney tries; Carney 2 goals)
4. Western Division vs. Penrith, 1974 Amco Cup
Forget David vs. Goliath, this is THE definitive underdog story. Despite overcoming defending Sydney premiers Manly in their semi-final encounter (albeit via a penalty countback), Johnny King’s Western Division side were expected to be cannon fodder for the Panthers in the first-ever midweek cup final.
However, it was the country boys who took the early initiative with skipper Paul Dowling crossing from dummy-half to score the opening try after 13 minutes. A second-quarter field goal to Dowling gave Western Division a 6-0 lead at halftime, but the Panthers managed to get within striking distance during the third quarter thanks to a penalty to prop Bruce Ward.
Western Division’s defence had been superb throughout the match, but during the final quarter, Penrith looked to be gaining some momentum. With five minutes on the clock and the game in the balance, Panthers winger Terry Quinn made a break within his own half and set sail for the line, however, he was stopped short by a brilliant tackle from fullback Paul Sams, in turn sealing the game for Western Division.
Western Division 6 (P. Dowling try, goal, field goal) def. Penrith 2 (B.Ward goal)
3. Western Suburbs vs. Eastern Suburbs, 1977 Amco Cup
It was ultimately a tale of two kicks.
With Easts trailing 6-2 in the final minute of play, quicksilver fullback Russell Fairfax bought the Leichhardt Oval crowd to its feet when he chipped ahead and scored a potentially match-winning try.
However, the former Wallaby’s elation soon turned to despair, as his relatively easy conversion attempt faded to the left, handing the Magpies a thrilling 6-5 victory.
Wests led 4-2 at halftime after two goals to John Dorahy, but they were lucky to be ahead after Easts centre Terry Murphy bombed a certain try in the closing stages of the second quarter.
The Maggies’ lead was extended to 5-2 during the third quarter when five-eighth Peter Rowles snapped a field goal from right in front before lock Graeme O’Grady added another point in the 69th minute from a similar spot. This second drop goal was particularly vital as it ultimately proved the difference between the two sides following Fairfax’s fluffed conversion.
Western Suburbs 6 (J.Dorahy goal, P.Rowles, G.O’Grady field goals) def. Eastern Suburbs 5 (R.Fairfax try; goal)
2. Brisbane vs. Illawarra, 1989 Panasonic Cup
Like Western Division in 1974, Illawarra were considered no chance in the 1989 final when they met a star-studded Brisbane team at Parramatta Stadium.
The Steelers were in the midst of a disastrous Winfield Cup campaign, sitting dead last with one win from 11 starts. Conversely, the Broncos were second on the ladder and had the likes of Wally Lewis, Allan Langer and Gene Miles in their lineup.
At first, things looked to be following the script. Despite being constantly jeered by a partisan NSW crowd, the Broncos started strongly and led 16-0 early in the second quarter. However, a try to Brett Rodwell signalled a shift in momentum, with some sparking play from British import Andy Gregory getting the Steelers within two points heading into the final quarter.
With the crowd well and truly behind them, Illawarra looked set to pull off a miracle, however, their hopes were dealt a massive blow in the 75th minute when Miles crossed to make it 22-14. The Steelers’ other Brit, Steve Hampson, gave the underdogs a faint glimmer of hope when he scored a converted try in the 77th minute, but it ultimately proved a bridge too far for the men in scarlet, as the Broncos sealed their first title with a 22-20 win.
Brisbane 22 (P. Jackson, J.Kilroy, S.Backo, G.Miles tries; T. Matterson 3 goals) def. Illawarra 20 (S.Hampson, R.Wishart, B.Rodwell tries; Wishart 4 goals)
1. Combined Brisbane vs. Eastern Suburbs, 1984 National Panasonic Cup
1989 wasn’t the first time a Queensland side had to withstand a spirited comeback from a bunch of southerners in a cup final, though. Five years earlier, Wally Lewis and his Combined Brisbane travelled down to Leichhardt Oval to meet Eastern Suburbs in the ’84 finale.
Like Illawarra in 1989, Easts were premiership also-rans in 1984. Coach Laurie Freier had been at loggerheads with both players and officials all season and subsequently, the Roosters had been anchored in 12th place for most of the year.
A field goal to Kevin Hastings gave Easts a 1-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, but a clever try to Lewis ensured that Brisbane held a 6-5 lead at the half-time break.
The Queenslanders looked to have sealed the game when Gene Miles sprinted over to make the score 12-5 during the third quarter, but Lewis’ failure to clean up a Hastings bomb early in the last turn opened the door for Easts, with replacement Steve Hardy scoring off the Australian skipper’s error.
Leading 12-11, Brisbane was forced to repel wave after wave of attack from Tricolours during the final 15 minutes. Eden very nearly snatched the game for the Roosters when he poked his head through to the line during the final minute of play, but Hastings was unable to handle the offload with the line wide open, gifting the Banana Benders the narrowest of wins.
Despite battling illness during the game, Lewis proved a popular choice for the man of the match award, adding another chapter to the story of his perfect 1984 season during which he led Queensland to a State of Origin series victory, was named captain of the Australian Test team and finished the year with a BRL premiership.
Combined Brisbane 12 (W.Lewis, G.Miles tries; M.Meninga 2 goals) def. Eastern Suburbs 11 (S.Hardy try, M.Eden 3 goals; K.Hastings field goal)
The Wrap-Around 